KATHMANDU – Rara Lake, a popular tourist destination in the Mugu district that was marred for long by the global COVID-19 pandemic, has slowly begun attracting an increasing number of domestic tourists.
The number of tourists flooding the area has shot up during the festivals of Dashain and Tihar, said the Rara National Park Office. At present, the lake witnessed around 150 domestic tourists, said the National Park’s officiating conservation officer Padam Buda.
“The lake that wore a deserted look in the past has now seen an increasing number of domestic tourists. At present, hotels and villages in the area have been filled with tourists,” he said.
Approximately 3,000 local tourists visited the Lake in the Nepali month of Asoj and Kartik at the time of the Dashain, said the National Park. Most of the tourists reached the area on motorcycles, vehicles, or by air, said Buda.
Private airlines like Tara, Sita and Goma operated five to seven flights between Surkhet and Nepalgunj on a daily basis. The best time of the year to visit the Lake is in Chaitra, Baisakh, Jestha, Bhadra, Asoj and Kartik.
“Generally, tourists visit the area after winter and monsoon. During other times, the area sees a slim number of tourists,” said Ramesh Raut of Jhyari in the Mugu district.
