Rara in need of promotion, infrastructure

By Raju Lamichhane 

Mugu, Aug. 4 : Rara in Mugu is the largest lake in Nepal, which is often said to be a peace of heaven on earth.  Changing colour in a flash is a characteristic of Rara Lake. Sometimes the water becomes blue, black, or white as the colour of the water keeps changing with changing shades of the sky.

The shadow of the clouds falls on the lake. In the morning, the water is still and at that time, the shadow of the mountain is reflected in the lake which is a fascinating sight. Surrounded by forest, the Rara Valley in the middle makes the atmosphere of this place beautiful.

Rara Lake is 167 metres deep, 5.1 kilometres long and 2.7 kilometres wide at an altitude of 3,000 metres above sea level. The length of the lake shore is 14.6 km. It takes seven hours to walk around the lake. 

We can also go on horseback to Rara. In order to see the whole lake from one place, you have to climb 3,725 metres to Murma Top (Murma Thano) on the northwest side. It takes three hours to reach the top. From there, the entire lake can be seen below. The villages and mountains of Bajura, Jumla, Humla, Dolpa, and Mugu can also be seen.

There are rare fish in Rara Lake. Birds live here throughout the year. Birds come all the way from Siberia in winter. They stay here for months. Along the edge of the lake, there is a road leading to the district headquarters of Gamgadhi. 

In the lake area, there are several shrines like Rara Mahadev, Chhabru Mahadev, Laguda Temple, etc. Rara National Park was created in 2032 BS. The nearest villages to the lake are Murma, Jhyari, Sigadi, Topla, and Mathitum. The village near the centre of these is Murma. There are 78 households here. Wheat and potato cultivation, and sheep rearing are means of livelihood.

Snow-capped Chhyanath mountain and Rinmoksha peak also add beauty to Rara. If one wants to visit Rara Lake through Karnali Highway, it will take two days. Alternatively, it takes 35 minutes to fly from Nepalgunj Airport to Talcha Airport. Flowers of various colours bloom in monsoon. In a country full of natural wonders, Rara is like a gem that leaves its admirers speechless with its beauty.

According to Roop Bahadur Malla, a social activist, the three-tier government has not prioritised Rara's tourism promotion.  According to him, there are no regular flights. He said, "There is no infrastructure, such as reliable highways or nice hotels." Another thing is that Rara’s publicity has not been done well. Rara is not only a beautiful place to visit, it can also become a yoga and meditation centre.

Shyam Kumar Sharma, who came to visit Rara from Lumbini Province, said, "On the trekking route from Jumla to Khaptad, Dolpa through Rara, if the infrastructure is developed and marketed, those who want to do a long trek can be happy." 

Birsh Rokayaka says, "The leaders of the district do not get tired of talking about Rara in their speeches." However, they do not seem to be making concerted efforts to develop Rara.