Rigtal of Baglung fascinates tourists

Kathmandu: At the top of the high mountain there is a lake. The cool climate, peaceful atmosphere and the chirping sound of birds entice the heart.

Patihalne and Rigtal (lakes) here are bustling with domestic tourists, are waiting to welcome many more domestic and foreign tourists. The beautiful view from Rigtal, which is considered the head of Nisikhola (a stream named after Nishi), has attracted thousands of people.

Lately, hundreds of tourists have been coming here daily to enjoy the beauty of Patihalne and Rigtal. This lake lies on the border of Nisikhola Rural Municipality of Gandaki Province and East Rukum of Lumbini Province.

When the project of national pride was connected with Puspalal Highway (Madhyapahari Lokmarg), then its propagation started rapidly.

The locals did not imagine that Rigtal, which was being used by shepherds for drinking water, would be developed as a tourist destination one day.

Local resident Bikash Ghartimagar says that the arrival of tourists has increased after the highway road was blacktopped. “In the past, not many people came here, shepherds used to graze sheep and cattle in this place, but soon after the road was blacktopped, hundreds of people come to visit with their cars. Now the lake has become better, it is not like before”.

Village Chairman Surya Bahadur Ghartimagar said that Nisikhola Rural Municipality has started building infrastructure to manage the lake. According to chairman Ghartimagar, the rural municipality has started promoting and building infrastructure in this area.

“The name of Rigtal (lake) is mainly derived from the Kham language spoken by Kham people of this region. “Ri” means water and “c” means deep, which means frozen in one place.  From this lake, one can see the view of various places in Baglung district, Rolpa, Rukum, Gulmi, Pyuthan, Arghakhanchi, Parbat, and other places.

Dozens of snow ranges and high mountain regions such as Machhapuchche, Annapurna, Dhawalagiri, etc. can be seen from this magnificent lake.