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Rara
National Park
Rara
National Park is located in north-west Nepal about 371 km air
distance from Kathmandu. The park headquarters is about 32 km.
north to Jumla. Most of the park including Lake Rara lies in
Mugu District, with a small area in Jumla District of Karnali
Zone. This is the smallest park in Nepal (106 sq. km.) with
the country's biggest lake (10.8 sq. km.) at an elevation of
2990 m. The lake is oval-shaped with an east-west axis, and
has a maximum length of 5 km and a width of 3 km.  The
maximum depth of the lake is 167 m. The park was gazetted in
1967 to conserve the unique beauty of Lake Rara and to protect
a representative sample of flora and fauna of the Humla-Jumla
region.
The
elevation of the park ranges from 1800 m to 4048 m; Chuchemara
Lekh is the highest point. The lake is in a deep basin, the
northern and eastern rims of which form part of the park boundary.
The lake drains to Mugu Karnali River via Nija Khola. The lakeside
pasture in the south gives way to the steep slopes of Gurchi
Lekh, its crest culminating at Chuchemara in a horse-shoe shaped
opening to the south drained by the Jiun River. On the west,
river valleys cut through a ridge which form the natural boundary
to the park.
Vegetation
and Wildlife :
The
park contains mainly coniferous forest. The area around the
lake is dominated by blue pine (Pinus excelsa) upto 3200 m,;
Rhododendron (Rhododendron arboretum), black juniper (Juniperus
wallichiana), west Himalayan spruce (picea smithina), oak (Quercus
semecarpefolia), and Himalayan cypress (Cupressus torulosa),
are other associated species. Above this elevation the vegetation
is replaced by a mixed coniferous forest of pine, spruce and
fir, At about 3350 m., pine and spruce give way to fir, oak
and birch forest. Other deciduous tree species found in the
park are Indian horse-chestnut (Aesculus indica), walnut (Junglans
regia) and Himalayan popular (Populus ciliata).
A
small portion of the park serves as an ideal habitat for musk
deer. Himalayan black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus) leopard
(Panthera pardus), musk deer (Moschus moschiferous), goral (Nemorhaedus
goral), jackal (Canis aureus), Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus),
yellow throated marten (Martes flavigula), wild dog (Cuon alpinus),
wild boar (Sus scrofa), common languor (Presbytes entillus),
rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), and common otter (Lutra lutra),
are other species found in the park. Snow in the lake. The resident
Gallinaceous birds and migrant waterfowls are of interest to
park visitors. Coots (Fulica atra) are plentiful in the lake,
many staying year-round. Great-crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus),
black-necked grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), red-crested pochard
(Netta rufina), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), common teal (Anas
crecca), merganser (Mergus merganser), and gulls are seen during
winter. Other common birds in the park are snow cock (Tetraogallus
himalayenis), chukor partridge (Alectoris chukor), Impeyan pheasant
(Lophophorus impejanus), kalij pheasant (Lophura leuco,elana),
and blood pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus).
Seasons
:
Summer
is pleasant, however, the winter brings cold temperatures and
heavy snowfall (up to one meter). The best time to visit is
October to December or March to May. The winter is quite severe
with ground frost occurring form October.
December
through March is the time of snowfall with the temperature dropping
to below freezing point. High passes remain closed by heavy
snowfall during this time. The month of April brings the warmer
weather and monsoon season is June to August.
Local
Settlements :
There
are no settlements inside the park. Residents of two villages,
Rara and Chhapru, were moved out in 1976 and resettle in Bardia
District. Villages around the park are Jyari, Pina, Topla, Tuma,
Ruma and Murma. The local economy is based on agriculture, primarily
potatoes, buckwheat, beans, barley and wheat. Hindus dominate
the community composition.
Places
of Interest :
Lake
Rara is the most beautiful and interesting site in the park.
Bird lovers enjoy winter with the migratory birds. Hundreds
of varieties of ground flowers form a colorful carpet in summer.
Conventional currents do not allow the lake to freeze in winter.
Chuchemara Peak (4048 ma) on the southern side of lake presents
a magnificent scene with the gleaming blue water within a basin
of well forested hills. Other summits are Ruma Kand (3731 m.)
and Malika Kand (3444 m.) to the north of the lake. From these
peaks one can enjoy the view of the lack, peaks to the south
and beautiful Mugu Karnali River valley to the north.
How
to Get There :
Rara
National Park can be visited either from Jumla (2.5 days trek)
or from Surkhet (10 days trek.)
Park
Regulations and Fees :
All
visitors must pay a park entry fee at Bhulbhule guard post or
at park HQ or National Parks' ticketing counter at the Dept.
of Immigration in Kathmandu.
- Adult
Rs : 650.00
- Children
below 10 years : Free Be sure to keep your entry ticket with
you as it might be checked by the park personnel.
- Flora
and fauna are fully protected and must not be disturbed.
Visitors
entering the park should be self-sufficient in fuel supply
(kerosene). Use of firewood is strictly prohibited.
- Camping
inside the park except in designated areas is strictly prohibited.
- Movement
inside the park before sunrise and after sunset is prohibited.
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