Tripadvisor Nepal: Rara Lake:A Crystal Clear Blue Jewel of Himalayas Nepal

Rara Lake:A Crystal Clear Blue Jewel of Himalayas Nepal

Located in the Jumla and Mugu district of Western Nepal lies the blissful quiet Lake Rara ,the biggest and deepest freshwater lake In Nepal.It lies at an altitude of about 2900m above sealevel encircled by mountains Kanjiroba,Dolpo and Dhaulagiri.

Some facts about Rara lake:
1.Rara lake is the biggest lake of Nepal lying inside smallest national park of Nepal 'Rara National Park' and declared as Wetland 'Ramsar Site'.

2. The lake holds three endemic fish species Nepalese snowtrout , S. nepalensis and the Rara snowtrout and one endemic frog, Rara Lake frog. Winter visitor water birds such as gadwall , mallard ,etc reside and rest at this lake.Red_Panda ,snow leopard and foxes howl around the Rara lake.

Endangered Red Panda in Rara

National Bird of Nepal 'Danphe' in Rara area

3. The most striking thing about the lake is its ability to change to seven different colors during the light of day. This peculiar phenomenon makes it a unique lake in Nepal. The lake is so large that it takes almost a whole day to go around it. Rara Lake drains into the Mugu Karnali river.

Sunrise above Rara lake

Full moon above Rara lake

4. This Nepali year (2075 BS) has been declared “Karnali-Rara Tourism Year” by the Government of Nepal.

Official Logo of Karnali Rara Tourism Year 2075

5. Rara Lake as described by Mark Drett:

"Since the interval of 10 years, I visited again. Before 10 years, we needed to walk 19 days to get there but that has been reduced to 10 hours of gravel road and 4 hours of walk. Not expected but great change. When you get there, you will get the reward for 4 hour long walk."

Mountains reflected in Crystal clear water of Rara lake

6. Rara Lake as described by GORP founder Bill Greer: "a shimmering blue jewel set in a ring of snowy peaks".

7.Thakur society is dominant in the community. Thakur Baba’s Temple is situated in the southeast corner of the lake. Local people believe that the god Thakur shot an arrow to open the passage of the lake reducing the damage caused by flooding.

Thakur Baba temple in Rara lake

8. Around the lake are Malla stones – tall pillars of rock featuring inscriptions of the sun and moon, which are thought to date to the time of the Malla kings who ruled the region in the 12th century.

Best Time to Visit Rara lake:Spring,Autumn and Summer i.e.September to November/April to May

How to reach Rara lake:
1.Easiest way:Fly from Nepalgunj to Talcha airport
2.Alternative way:Jeep ride from nepalgunj or jumla
3.Adventurous way:Trekking from GamgadhI or all way from Jumla

What to do around Rara lake?
1.Trek all upto rara lake viewing juniper,pine and spruce and variety of birds.