Rasu Tal in Sunsari Emerges as Prime Tourist Attraction with Unique Fishing Experience

Sunsari. The district is home to dozens of lakes and wetlands. However, Rasu Tal, located in Ramdhuni Municipality-7 of Sunsari, has recently become a major attraction for domestic and international tourists. This lake, spread peacefully amidst natural beauty, wide plains, and the surrounding Char Koshe forest, sees a rush of tourists daily.

The main draw of Rasu Tal, which possesses distinct features compared to other lakes, is the availability of all-day fishing alongside scenic viewing. Because of this, tourists flock here daily from Dharan, Itahari, Biratnagar, Dhankuta, Birgunj, and various parts of India.

This area, considered particularly suitable for picnics, has infrastructure ready to accommodate up to 145 groups at once. According to Bhim Bahadur Majhi, Secretary of the Rasu Tal Management Committee, during the peak picnic season, more than eight to ten thousand tourists visit daily, and even during the off-season, more than two to three hundred tourists visit daily. Most tourists arrive in the months of Mangsir, Poush, and Baisakh/Jestha.

The lake, spread over approximately eight hectares out of the 61 hectares managed by the Community Forest Consumer Group, began to be developed as a model tourist area through local initiatives since 2071 BS, linking it to the national hero Iman Singh Chemjong. The committee stated that the Koshi Province Ministry of Tourism constructed a view tower, erected a statue of Iman Singh Chemjong, and fenced 29 hectares using NPR 8 million allocated under the 2077/78 budget. Furthermore, a model temple representing over a hundred ethnic groups, a cultural fair, and a museum have also been constructed here.

According to Committee Secretary Majhi, tourists can fish from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM upon paying a fee of NPR 300. Tourists are allowed to take home the fish they catch throughout the day; some have caught up to 10 kg of fish. Seven species of fish, including Rohu, Grass Carp, and Catla, are found in the lake.

Tourists visiting the lake can enjoy boating facilities, and they can observe wildlife such as rabbits, owls, eagles, monkeys, and pythons at the zoo, informed Secretary Majhi. To make the area more attractive, an island costing approximately NPR 1.5 million has been constructed in the middle of the lake, and arrangements have been made to cross over via three wooden bridges. Additionally, the environmental beauty has been enhanced by planting rare pine and Siris saplings found in the Terai region. A main entrance gate and a treehouse, from which the entire lake can be viewed, have also been constructed at a cost of approximately NPR 2.5 million.

The committee reports an annual income of NPR six to seven lakh from picnics and boating. This income is being spent on lake conservation and infrastructure development. Local traders report that surrounding snack shops and other businesses have become active with the influx of tourists. Locals state that investment from provincial and local governments is necessary as some infrastructure construction remains incomplete due to budget constraints. The committee is committed to conservation as there is potential to develop Rasu Tal, established as an important tourist destination, into a basis for economic prosperity.