Daily Itinerary
Day 1. Jumla → Danphe Langa (3720m)
The main trail to Rara goes through a high pass which remains closed when there is heavy snowfall during winter. When this happens, an alternate lower route has to be taken from Jumla. Walk up the main street and take the trail through Jugad valley and go past the hospital. Walk towards the Campus past the college buildings as the path gains in altitude. You come across the staff quarters of the Karnali Technical Institute. After going past Sisnamul, (2830m) a forest and then gentle meadows are encountered. Going further up there is a pasture for horses and sheep at a place called Chere (3100m). The going gets steeper and the trail leads through more meadows to finally arrive at Danphe Lagna which is a pass with good views of mountains like Patrasi and Jagdula Himal. The Danphe Lagna Camp (3500m) is reached after descending through rich birch, spruce and rhododendron forests. The camp is in a lovely meadow.
Day 2. Danphe Lagna Camp → Chautha
Descend as you follow a stream down to
Tharamara (3280m). There’s a steep drop through bamboo and fir forests until you
reach Hiran Duski (2840m). The trail then levels out followed by twists and turns
to reach Sinja Khola (river). Cross to the other side over a suspension bridge and
walk along the river until you reach Nyawre (2660m). Walking along the river bed
through fields, the trail then goes away from the river and climbs steadily up
passing below Bumra village and down again before crossing a stream. The trail
goes through Kabra which has a hotel under a rock overhang. Local people extract
silajit, which has curative properties from the rock and export to India. Climbing
further up one reaches a level stretch before arriving in Bhara (2920m). The trail
then passes through a village and descends to Chaura Khola. Cross the stream and
you are in Chautha (2770m), the day’s destination. There’s a hotel here. After
Chautha, the trail goes along the Sinja Khola all the way to Sinja.
Day 3. Chautha → Dhotu
Take the rocky trail up the stream and cross over. Walk
about half an hour from Chautha and the valley broadens. At Chante Chaur
(2940m) is a house in the middle of the fields. Follow the trail up to the gate of the
Rara National Park at Bhulbule (3130m) where permits are checked. Park entry
tickets are checked or issued here. Further up, the trail goes into a meadow and
climbs again until you come across chortens and prayer flags. This is the Ghurchi
Lagna pass (3450m). The Mugu Karnali river is seen from here and some snow-
covered mountains as well. Next up is the old trade route to Mugu through the
Mandu valley. Descend on a gentle drop followed by a steep incline through a
forest of spruce trees. By the time you’re down to (2900m), the trail levels out.
Look out for a trail junction. The trail to Rara looks deceptively unimpressive. A
broad road (once a trade route) leads on to Pina (2400m) and further up is Mugu.
The last bit of hiking is a pleasant one through level plain covered in pine. It then
descends to Jhyari Khola (2400m). The next stretch leads to Dhotu which has an
army camp and a helipad. One has to be careful to keep on the left and not be
tempted to descend. Finally cross the river.
Day 4. Dhotu → Rara Lake
The next village on the trail is Jhyami which is
reached by crossing the stream and climbing up to 2630m. Jhyami is a Thakuri
village. Climb up through cedar forest to reach a lovely large meadow on a ridge.
Great views of Rara Lake from above! Then it’s all the way down to the lake itself.
You cannot camp on the southern shore, so go to the north where the National Park
Headquarters and the camping grounds are. The hike alongside the lake to reach
the other side and camp site takes about 2 hours. The lake falls within the Rara
National Park, one of the finest parks in the world harboring rare animals like the
musk deer, Himalayan black bear, leopard, Himalayan goral, besides other
reclusive animals.
Day 5. Rara Lake
Towards the north of the lake can be seen what’s left of the
villages that had to be evacuated to designate the place a national park, and a few
houses of the park wardens. Rara Lake (2980m) has a circumference of 13 km and
walking around the entire lake is worthwhile. It’s an important lake for migrant
birds and recognized as a Ramsar site. Due to its remoteness, there are not many
visitors but perhaps that’s what will preserve the region’s pristine beauty.
Day 6. Rara Lake → Gorosingha
Many people choose to return via a different
route once they’ve had their fill of Rara Lake. Go to the western end of the lake
and follow the trail that goes along the Khatyar Khola to Majhkghatta. It’s about a
15 minute walk from the bridge. The next part of the journey takes you down to a
river which you cross over a log bridge. Then cross yet another stream and climb
up a hill where you will come across pine, spruce and rhododendron forests. The
trail then leads through a birch forest and meadows until a ridge (3660m) is
reached. Walk by a large valley with views of Rara Lake until you come to Gurchi
Mara (3710m) at the top. Snow-capped mountains come into view in the distance.
To reach Sinja from here, you either take the long easier route or the short but
steeper one. The long route is the main trail which goes down to Ghatta valley and
leads on to Gorosingha. To follow the shorter route, walk for about an hour from
below Ghurchi Mara and you will come across a nondescript trail junction just
before reaching Ghatta Khola. Stay on the treeless side of Ghatta valley and follow
the trail to the campsite near a stream.
Day 7. Gorosingha → Sinja
Many people choose to return via a different
route once they’ve had their fill of Rara Lake. Go to the western end of the lake
and follow the trail that goes along the Khatyar Khola to Majhkghatta. It’s about a
15 minute walk from the bridge. The next part of the journey takes you down to a
river which you cross over a log bridge. Then cross yet another stream and climb
up a hill where you will come across pine, spruce and rhododendron forests. The
trail then leads through a birch forest and meadows until a ridge (3660m) is
reached. Walk by a large valley with views of Rara Lake until you come to Gurchi
Mara (3710m) at the top. Snow-capped mountains come into view in the distance.
To reach Sinja from here, you either take the long easier route or the short but
steeper one. The long route is the main trail which goes down to Ghatta valley and
leads on to Gorosingha. To follow the shorter route, walk for about an hour from
below Ghurchi Mara and you will come across a nondescript trail junction just
before reaching Ghatta Khola. Stay on the treeless side of Ghatta valley and follow
the trail to the campsite near a stream.
Day 8. Sinja → Jaljala Chaur
Many people choose to return via a different
route once they’ve had their fill of Rara Lake. Go to the western end of the lake
and follow the trail that goes along the Khatyar Khola to Majhkghatta. It’s about a
15 minute walk from the bridge. The next part of the journey takes you down to a
river which you cross over a log bridge. Then cross yet another stream and climb
up a hill where you will come across pine, spruce and rhododendron forests. The
trail then leads through a birch forest and meadows until a ridge (3660m) is
reached. Walk by a large valley with views of Rara Lake until you come to Gurchi
Mara (3710m) at the top. Snow-capped mountains come into view in the distance.
To reach Sinja from here, you either take the long easier route or the short but
steeper one. The long route is the main trail which goes down to Ghatta valley and
leads on to Gorosingha. To follow the shorter route, walk for about an hour from
below Ghurchi Mara and you will come across a nondescript trail junction just
before reaching Ghatta Khola. Stay on the treeless side of Ghatta valley and follow
the trail to the campsite near a stream.
Day 9. Jaljala Chaur → Jumla
The trail out of Jaljala Chaur goes through forests
and a meadow below a ridge at 3510m. It then descends towards a cluster of
houses below at Chaur Khola. Cross a stream and walk around on the high side of
a valley to finally meet the trail going up at Chere (3010m). Follow the trail (in the
reverse direction) along which you came up from Jumla and walk through
Sisnamul, past the school and the Campus. Complete the circuit by reaching Jumla
where you started this fascinating journey nine days ago.
Our Travel Expert
Udaya Gartaula
+9779801026642
info@rolwalingtrek.com