Many aspire to reach Rara. But it is not easy to reach Rara in the far west from the east. I also wanted to visit Rara very much. After my friend posted a photo of Rara on Facebook, I wanted to go to Audhi Rara, but I was not able to go alone. Just as it is said that a shoe does not bite the mouth of a eater, the general meeting of the Federation of Journalists became an opportunity for me to go to Rara. On the 8th and 9th of Paush 2079, I got the news that the Central General Meeting of Nepal Journalist Federation has been fixed in Surkhet district.
As the treasurer of the Sindhuli district branch of the Journalist Association, I was responsible for the financial management of the central council members of the Journalist Association to participate in the central general meeting held in Surkhet district. My heart was happy in a way because it was my first time to travel to Surkhet and I was happy with the intention to travel from there to Rara if there was a chance to meet with journalists from all over the country, but on the other hand I felt that the challenge was also added. It was a challenge for me to bring colleagues and leading journalists to Surkhet in a comfortable, safe and calm environment.
Despite the challenge and the opportunity to visit, we decided to travel from Sindhuli to Surkhet at 2 o’clock on the 6th of Paush. On behalf of Nepal Journalists Mahasangh Sindhuli, Central Council Member Shyamhari Adhikari, Central Council Member Radhika Budhatok, Secretary of Journalists Mahasangh Sindhuli Puskar Thapa and I, Treasurer Anil Bhandari participated in the yatra.
From Sindhuli westwards through Madan Bhandari Highway we reached Hetauda and had lunch there. By the time we reached Hetauda, it was evening, but it was decided to continue the journey to shorten the journey. By the time we reached Nawalparasi via Makwanpur Chitwan, it was 11 o’clock at night. We decided to stay at a place called Sunwal in Nawalparasi. But when I reached Sunwal, all the hotels there were closed. Then it was decided to stay in Butwal. It was 1 o’clock in the night when we reached Butwal. Even there proper lodge could not be arranged so we decided to travel overnight.
While traveling till 6 in the morning on the 7th of Paush, we reached a place called Lamhi near Bhaluwang in Dang, the capital of Lumbini province. After the driver said that he was sleepy, we went to find a lodge in a hotel there to rest for a while. Entering the Mantra guest house, when we went there, we had settled down in the evening and were ready to go to the destination, then we started to manage the bedroom. In that hotel, we slept till around 10 am and got rid of some sleep and tiredness and the journey was scheduled again. From there, we continued our journey, taking photos and videos on the bridges over the rivers such as Babai River, Bheri River, etc., and reached Surkhet in the evening. There, the Association of Journalists had arranged for journalists from some districts of Bagmati Province to stay at the DFC Hotel. After the opening of the general meeting, we sat in the program for a while and on the same day visited Kankrevihar and Bulbul Lake in Surkhet.
That day we stayed at the same hotel as the previous night. In the evening we decided to reach Rara while having dinner. I asked some friends the way to Rara. He said it was very difficult. When it feels like the road is too cold, it is dangerous. When a senior journalist told us that the Karnali highway to Rara is the Kal Marg, we were very scared. However, it was decided to travel. At 8 o’clock in the morning on the 9th of Paush, we decided to travel from Surkhet to visit Rara in Mugu district. To go to Dullu in Dailekh district, there is a highway and another short subsidiary road, which is narrow but it is less than the highway, so we crossed the Dullu river in Dailekh district by asking for the way.
Going forward through Athabis municipality of Dailekh district, we have to go towards Kalikot through the side road of Karnali river. The Karnali flowing from Kanchan captivated all of us. We took pictures and videos of Karnali from time to time.
When we start moving forward from Dailekh, we can feel how difficult the mountainous terrain of Nepal is. While traveling along the coast of Karnali, one can see the beautiful mountains of Dailekh Achham and Calikot.
In the morning we had a normal breakfast in Surkhet and continued the journey, we were very hungry by this time. After about 1 o’clock we started looking for a place to eat. There are many small markets along the highway. Many small markets with strange names can be found during the trip. We had dinner with Karnali fish at Shahi Darmin Achhami Hotel in Ward No. 3 of Athabis Municipality in Dailekh District. Sweet oranges from Acham district are also available in that market. We bought some oranges and put them in the car. Not only that, we filled the car full of oil at a pump we found on the road, but after we found no other pump in front of that pump at a place called Sahi village, we moved forward with a 20 liter tank of diesel.
Dailekh can be found connected by a bridge built on the central hilly highway connecting Dailekh and Achham district. The journey along the Karnali river is very scenic. By the time we reach Humlabazar, Khadachakra Municipality 2 of Kalikot District, we have already left Dailekh. From a little ahead of Humlabazar, the Manma Bazaar of Calicut looks very picturesque. The market is located in a steep geographical location and looks very beautiful from the highway. We captured a photo of that beautiful market. By this time we had traveled more than one and a half hundred kilometers from Surkhet. After reaching Khadachakra municipality 1, you will reach Manma, the headquarters of Kalikot district.
Manma has a very picturesque market. There are no bank and ATM facilities anywhere else on the way to go directly to Rara. Therefore, if the pocket is empty, the Manma market is suitable for withdrawing the money in the account. We also took out some money and put it in the pocket. We continued the journey again. Now we have reached a place where we can see a very beautiful and big mountain. Even though the roads are dangerous due to collapse in some places, the roads are easy for small vehicles. Although it is narrow, there are many paved roads. We continued our journey enjoying the view of the mountain road, the harsh weather, the steep slopes and the beautiful mountain scenery.
By the time we reached Tilagufa municipality in Calikot district, it was late evening. So we decided to stay and moved on. After reaching Nagam Bazar, 1 of Tilagufa Municipality, we decided to stay and stayed at Chaya Nath Mugu Hotel there. From Nagm Bazar, the road to Jumla headquarter and to Mugu diverges. For travelers to Rara traveling from Surkhet, this place is a good place to stay. Here you can also find some hotels with facilities. Staying at the same place, we set out again the next morning. After about 7 km from there, you will come to a place called Jugda, where the specimens of historical Raj family saliks are kept. When we reached that place, we felt that it was getting very cold.
After seeing the Tila river flowing on the side of the road and the Kathe bridge built on it, the Raj family can be seen in Salik.
The increasing cold made us realize that it is a great thing to travel to Rara in the middle of the Paush month. In various high mountain districts including Karnali, water freezes in the winter season. I heard in the news that there is a lack of drinking water due to water freezing in all places. I was really surprised to see that it was frozen. Kula water flowing near the house yard is frozen and hard like stone. People used to say that when water freezes in the house yard, it will be very slippery and they will fall down. The road from Nagm to Mugu Rara is completely unpaved. We traveled looking at landslides and narrow roads and bare trees without even apple leaves on the side of the road.
After Tila, we are traveling through Hima Rural Municipality of Jumla. We were curious as to how the houses stuck on the steep ground. But it is impossible to find a flat land in the land where there is a huge hill, so the houses are built on the steep land. There are many small markets along the way. The market has interesting names. One has to travel through Sinja Jumla, the birthplace of the Khas Arya caste. We reach Chaya Nath Rara Municipality of Mugu District passing through Nepal Army Check Post and Police Check Post. Where there is green forest near the Rara Lake under the protection of the Nepal Army. We left the car from a small village near the same forest and went on a horse journey. Horse riding to reach the lake is a separate activity. When riding a horse for the first time in my life, I was afraid that I might fall or fall, but I was afraid at the beginning, but after a short ride, I really enjoyed riding the horse. Through horse travel, we passed around Rara Lake and reached Murmu Homestay located in Chaya Nath Rara Municipality of Jhamakka Szaha Mugu District.
We stayed at the homestay for the evening. Although the homestay is said to be near Rara Lake, you can stay there with the facilities of a modern hotel rather than a homestay. Since it was very cold, we warmed the fire until almost midnight and talked sweetly and understood the characteristics of Rara. The temperature in Rara was so cold that the next morning all the water in the Dhara bathroom bucket was frozen.
We were very surprised to see that the river was standing still. Another surprise is that the water in the bucket in the bathroom has completely frozen and turned like stone. In the midst of that fun, we started walking towards Rara Lake at around 8 o’clock in the morning. After walking for about half an hour, we reached the beautiful Rara Lake.
The journey from Sindhuli through Surkhet to Rara Lake is difficult and difficult, but after reaching the beautiful Rara Lake, you will forget and feel happy. Yes Rara is very beautiful.
The beauty of Rara Lake under the protection of the Nepali Army cannot be described. Rara Lake is also known as Mahendra Lake. The Rara lake with a height of 2990 meters, length of 5000 meters, width of 3000 meters and depth of 167 meters looks blue. Rara looks very beautiful around 12 noon. We went to Rara lake and enjoyed boating and came back with photos and videos. When we came back, the horse owner arrived with the horses from the previous day ready to come to the vehicle.
After riding a horse and taking photos near Rara’s lake, we returned. On the way back, the horsemen gave us a very pleasant journey by singing Western Deuda bhakas.
Thus I fulfilled my desire to travel to Rara. Rara is a very scenic and must visit place. You can travel by plane from Nepalgaj to Mugu headquarters Gamgarhi and go to Rara, but I thought that you should travel by car to see the beautiful settlement hills and dangerous roads that can be seen by car.
Published: 11 Jan 2079 23:21 Wednesday
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