Rara Lake, one of Nepal’s most attractive destinations for both domestic and international tourists, welcomed more than 19,000 visitors over the past year.
According to Rishikesh Yadav, Acting Chief of Rara National Park, a total of 19,104 visitors were recorded during the last fiscal year. Among them, 12,933 were male and 6,171 were female domestic tourists.
From SAARC countries, 77 tourists visited Rara—64 men and 13 women—while from third countries, 276 foreign tourists were recorded, including 163 men and 113 women.
In the current fiscal year 2082/83 (as of mid-October), 2,347 tourists have already visited Rara, including 1,589 men and 758 women, according to Yadav. Among them, 33 were foreign tourists.
With the upgrading of the Karnali Highway, the number of domestic visitors traveling to Rara by road has significantly increased. Yadav noted that this year, particularly during the Dashain and Tihar festivals, there was a notable rise in the number of Nepali visitors to the lake.
Rara Lake is steadily emerging as the premier tourist destination of Karnali Province. The number of visitors from Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces has also been increasing. The lake can be reached via Surkhet, Dailekh, Kalikot, and Jumla districts.
Alongside the scenic beauty of the lake, Rara National Park is home to 51 species of mammals, including musk deer, Himalayan goral, red panda, snow leopard, and black bear, which adds to its natural significance.
Local hotel entrepreneurs have emphasized that the Nagma–Gamgadhi Road and the Karnali Highway should be fully blacktopped, drawing the attention of all three tiers of government. They believe better infrastructure would further boost tourism and strengthen the Karnali region’s economy.
In recent years, there has been a growing trend among Nepalis to travel, explore rural areas, and engage in adventure and eco-tourism. Tourists are drawn by the Himalayan and hilly landscapes, as well as the unique culture, traditions, and natural beauty of the Karnali region.
Established in 1975 (BS 2032), Rara National Park covers an area of 106 square kilometers, encompassing most of Mugu District and parts of Jumla District.
Local Organic Products Gaining Popularity Among Tourists
Local agricultural products have become a favorite among domestic tourists traveling to Rara and nearby Jumla. According to Arjun Budha, operator of Raralihi Organic Shop in Khalanga Bazaar, organic and indigenous products from Jumla are increasingly popular due to their health benefits and unique taste.
During this year’s Dashain and Tihar festivals, organic products worth Rs 300,000 to Rs 500,000 were sold. Budha added that last year, the shop recorded sales worth Rs 1.2 million, including apple chips, Marsi rice, beans, walnuts, buckwheat flour, millet flour, chino, kaguno, and honey—all locally grown organic goods.
