Western Region Nepal

Situated about 370 km northwest of Kathmandu lies Rara National Park covering an area of 106 sq/km it is Nepal’s smallest and most picturesque national park. Established in 1976 a large amount of the park is at an altitude of around 3000m and is surrounded by alpine meadows and steep densely forested ridges. It is often described as ‘unexplored’ as it is remote and unknown, its culture and language is unique to the area. Access from Kathmandu is by air and trekking takes the minimum of two weeks.The jewel in the crown is the unspoiled Rara Lake the largest lake in Nepal. Chuchemara Danda at 4087m is the best vantage for stunning views of the lake the thickly forested hillsides and the snow-capped peaks around it. Other summits in the park area are Ruma Kand (3731m.) and Malika Kand (3444m.), situated to the north of the lake. Today the only people living in the National Park area are police, army officers and wardens all other inhabitants were relocated to the Terai when the park was inaugurated.

The coniferous forest of rhododendron, west Himalayan spruce, Himalayan cypress, black juniper and oak supports an abundance of wildlife including the red panda, musk deer, black bear, wild boar and monkeys. The lake attracts migrant wildfowl and is regarded among one of Nepal’s finest regions for bird watching where you can see merganser, coots, great-crested grebe, black-necked grebe, red crested mallard, common teal to name but a few.

Rara comes within the catchment area of the Karnali River, one of the three main river systems of Nepal.

Climate