Nepal

Karnali Province

Nepal's Largest and Most Remote Province

Karnali is Nepal's largest province and its most rugged frontier. Home to Rara Lake (Nepal's largest), the ancient Khas Kingdom temples, and the beginning of the Dolpa circuit, Karnali offers some of Nepal's most dramatic and least-visited landscapes.

27,984 km²

Area

Kanjiroba (6,883m)

Highest point

Rara, Phoksundo

Key lakes

Rara NP, Shey Phoksundo NP

Notable parks

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Destinations in Karnali Province

Karnali Province

Dailekh & Khas Temples

Before the Gurkhas, before Prithvi Narayan Shah, there was the Khas Kingdom, and its most sacred site still stands in Dailekh. The Kakre Bihar temple complex is one of Nepal's least-visited and most historically significant wonders.

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Karnali Province

Humla & Limi Valley

Humla, on the Tibet border, has no road link to the rest of Nepal, so trips start with a small aircraft into Simikot. The Limi Valley loop through Halji, Til and Jang takes about three weeks and needs a restricted-area permit.

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Karnali Province

Jumla Historic Town

Jumla is a Karnali bazaar town at about 2,370 m, with flights from Nepalgunj, a two-day road from Surkhet, two old pagoda temples and the Sinja Valley nearby. It is the staging post for the three to four day walk to Rara Lake.

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Karnali Province

Mugu Karnali Highlands

The remote highland region of Mugu district beyond Rara Lake, bordering the Kanjiroba massif, where the Karnali River begins its course through Nepal.

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Karnali Province

Rara National Park

Rara Lake sits at 2,990 m in Mugu district and is the largest lake in Nepal at about 10.8 square kilometres. Reaching it means a weather-dependent flight to Talcha, a two to three day drive, or a walk in from Jumla.

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Karnali Province

Rukum & Rolpa

The Rukum and Rolpa highlands span three districts and two provinces, with the Jaljala grassland pass at their centre. Roads reach the district towns, walking starts where they stop, and no restricted-area permit is needed.

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Karnali Province

Shey Phoksundo Lake

Shey Phoksundo is a cobalt lake at about 3,610 m in Dolpa, three to four days on foot from the Juphal airstrip. It sits inside a restricted area, so a permit, a licensed guide and an agency booking are all needed before you fly.

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Karnali Province

Sinja Valley

The birthplace of the Nepali language and seat of the historic Khas Malla Kingdom, a heritage valley in Kalikot district that almost no travelers visit.

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Explore Other Regions

Sudurpashchim Province

Far-Western Nepal: Untouched Himalayan Frontier

Lumbini Province

Birthplace of Buddha, Home of Bardiya's Tigers

Gandaki Province

Route into Western Nepal's Himalayas

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