Mugu, February 23

Tourists visiting Rara Lake, a popular tourism destination in Mugu, have been facing hassles for want of necessary infrastructure.

Tourists from Bajura, Kalikot, Jumla, Humla and Dolpa, who want to reach the lake on foot, have to travel via Talcha while those wishing to avail themselves of flight service can fly from Nepalgunj and Surkhet airports to Talcha.

Rara Lake is three hours’ trek from Talcha. However, visitors have complained of great hassles due to lack of road signs on the way.

Gopal Bam, a local, rued the lack of infrastructure on the route, saying, “Every year we hear that the Tourism Board spends millions of rupees for the development of tourism destinations, but no development of any kind has taken place in the region so far.”

Domestic tourist Santosh Bam shared the hassles he had to face for want of road signs on the route. “As there are no signs or the likes on the route, we were confused and wandered in the forest for some time before luckily finding the right way,” said Bam, adding, “Besides, there are no human settlements, eateries or hotels on the way.”

Another domestic tourist Bishal Adhikari said, “There is also the danger of tourists getting robbed and porters fleecing them. Lack of road access to the famous lake site proves that the state has neglected this piece of heaven.”

Though the Nepali Army has been providing security at the national park, there is no check-post elsewhere on the route.

According to data with Rara National Park Office, over 60 domestic tourists and 10 foreigners visit the lake every day.