Tourists visiting Rara increase as summer dawns

By A Staff Reporter

Mugu, Apr. 14: The number of tourists visiting Rara, the largest lake in Nepal, has increased as the summer season approaches. The summer season is considered the most suitable season to visit Rara.

According to the Rara National Park Office, the number of tourists visiting Rara during this season is significantly higher as the weather from April to June is suitable. Bishnu Babu Shrestha, the head of the Park office, informed that the data show that 11,525 domestic and foreign tourists visited Rara by the end of February of the current fiscal year.

Krishna Hari Khanal, visiting Rara from Surkhet, said that he found the weather in Rara totally different and beautiful during this season.

He added that Rara becomes even more charming when the shadows of the clouds floating in the sky fall on the lake. Rara Lake is situated at an altitude of 2,880 metres, has a depth of 167 metres, and measures 5.1 kilometres in length and 2.7 kilometres in width. 

It takes seven hours to walk around a 14.6 km lake. Tourists can also ride horses or cycle around the lake.

However, tourists are not allowed to swim or bathe in the lake. Water in the lake is clean and clear, so tourists can drink it. 

There are also pilgrimage sites in the lake area, such as Rara Mahadev, Chhabru Mahadev, and Laguda Temple.

Along with Chhayanath, tourists can see the snow-capped mountains of Rarath Himal, Rani Moksha Chuli, and Chhayanath Himal round the year.Reaching Rara Lake by land takes two days via Surkhet and the Karnali Highway. By air, the flight from Ranjha Airport in Nepagunj to Talcha Airport takes only 35 minutes.

Chhayanath Rara Municipality is developing various strategic programmes to enhance tourism in Rara, says Mayor Bishnu Kumar Bham. He added that the municipality has an action plan to provide training in the hotel business, tourism guides, and the tourism industry, aiming to help local youth find employment in the near future.