Rara Lake — Attraction in Chhayanath Rara

Rara Lake (Nepali: रारा ताल) is the biggest and deepest fresh water lake in the Nepal Himalayas. It is the main feature of Rara National Park, located in Jumla and Mugu Districts. In September 2007, it was declared a Ramsar site, covering 1,583 ha (6.11 sq mi) including the surrounding wetland. Rara Lake (रारा तालLocationMugu DistrictCoordinates29°31′45″N 82°5′35″ETypefresh water[1]Primary inflowsKarnali riverPrimary outflowsNijar RiverBasin countriesNepalMax. length5.1 km (3.2 mi)Max. width2.7 km (1.7 mi)Surface area1,061 ha (2,620 acres)Average depth100 m (330 ft)Max. depth167 m (548 ft)Water volume10,682 m3 (377,200 cu ft)Shore length114 km (8.7 mi)Surface elevation2,990 m (9,810 ft)

Designated23 September 2007Reference no.1695 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Location of Rara Lake in Nepal

Features

Rara Lake lies at an altitude of 2,990 m (9,810 ft) above sea level, has a water surface of 10.8 km2 (4.2 sq mi), a maximum depth of 167 m (548 ft), is 5.1 km (3.2 mi) long and 2.7 km (1.7 mi) wide. It drains into the Mugu Karnali River via the Nijar River.Its water quality is characterized by high pH, conductivity and total hardness. It has been classified as oligotrophic as it is slightly polluted.

Climate

Summer is quite pleasant but winter is cold. The best visiting time to the lake is September/October and April to May. From December to March, the temperatures go low below the freezing point, and heavy snowfall occur up to one meter, blocking the way to the lake. April to June is warm in this region. Monsoon season, which in this region occurs between the months of July to October, is short. The average rainfall during the ten-year period 1994–2003 was 800 mm. The surface temperature of the lake was found to be 7.5 °C to 7.6 °C and was visible below 14 m to 15 m.

Socio-cultural and religious values

The main occupation of the people living around the area is agriculture. People also rear goats and extract medicinal herbs and sell them for their living. Thakur society is dominant in the community. Thakur Baba’s Temple is situated in the southeast corner of the lake. Local people believe that the god Thakur shot an arrow to open the passage of the lake reducing the damage caused by flooding. Problems: Due to over-grazing and defecation, the national park conservation officers are facing a challenge to preserve the lake. Local people are found cutting timber wood and fuel wood, which is a problem for conservation of Rara. Also during festivals visitors and local people produce a lot of wastage causing water pollution.

Rara Lake, being surrounded by Rara National Park, has unique floral and faunal importance with rare and vulnerable species. The park was established in 1976 to preserve the beauty of the lake and protect it from sedimentation and adverse human activities. The Park flora consists of 1074 species, of which 16 are endemic to Nepal; the fauna includes 51 species of mammals and 214 species of birds. The lake holds three endemic fish species Nepalese snowtrout (Schizothorax macrophthalmus), (S. nepalensis) and the Rara snowtrout (S. raraensis) and one endemic frog, Rara Lake frog (Nanorana rarica). Winter visitor water birds such as gadwall (Anas strepera), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), common teal (Anas crecca), tufted duck (Aythya fuligula), common golden eye (Bucephala clangula), common merganser (Mergus merganser), common coot (Fulica atra), and solitary snipe (Gallinago solitaria) reside and rest at this lake

Air is the only mode of transportation for the tourists visiting the Rara Lake. Rara Lake is served by Talcha Airport, which is 4 km east of the lake. Nepal Airlines and Tara Air operate flights to Rara from Nepalgunj. It takes approx 2 hours to reach Rara Lake from the...

The Rara Lake (Nepali: रारा ताल) is the biggest and deepest fresh water lake in the Nepal Himalayas. It is the main feature of the Rara National Park, located in the Jumla and Mugu Districts. In September 2007, the lake was declared a Ramsar site, covering 1,583 ha (6.11 sq mi)including the surrounding wetland.

Rara Lake lies at an altitude of 2,990 m (9,810 ft) above sea level, has a water surface of 10.8 km2 (4.2 sq mi), a maximum depth of 167 m (548 ft), is 5.1 km (3.2 mi) long and 2.7 km (1.7 mi) wide. It drains into the Mugu Karnali River via the Nijar River. Its water quality is characterized by high pH, conductivity and total hardness. It was reported to be very slightly polluted and was classified as oligotrophic in limnological terms. It is polluted due to wastes produced during festivals by visiting locals and tourists.

Rara lake has been a popular destination with a very rough route in Western Nepal for trekkers. The glimpses of culture and scenery on the way is quite different from the rest of Nepal. Situated in high altitude, you can find the lake surrounded by Rara National Park with pine, spruce and juniper forest. The view of snow-capped Himalayan peaks enhance the attraction of trekkers. The trek begins with flight to Jumla (over an hour flight from Kathmandu) or from nearer Nepalgunj. Going along the mountain path and some villages one can reach the bank of Rara lake.

A travel writer describes his trek to Rara:

Although more trampled than in the past, the road to Rara Lake is still without any of the comfortable services available along more popular trails. Logistically it is not an easy trek; it is hard to get to and from, and it is an organizational challenge, requiring informed guides and porters to tote the two weeks' worth of material that will keep you warm, dry and fed. It is also tough on the bones, involving several 11,000-foot passes. However, once you overcome the obstacles, the rewards are legion: few if any other trekkers, incomparable natural splendor, "untouched" villages, blissful quiet.…

Rara Lake as described by GORP founder Bill Greer: "a shimmering blue jewel set in a ring of snowy peaks".

Rara Lake as described by Mark Drett:

"Since the interval of 10 years, I visited again. Before 10 years, we needed to walk 19 days to get there but that has been reduced to 10 hours of gravel road and 4 hours of walk. Not expected but great change. When you get there, you will get the reward for 4 hour long walk."

Air is the only mode of transportation for the tourists visiting the Rara Lake. Rara Lake is served by Talcha Airport, which is 4 km east of the lake. Nepal Airlines and Tara Air operate flights to Rara from Nepalgunj. But nowdays track has been opened for motorbikes and...

Rara is considered as the land where "Apsara-most beautiful deity of Indralok (holy place in heaven according to Hindu apprehension)" has landed. It is a big lake in a pristine area very very far from chaos and crowd of the town. It might take ages to travel here from Kathmandu. There are various ways to reach here. 1. Booking jeep from Kathmandu to reach here. 2. Direct flight from Kathmandu to Talcha Airport. 3. Flight from Ktm to Nepalgunj and reserve jeep to Rara. 4. Flight from Ktm to Surkhet and travel in jeep reservation. Other than these ideas if you have lot of travel time and want to go comfortably without hectic schedule, you can take a bus from Ktm to surkhet (1 day) stay a night there, go to Kalikot nagma (1day), and reach Rara on the 3rd day via Jumla and Mugu. Once you start to reach there, you either go to Rara lake from Salleri in horse or walking via airport area by 1hour hike. There are hotels in Salleri and Talcha Airport. Be sure to book hotels as there are no hotels after this 1hr hike. After that you have choice of going across the lake by about 2hrs hike or about half year boat ride conducted by Nepali Army. It will take you about 3-4hrs hike for whole round of the lake depending on your walking speed. There are no roads for 2 wheelers and 4 wheelers once you reach rara lake. You can also go across by Horse which will take you about NRs. 1000. Once you reach across you can stay at Danphe hotel or Heritage hotel again run by the nepali army. They have ok kind of food and ok kind of hospitality. But you have no other choices than that. But the view of the lake mountains and night sky is no doubt breathtaking. "Chyangra" meat is special here with apple wine. Every Nepali must go there at least once even though the travel makes you wanna give up. I strongly recommend all to go there during autumn season or spring season as the roads in Jumla, Kalikot and Mugu are very dangerous which have claimed hundreds of lives in road accidents. During this season you can also see lots of biodiversities like butterflies, flowers and birds. The scenary is also pretty beautiful and we can also see the water changing different colors in...