Travel Nepal

Engraving taken from the journey report of Gustave Le Bon titled “Voyage au Népal“ (Journey to Nepal) published on pages 225 to 272 of French illustrated magazine "Le Tour du Monde" in 1885

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Nepal: Responding Proactively to Glacial Hazards

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Glacial lake in Nepal Photo credit: flickr/magical-world

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Full Case Study (PDF, 638 Kb)

Summary:

Glaciers in Nepal are shrinking due to warmer temperatures, forming glacial lakes which can burst and cause destructive glacial lake outburst floods (known as GLOFs) in downstream valleys. The Tsho Rolpa glacial lake is the largest of its kind in the Nepali Himalayas, and the threat of it flooding led the Government of Nepal to take proactive measures in the late 1990s. These included setting up an emergency warning system to alert local communities, and lowering the lake’s level by three meters. These measures, taken in 1997-98 are thought to have averted the prospect of a disastrous flood.
In addition, after detailed scientific and technical studies, a flood prevention system was put into place. This consisted of a channel cut to allow water to flow out of the lake, with the overflow used to power a micro-hydro plant. A permanent maintenance staff was also hired and the structures remain well-maintained. The early warning systems, however, ceased to be operational in 2002 despite the fact that a robust system was commissioned using the latest technology. This failure can be attributed to an absence of funding for maintenance, as well as lack of response by local communities, whom, the authors argue, had not been adequately educated about the risks of floods or trained in how to use the early warning system.

About the Authors:

Arun Bhakta Shrestha is a Climate Change Specialist in the Integrated Water and Hazard Management Program at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), a mountain-focused institution working in the eight countries of the Himalayas. His main areas of expertise include climate change, glaciers and glacial hazards, glacial lake outburst mitigation, atmospheric environment, remote sensing, and hydrological modeling. He was actively involved in the Tsho Rolpa Risk Reduction Project and was on the scientific team preparing the First National Communication of Nepal to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Arun has a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of New Hampshire, USA, and a Master’s degree in Hydraulic Engineering from Minsk, Belarus.

Susan Tambi Matambo has a Master’s degree in environmental management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. At Yale, she focused her masters research study on the influence of global institutions on domestic environmental policy. She worked in various capacities for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Secretariat and Evaluation Office from 2004-2010, as well as with the Wildlife Conservation Society in Africa. Susan has lived in Africa, South East Asia and the United States and is currently an independent consultant working on climate change issues.

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Rara --- The beautiful and biggest lake + Rara National Park

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(for more picture click Rara...)

Rara Lake (2980 m) lies in the remote Karnali region in the north-west of Nepal and is centerpiece of Rara Lake National Park. Rara Lake is Nepals largest lake and is a clear blue mountain lake with juniper, spruce and pine trees along its shores and snowcapped peaks in the distance. We fly in to Jumla and the first part of the trek takes us through forests and over alpine meadows with herds of sheep and goats. After three days we reach the stunning Rara Lake with fantastic views of Dolpo and Tibetan mountains across the deep blue water. We spend a day exploring the area with abundant wildlife and enjoy the quiet beaches and the views. The four day return trek to Jumla takes us through remote villages and alpine pastures with great views of the mountain ranges on the border to Tibet and southern part of Humla.

Trekking in Rara Lake offers the best scenery on the north-western most side of Nepal. Within its confines lie the Rara national park, the smallest park in Nepal, where in turn the country's largest lake, the Rara Lake can be found (10.8 sq. km. At 2,990 meters). Considered one of the finest parks in the world, Rara National Park abounds in coniferous forest and is the ideal habitat for the musk deer, Himalayan black bear and other faunae. The Danfe (Impeyan Pheasant) the national bird of Nepal, flies above while a variety of fish, the snow trout, inhabit the Rara lake. Adding charm to the region are its generally open-hearted and friendly people. The trek can begin in Jumla (over an hours flight from Kathmandu) or from the nearer Nepalgunj.

Rara is a good destination point for trekking in the west. The trail is very much "off the beaten path" and affords glimpses of culture and scenery very different from those in the rest of the country. The centerpiece of the park is the biggest lake of Nepal. Along mountain paths and a series of picturesque villages, one reaches the magnificent banks of Rara lake. The park includes Trans- Himalayan valley with high ridges covered with forest and alpine pastures.

view of Rara

When is the best season?

The best season for this trek is half of February to First week of June and September to early December.

Half of February to First week of June: From the half of February until the first part of June temperatures are relatively warm, 10° to 15° warmer than in the fall. Mornings are bright and clear with the air slowly becoming hazier as the day progresses. The rhododendron forests in springtime are spectacular, with color displays that are "Himalayan" in beauty. June is warm and green with many fewer people - the sense of solitude is much greater than other seasons.

September to half of December: September to early December is an ideal time for the best mountain views. The days are typically sunny and clear with moderate temperatures and the evenings are usually quite cold.

Note: July to August is the Monsoon period in Nepal. However, it is possible to do trekking in rain shadow area like Mustang, Rara, Dolpo, Annapurna circuit, Lantang valley, Everest base camp and Gokyo valley respectively.

How can you trek in Rara Lake area ?

Rara Lake Trekking can be organize only camping (Tented Camp). On a camping trek you will sleep in tents. The staff includes a guide, cook, Sherpa and sufficient porters to carry all trekking gear. Even if you have never camped before, there is no need to worry that you won’t enjoy the experience. The tents we provide are roomy, the sleeping pads/ mattresses are comfortable and international style food of a high standard is freshly prepared and served. On all of our treks a bathroom tent is provided as well as a dining tent with tables and camp stools, providing a cozy, comfortable atmosphere to eat and chat with fellow trekkers during the evening.

How Camping Trek is Operated?

In a typical Camping Trek, day starts around 6 a.m. with a cup of hot tea or coffee followed by a bucked of warm water for their washing and cleaning. After packing up their stuff and daypack, the trekkers are requested to leave their camp and meet at the dinning table for breakfast. The trek started around 7.30 - 8 a.m. and the kitchen staffs go ahead of the group.
Our well trained staff pack all camping equipment and gears and the porters carry them to the next camping site. The trekkers should carry only personal belongings that they may need for the day like water bottle, rain gear, camera, etc.

The Trekkers can decide on their own on time for viewing the beautiful landscape, taking photographs and resting or making a short pause. The walk to the lunch spot normally takes 3 hours. Our cook and assistant serves hot lunch upon arrival. The afternoon walk takes about 3 to 4 hours to reach at the night camp around 4/5 p.m. Tea and snacks are served while our sherpa pitch the camp. The dinner is served around 6/7 p.m. in the dining tent lit with a pressurized lantern and furnished with table and camping tools. We provide high quality tents, foam and mattress, and a simple toilet tent in every camp for once comfort.

Fact of the Trek

Place Covers Rara Lake
Group Size Min.1, Max. 9

Trek Grade Moderate
Min. altitude 2370m
Max. altitude 3500m
Season February to June and September to November
Transportation Tourist Bus (Kathmandu - Kathmandu)
Trek Duration 14 Days
Age Limit 10 to 70