Exciting Trip To Rara

Aayusha Kharel

Surreal. That was the first word that came to mind and my lips when I saw Rara Lake for the very first time. After careful planning and eager anticipation, I embarked on my journey to Rara in April. Visiting Karnali for the first time, and that too to witness the famous Rara Lake, filled me with boundless excitement. 

I had always dreamed of visiting Karnali at least once in my lifetime. From a young age, I had read and heard so much about it. Through the eyes of the writers whose works I had loved, I had envisioned Karnali sometimes as a place of breathtaking beauty, other times as a region full of hardships. This was my opportunity to experience Karnali firsthand, to see it through my own eyes and feel it with my own heart. The anticipation was overwhelming.

After spending a few days exploring Surkhet and staying a night in the windy yet charming Kalikot, I finally reached Rara. The beauty of the lake, the warmth it showed, and the sheer refreshment it provided exceeded all my expectations. I found myself unable to look away from the stunning lake. Its colours, constantly shifting, were mesmerising to witness in person.

After admiring Rara for almost an hour, I decided to take a walk around the lake and head to my hotel, Danphe. That walk around Rara was the most peaceful and emotional stroll I had ever taken. The natural beauty, the trees, the path to the hotel, everything was very overwhelming. Despite the cold, the warmth that Rara provided was indescribable. 

Upon reaching the hotel, the cold was intense, and all the travelers from various parts of Nepal and the world gathered in a small room to keep warm. The conversations that took place were deeply insightful. People shared laughter, their experiences of traveling the world, and warmth which created a sense of community and that was heartwarming.

The next morning, I woke up at 5 am, determined not to miss the sunrise and the magical colours it would bring to the lake. In the morning, the bright orange sun rose and laid its colour across the lake, a sight of unparalleled beauty. I even spotted some migratory birds from Siberia. 

Later, I enjoyed a peaceful boat ride on the lake, followed by a horse ride where I chatted with the kind and simple horseman. We talked about Karnali, its challenging lifestyle, and how its beauty helped sustain their lives.

Just as the Nepali writers had described in their novels, Rara was a place of mesmerising beauty, challenging for some, yet a source of happiness for others. The trip to Rara was an experience I deeply needed, one that provided me with a renewed sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world.