Mainly known for the glorious Himalayas, Nepal has a lot of other features which are yet to be unveiled. Tourism is one of the blooming business in Nepal, and the wholesome credit goes to the tallest mountains of the world which lies in here. However, there are many things to see and explore in Nepal. With the four main religious group and thirty-six ethnic group, Nepal is a pool of native culture, tradition, and lifestyle.
Along with religious and cultural diversity, biodiversity and geographical diversity are also really amazing. From the high Himalayas to the lower plain area, there is every geographical feature. Also, there are some of the rare and endangered wildlife and vegetation in Nepal.
Out of many things Nepal has to offer you, the beautiful and mesmerizing lakes is one of them. Thousands of lakes flows throughout the country. With all the snow-capped mountains in the Himalayan region, the lakes in Nepal are ever-flowing and extremely beautiful. Well, there is a long list of popular lakes which are praised for its beauty and are famous as a tourist destination and in the very same list comes Rara Lake.
About Rara Lake
Rara Lake is the biggest and deepest freshwater lake in the Nepal Himalayas. The lake lies at an altitude of 2,990 meters/9,810 feet above sea level with the covering area of 1,583 hectares. The water from Rara lake drains into Mugu Karnali river via Nijar river. Rara lake is surrounded by Rara National Park which has rare and vulnerable species of flora and fauna. The park consists 1074 species of flora, while the fauna includes 51 species of mammals and 214 species of birds. So, while trekking to Rara Lake, you will also get the opportunity to witness the wildlife and vegetation.
Trekking to Rara lake has been very popular with all the things that this trek offers. The mesmerizing view of the glittering lake water the glorious view of the mountain just above it is something worth visiting. One of the visitors of Rara lake has described the lake as “shimmering blue jewel set in a ring of snowy peaks.”
Not just the beauty of the lake is quaint, but the village around the lake are too. People living around the area live a very simple lifestyle most of them depending on agriculture. They also raise goats and extract medicinal herbs from near jungle and sell them to earn a living. The settlement has the majority of Thakur people. You will also find a Thakur Baba temple in the southeast corner of the lake. There is a general belief among locals that the god Thakur shot an arrow to open the passage of the lake reducing the damage caused by flooding. So, it will be your best chance to unravel the beauty of the lake and to explore the exotic belief and tradition of that area.
Best time to visit
To visit the Rara Lake, the best time will be September, October, and April to May. Winter won’t be the best time to visit because from December to March, the temperature goes below the freezing point and heavy snowfall occurs up to one meter which blocks the way to the lake.
Camping in Rara Lake trek
Camping while trekking is always the best idea. It gives you more chance of exploring the beauty and environment around, and you will certainly experience many things for the first time. Also, camping is a contribution to sustainable tourism by giving job opportunity to the locals as porter or guide. Consumption of local items while camping also provides help.
Level of difficulty
The highest elevation reached during the Rara Lake trek is around 3,000 meters, so the level of difficulty involved is average. You won’t require any experience or prior training for this trek. However, the level of difficulty one might face depends on the physical fitness of the person. So, make sure you are physically fit to accomplish the trek.
Way up to Rara Lake
Rara Lake trek starts from Jumla, so first of all, you will have to take a domestic flight to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu and from Nepalgunj you will take another flight to Jumla. Jumla is a remote district of Nepal famous for the delicious apples. It is also administrative headquarter of Karnali zone.
Your actual trek starts from Jumla. From Jumla you start trekking to Chere Chaur. The trekking to Chere Chaur starts with ascend hike walking along the Jugad river. You will also pass through the green forest, small shops and markets, quaint villages and ancient monasteries. Then staying a night at camp in Chere Chaur, you move on to Chala Chaur the next day. The trail while moving towards Chala Chaur is ascending until you reach Jaljala pass. Although it is a pass, Jaljala is not so difficult to accomplish as its height is only 3,580 meters. After crossing the Jaljala pass, you will continue to Jaljala Charu. After reaching to Jaljala Charu, the trail goes up to Chala Chaur. Staying overnight at camp in Chala Chaur, next day you will trek towards Sinja Valley.
While trekking to Sinja Valley, the trek starts with the ascending route. You will also make your way through several settlements; forested are along with the beautiful Jaljala stream. Then finally, you will arrive at Sinja valley, an ancient capital city of Khasa kingdom which ruled this region from the 12th to 14th century. After the overnight stay in camp in Sinja, you will move to Gorusinga. The trail goes uphill along the Hima river by crossing Laha village, forest, and beautiful valley. Moving further after a camp night in Gorusinga comes the Rara Lake. While trekking to Rara Lake, you will trek through Chuchhema Danda. Chuchhema Danda is an amazing point from where you can have the spectacular view of the snow-capped mountains and the mesmerizing Rara lake itself.
Reaching Rara Lake and staying a night camp, the next day will be full of exploration and surprises as you will view the lake in the most closer way and get to explore the beauty and environment around. There is boating as well. You can admire the picturesque view of the lake while rowing the boat and not to mention the stunning view of Himalayas on the southern and northern side of the lake. After the full day exploration, you will stay for another night in Rara Lake and the next day trek to Pina. While trekking to Pina the hiking trail is straight and easy until you reach Gamgadi. From Gamgadi the trail will be a bit difficult and rough.
After Pina, you will trek to Bumra. While trekking to Bumra, you will cross Ghurchi Lagna pass which is at the height of 3,485 meters from where you can see the beautiful landscape view of mountains and the villages. Bumra is also known as Nauri Ghat. From Bumra next comes Jumla. You will hike along the Hima River and cross a suspension bridge. Further, you will also pass Danphe Lagna pass at an altitude of 3,960 meters and finally comes Jumla.
And now here ends your adventure. After celebrating the end of this successful and adventurous trek and resting for a night, you will take a flight to Nepalgunj and then to Kathmandu. It will be best if you keep one or two days in extra while planning the trek, as the flight might be available as per your plan or it can be delayed because of the weather condition or reasons.