Jumla is the capital of the Jumla District in the Karnali Zone of Nepal, a landlocked country of Southeast Asia. The town is located at an altitude of 2514 metres (8251 feet). Jumla District, a part of Karnali Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal. The district, with Jumla as its district headquarters, covers an area of 2,531 km² and has a population (2001) of 89,427. The origin of Nepali language is Sinja of Jumla. Therefore, the Nepali dialect "Khas Bhasa" is still spoken among the people in this region.
Jumla, on the banks of the Tila River, is one of the highest rice growing areas in the world. The Tila Valley as well as the Sinja Khola Valley are covered with paddy fields growing the 'Kala Marci' rice variety, a unique red rice that is sought after for its special taste. Jumla is a zonal headquarters of the Karnali zone. It has a STOL airport, Jumla Airport, and the road network first reached it from Surkhet in May 2007 It is the usual starting point for treks to Rara Lake.In the western part of the country, Jumla & Rara lie in the remote Karnali region, northwest of Kathmandu. The Rara region is made-up of long ridges covered with temperate forests and alpine pastures enclosing high valleys. Summer rainfall is low, but winter snow can be heavy and persistent. Since the region is fairly high and free from monsoon thunderstorms, the summer season is ideal for trekking. Winters are cold, but the autumn seasons trekking is rewarded with a profusion of alpine flowers.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. Being among the local people with their distinctive culture and traditions gives the visitor a unique experience and makes for a wonderful holiday. The primitive people give the trekker a look backward and a chance to reflect on his own modern society and development. The great high mountains scenery enchants and fascinate as always. Like most of Nepal, Rara National Park is a naturalist's dream. Animals like the gaur, serow, musk deer, yellow-throated martin and a wide variety of birds such as the impeyan pheasant, Kalij and dove are ever present.
Typical of mountains, the flora of the park comprises mainly coniferous trees. Somewhat similar to the Sagarmatha National Park, the area around the lake is dominated by Blue Pine up to 3200 meters. Some of the other plants that are common in Rara National Park include Rhododendrons, Black Juniper, Himalayan Spruce, Oak and Himalayan Cypress. Above this elevation a mixed Coniferous forest of Pine, Spruce and Fir replaces the vegetation. At about 3350 meters they give way to Fir, Oak and Birch forest.
