RARA NATIONAL PARK

Area: 106 sq. km.

Established: 1976

Location:
Rara National Park is situated in the high mountains of Northwestern Nepal.

Features:
Rara National Park is the smallest park in Nepal, containing the country’s biggest lake (10.8 sq. km.) at an elevation of 2,990m. The park’s elevation ranges from 2,800m to 4,039m.

The forests are mostly composed of coniferous trees. The area around the lake is dominated by blue pine, black juniper, West Himalayan spruce, oak and Himalayan cypress. At about 3350m, pine and spruce give way to fir, oak and birch trees. Deciduous tree species like Indian horse chestnut, walnut and Himalayan popular are also found.

A small portion of the park serves as an ideal habitat for the endangered musk deer. Other animals found in the park include Himalayan black bear, leopard, goral, Himalayan tahr and wild boar. Snow trout is the only fish species recorded in the lake. Resident Gallinaceous birds and migrant waterfowl are found at the lake. The great-crested grebe, black-necked grebe and red-crested pochard are seen during the winter. Other common birds are the snowcock, chukor partridge, Impeyan pheasant (danphe), kalij pheasant and blood pheasant.

Back