Namaste, where are you from?
Jumla? A tiny boy responded somewhere
middle of the group.
Jumla! Where? I was thinking, the group of students were from somewhere
nearby Rara village. They were replying with reading data of Rara National Park
at the premises of Rara Lake.
I continuously asked, where are you from in
Sinja? They replied in group, Kanakasundari High School, Hatsinja, Jumla. Wow!
I really impressed with young children who are studying at grade 8 but
exceptionally look tiny. I am sure that it was because of compromised the basic
needs due to poverty associated with chronic malnutrition. In a way, these
children are lucky enough. They born in such a precious and historical place
where the Nepali language was evolved. And they could make Rara in a day
walking distance from their residence which is the biggest lake in Nepal.
Humm..how many children in Kathmandu have known about this facts and
passion except rhetoric responses during exams. Do the parents even tell this
crucial information with their children? Is any parent ready to send their
children to Rara on their own? About 20
children, who born as excluded and marginalized, I found them very wise, and
passionate towards the learning and nation. I really happy and grateful with my
friends and relatives who keep on sending their children all the way from USA
and beyond. Three years back, one of my Canadian professor, trekked from Jumla
to Mugu with her 9 and 11 years' daughters and I was doing 16 years running to
young girls. Today, it is time for having positive and proactive mind set and
move towards. I asked myself, why do my Nepali and non-Nepali folks don't like
to visit Seti-Karnali except official or sponsor trip.
Suddenly, I started to recall my childhood. I knew both Rara and Sinja
very simply when I was contested quiz competition at Gauriganj primary school,
Chitwan. During those days, neither I rode bus nor walked beyond 3 hours nor
knew the lakes where I spent my most of the time in and around two small lakes
in Chitwan national park namely 20 thousand and sisters in laws lake. I was sad when I knew the name of lakes again
in quiz contest. But time is changing though the pace is very slow and my dream
came to true.
It was third time of mine to meet Rara in 16 years course. First time,
I entered via Dafne lake,Jumla Jhyari
and Rara. Second time, I trekked from Narakot, Bota, Chuchemara and Rara. And
now, I walked through Kolti Bajura, Humla, Gamgadi, Mugu and Rara. There is an
another route, I yet to make; Kolti, Bolding Bajura, Katyad and Rara.
Hopefully, I could make it one day. Now, the rough motor road near to Rara Buffer
zone via Surkhet, just about 1 an hour takes place to reach Rara from there. The
road not really bad indeed. The road up to Nagma, boarder between Jumla and
Kalikot, blacktopped. Then the road is rough but not hard now. The foot trail
takes minimum 2 days to reach and 2 days to back either way from Jumla or Kolti.
I prefer to spend 3-3 days on trekking and 2 days in Rara lake to rejoice the
beauty of Rara. If there is any serious concern of health or any Emergency or
anything, there are other options too but required money to use flights up to
Gamgadi or Rara Army Barack for Helicopter. Further, Barack provides the medical service in
case of emergency. There are options to make trip more adventurous and
fruitful. Few of my friends from Australia had hired porters for tenting and camping
and horse riding which seems bit expensive but fantastic where as my friends
from Germany and Austria trek and stayed at home stay that is cheap as well as
more sharing and learning with community. The tenting at Rara lake, wow !
exceptionally lovely, but need warm clothes even during summer season due to
high altitude. Never forget to bring hiking socks to compete with steep hills.
It is situated at 2990-meter-high from the sea level, 5000-meter
length, 3000-meter width, 167-meter depth. However, realized that water level
is decreasing from the observation of my 3 visits. The Katyad river nearly look
like small drainage where as it was like big irrigation canal in 2003 and small
canal in 2014. It could be due to effect of climate change and irrational
development. The lake was surrounded by dense forest with couple of meadow. The
sun is colouring in a way during raise, shine and set that it is royal
choreographer. Too many things need to be done to preserve the essence of Rara.
The local management committee is trying to manage few things such as boating,
cleanliness, hotel management, safety and security etc. though long way to go.
Few of my friends complained, what's in Rara, nothing? I asked
questions to them before responding their question. what would you want to see
or escape? There is everything and so precious. Rara constantly is changing her
colours and motion throughout 24 hours, it is sleepless lake indeed. To me it
is more than us and plant though she hasn't have attributes as possess by
living things but she provides the habitat for many of us. You may not agree
with me but I claimed that Rara is more than us in many ways. It is ocean of
love and pride of each of us in Nepal. Rara is not for Pizza, mo:mo etc. it is
for sharing, reading, reciting poems, songs, yoga, meditation, living in nature
etc. and fully recharged for hope and stewardship for your personality, peace
and prosperity. You won't hear the
modern drums but you hear the music which is composed by fishes, birds, winds,
waves, leaves, rain around there. In between March to September, the weather is
very pleasant and sexy. It is for creation and recreation. The meadow occupies by
horses, cows, sheep, goats with and without their owner but they are bonded
with their own owner, returned at their respective family when the winter
starts by around September. Likewise,
the entire meadow is being occupied by varieties of flowers which gives of
feeling of all colours that exist in this universe. Thus, here, I strongly
recommended to spend at least 2 nights at Rara to feel REAL Rara. The more you feel,
bring more inspiration, love, passion and pride towards national which is
louder than words.
