Rara National Park

Rara National Park is the smallest national park in Nepal, yet it guards the country's single most striking body of water — the deep-blue Rara Lake in the remote far-western highlands. Established in 1976, this compact park rings the largest lake in Nepal with pine, spruce and juniper forest and a surprising wealth of Himalayan wildlife.

Location and landscape

The park covers about 106 square kilometres in Mugu and Jumla districts of Karnali Province, in Nepal's isolated far west. It is centred on Rara Lake at roughly 2,990 metres, hemmed in by forested ridges and snow-dusted peaks. The surrounding hills are cloaked in blue pine, spruce and juniper, with open meadows that draw grazing wildlife.

Wildlife and scenery

For its size the park is rich in wildlife: red panda in the conifer forests, Himalayan black bear, musk deer, ghoral, leopard and Himalayan tahr, plus resident and migratory birds drawn to the lake, including the coot, snowcock and various waterfowl. The scenery is the headline — the lake's water shifts through shades of blue and green with the light, ringed by blue pine, spruce and juniper and reflecting the snow-streaked western ranges. In autumn the surrounding forest turns gold and russet, and the sense of remoteness and quiet here is rare even by Nepali standards, with no road noise and few other travellers.

Why visit

Travellers come for solitude and one of the most beautiful lakes in the Himalaya, far from any crowds. Boating, the shoreline circuit walk and the climb to Murma Top for panoramic views are the highlights. For the lake's full visiting detail and fast facts, see the Rara Lake guide, set within this national park.

How to get there

The practical route is a flight from Nepalgunj to the Talcha airstrip (closest to the lake) or to Jumla, followed by a short drive or a trek of one to three days. Overland by road from the lowlands is possible but long, rough and slow, so most travellers fly at least one leg and build in buffer days for weather.

Best time to visit

Autumn (September to November) and spring (April to May) bring the clearest skies and most comfortable temperatures. Winter is cold and snowy at the lake's elevation, while the monsoon makes the weather-dependent mountain flights and trails unreliable.

Permits and fees

Visitors need a national park entry permit, paid at the park boundary, with daily rates highest for foreign nationals and lower for SAARC and Nepali citizens. A small number of basic lodges and a campsite serve visitors near the lake. Carry your passport and cash, as facilities are limited and remote.

Conservation note

The park's value lies in protecting an exceptionally pristine high-altitude lake and its forests, including red panda habitat, from logging and overgrazing. Because the region is lightly serviced and fragile, low-impact travel matters: carry out all waste, use local lodges and guides, and avoid disturbing wildlife or the lakeshore vegetation.

Rara is the jewel of the far west. Compare it with the vast trans-Himalayan Shey Phoksundo National Park in Dolpo, the high grasslands of Khaptad National Park, or browse the full national parks of Nepal collection.