Beautiful Paheli Baraha Lake lacks access

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Myagdi, Aug. 10: The beautiful Paheli Baraha Lake, located in Chimkhola of Raghuganga Rural Municipality-7 in Myagdi district, remains in shadow due to the lack of a proper trail leading to it.

The lake, which is beautiful and circular, is situated atop a high mountain along the Dhaulagiri Icefall Trek route.

Starting from Beni, the route passes through Ruishe Bhedi Odar-Sobang in Raghuganga, reaching the Dhaulagiri Base Camp. From there, one can go to the Paheli Baraha, then Kalibaraha, and finally reaches Lete in Mustang. 

However, due to the lack of a well-constructed trail and promotion, the Paheli Baraha Lake remains unknown. A little below the Paheli Baraha Lake, there is another lake called Kalibaraha Lake. The Paheli Baraha Lake, located at an altitude of 4,600 metres, is 800 metres long and 400 metres wide. Upon reaching the lake, visitors enjoy beautiful snow-capped peaks and stunning natural scenery.

Kiran Karki, a local of Beni who has visited the lake, described its beauty and said, “The Lake is naturally very beautiful. During winter, the surrounding area is covered in snow, and the lake appears circular in the middle. The beauty of the lake makes you forget the tiring two-day journey from Chimkhola."

Despite its natural beauty, the area has remained obscure due to a lack of tourism infrastructure, Karki said. “It takes one day to reach Chimkhola village from Beni using vehicles. From Chimkhola, it takes a two-day trek to reach the lake,” said ward chairman Thak Bahadur Paija. Despite having great tourism potential, the lake remains neglected. The rugged terrain makes it difficult to build a trail to the lake. There has also been no promotion of the lake's natural and religious significance.

Paija said that locals from Chimkhola, including shepherds and those collecting Yarsagumba, frequently visit the area. Though a trail has been constructed from Sungurthala in Ward No. 8 to Kachhua Odar, the Paheli Baraha Lake is reached only after a two-day uphill trek through cliffs, forests and along riverbanks.

Rural Municipality Chairman Bhav Bahadur Bhandari said that the local government has prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and requested a budget from the concerned authorities for the construction of a trail and other tourism infrastructure in the lake area.

He added that completing the Dhaulagiri Icefall Trail, connecting the base camp with Kalibaraha, Paheli Baraha and Lete in Mustang, could create an excellent trekking route.