Pokhara Valley is the most picturesque and popular destination for visitors to Nepal, enchanted by its lovely lakes Phewa, Begnas and Rupa. Pokhara offers magnificent views of Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, Annapurna etc. Pokhara is the tourism capital of Nepal.
Heaven is a myth, Pokhara is real.
When one thinks about traveling & spending the best holidays of a lifetime, people start to think about the Pokhara City of Nepal, as it has been the dreamland of tourists for a very long time. By itself surrounding area provides ample scope for short walks and day trips, suitable for children or weary trekkers that can be made around the valley.
One of the most iconic images of Pokhara is Fewa Lake, the second largest lake in the country, and there are two other larger lakes in Pokhara that is Begnas and Rupa Lake. The other iconic image of Pokhara is Machapuchhre Himal. Mountain bike provides one of the best ways to see Pokhara.
Pokhara is also starting and base point for the most famous trekking circuits and adventurous trekking of Nepal. It is also a gateway to the world-famous Annapurna circuit trekking, Annapurna Base Camp, Ghorepani, Ghandruk, Pooh Hill, and Jomsom Muktinath trekking trail. So Pokhara is the center of adventure.
Things to do in pokhara
- Golf
- Hiking
- Boating
- Ziplining
- Sky Diving
- Paragliding
- Birdwatching
- Museum Tours
- Bungee Jumping
- Mountain Biking
- Mountain Viewing
- Ultralight Flights
- Hot air balloon
7 lakes of Pokhara
There are many lakes in Pokhara such as Fewa Lake, Begnas Lake, Rupa Lake, Dipang Lake, Maidi Lake, Gude Lake, Neurani Lake & Khaste Lake. These seven lakes of Pokhara are popular among domestic and foreign tourists.
- Phewa lake – Boating PHEWA LAKE, Pokhara tour, Pokhara sightseeing, Sarangkot hikingPhewa Lake is the center of all attractions in Pokhara. It is the largest and most enchanting of three lakes that add to the resplendence of Pokhara. Here, one can sail or row a hired boat across the water of the lake or visit the island temple in the middle of the lake, The eastern shore, popularly known as Lakeside or Baidam, is the favorite haunt of all traveler’s restaurants, handicraft shops and other tourist facilities are located.
- Rupa Lake – Rupa Lake is located southeast of Pokhara which is the third biggest lake in Pokhara. It is about 10 km far from Pokhara.
- Begnas Lake – The second largest among the lakes in Pokhara Valley, Begnas Lake is located in the southeast of the Pokhara. It is a popular tourist destination in Pokhara.
- Maidi Lake – Maidi Lake the smallest lake in the municipality. The lake, which is spread over 1.17 hectares, is one of the most beautiful lakes. It is surrounded by snow-capped peaks and lush green forests.
- Dipang lake – Dipang lake popular as honeymoon lake. This lake is listed in the World Wetland List in 2016.
- Gude Lake – Gude Lake is located on the northeast side of Budhibazar in the Lekhnath municipality of Kaski.
- Neurani Lake and Khaste Lake – Neureni Lake and Khaste Lake are separated just by a dam. These lakes are located in the Lekhnath municipality of Kaski, Nepal. Neureni Lake is also known as Niureni Lake and Nyureni Lake. Neureni Lake is proposed to be developed for fishery operations and Khaste Lake is proposed for bird watching.
Davis fall
Devi’s Fall Locally known as Patale Chango, is a lovely Waterfall about 2 km south West of Pokhara airport on the Siddhartha Highway.
Caves in Pokhara
Mahendra cave
Mahendra Cave is the Another of nature’s wonders in Pokhara is the Mahendra gufa. This large limestone cave is locally known as the House of Bats an apt name for it. A two- hours walk to the north of Pokhara, it is best to bring your own torch to see the stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the local winged residents.
A large limestone cave Mahendra Cave is located at Batulechaur in Pokhara. The mouth of the cave is easy to enter and the width of the entrance of this cave is 16 meters. The width in the middle of the cave is 3.5 meters and its length is 275 meters. It is about 6 km from downtown Pokhara, 4 km from Mahendrapul and 6 km from the Lakeside.
The Crazy Cave
The Crazy Cave is located on a hillside of Armala, a town and sub-metropolitan in Pokhara. It is a 300 meters long cave where few people have tried to enter. This cave can have strange effects on you as you go into its depths. It is also said that this cave is not suitable for faint-hearted people. It is advised not to enter this cave without an experienced guide because tunnels within the cave might confuse you. There are bushes all over the cave area.
One day an American yogi thought to meditate inside the cave. He entered the cave and was astonished to see the cave. When he came out from the cave, he said Oh god, it’s a crazy cave. Since then, the cave has been named, “The Crazy Cave”. Inside the cave, you’ll find glittering stones when you throw a beam of light onto these stones. Tourists can reach there from Prithvi Chowk or Lakeside.
Bat Cave
In the Nepali language, Bat Cave is known as Chamero Gufa which is situated half km west of Mahendra Cave. This cave is one of the popular tourist destinations in Pokhara which is formed of limestone. It is surrounded by forest and has one entrance and one exit.
Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave
Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave a scared cave underneath a waterfall is located near Davi’s Falls in Pokhara where the Seti River emerges from underground. Pokhara is the second largest beautiful city in Nepal surrounded by the snow-capped peaks on the horizon.
Seti Gandaki
Seti Gandaki Gorge Another of Pokhara’s natural wonders is the Seti Gandaki River. Flowing right through the city, the boisterous river runs underground at places. Amazingly, at certain places, the river appears hardly two meters wide. However, its depth is quite beyond imagination, over 20 m. Mahendrapul, a small bridge near the old mission hospital, provides a perfect view of the river’s dreadful rush and the deep gorge made by its powerful flow.
The main attraction of this village is the Bajra Barahi Shrine. Barahi is the name of one of the Mother Goddesses Ajima. It lies in the center of a thick grove, three hundred meters from the center of the village. The temple was built 500 years ago. Locally called the Bindhyabasini Mandir, this white dome-like structure dominates a spacious stone–paved courtyard built atop a world peace temple, peace pagoda, Pokhara tour, Pokhara sightseeing, Sarangkot hiking shady hillock. It is dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati, yet another manifestation of Shakti. The park–like grounds offers a fine picnic area; on Saturdays and Tuesdays when devotees flock there to offer sacrifices, it takes on a festive flavor.
World peace pagoda
World peace pagoda is situated on the top of a hill on the southern shore of Fewa Lake. It has Buddha facing in four directions. The Pagoda is an impressive sight and its hilltop location commands a grand view. It is a great vantage point, which offers a spectacular view of the Annapurna range and Pokhara city.
Stretching from east to west, the Annapurna massif includes Annapurna I to IV and Annapurna South. Although the highest among them is Annapurna I at 8091 meters, it is Machhapuchhre, which dominates all others in this neighborhood.
Museums in Pokhara
International Mountaineering Museum
The International Mountaineering Museum is located 5 km from Lakeside. You can get information on mountaineering in this museum.
Annapurna Butterfly Museum
This museum is located inside the Prithvi Narayan campus complex. It is also known as the natural history museum where you can find a collection of butterflies, insects, birds etc.
Gurkha Memorial Museum
This museum is on the premises of the British Camp. Here, you’ll find uniforms, medals, pictures etc used by Gorkha soldiers during the first and second world wars.
Religious places of Pokhara
Barahi temple
The Barahi temple is the most important monument in Pokhara. Built almost in the Center of Fewa Lake, this two-storied pagoda is dedicated to the boar manifestation of Ajima, the protector deity representing the female force of Shakti.
Begnas Lake is situated in the eastern part of Pokhara Valley, at a distance of 15 km from Pokhara. Tourists can relax in the lodges and resorts situated alongside the lake. Yet another popular lake of Pokhara is the Rupa Lake. It is separated from Begnas Lake by a bridge known as Pachabhaiya. The lakes offer the perfect nature retreat because of their relative seclusion and opportunities for boating and fishing.
Bindabasini Temple
Bindabasini Temple is devoted to the goddess Bindhyabasini. This temple is believed to be one of the oldest temples in Pokhara. Hindu wedding ceremonies are done on the premises of this temple.
Hiking
Naudanda complete guide with Naudanda day hike
kahun danda complete guide with Kahun Danda Hiking
Thulako hiking
Begnaskot hiking
Dhampus day hiking
Begnaskot hiking
Sarangkot day hiking
Sarangkot – Naudanda day hiking
Kahun danda day hiking
World Peace Pagoda day hiking
Trekking
Lahachowk Ghachok village tour and trek info
Nirmal Pokhari village and tourism activities
Panchase trek
Ghandruk trek
Sikles trek
Poon hill trek
Mardi Himal trek
Mohare Danda trek
Khopra Danda trek
Australian camp trek
Ghandruk Village trek
Annapurna Base Camp trek
Ghorepani Poon Hill trek
Other attractions
Bhalam village in Pokhara travel information
Dhikur Pokhari Village travel information
Hemja Village travel information
kristi village in Pokhara travel information
Majhthana village and travel information
Pumdi Bhumdi village and travel information
Ultralight air craft
Ultralight aircraft is being operated from Pokhara. It has a unique blend of both mountain and plateau areas. While flying over the Pokhara valley, you will not miss the scenic beauty of both the Himalayas and the most famous lake of Nepal ‘Phewa’ Lake. The flight will be a journey through nature. This is truly a unique experience.
Paragliding
Mandre dhunga paragliding in Pokhara
Rafting in Pokhara
Rafting in Pokhara is a thrilling adventure that allows visitors to experience the rush of white-water rapids amidst the stunning natural beauty of the region. While Pokhara is primarily known for its lakes and mountainous landscapes, nearby rivers provide excellent opportunities for exciting rafting experiences.
Mountains in Kaski district
Annapurna IV – 7525 M / 24688 FT
Singu Chuli – 6501 M / 21329 FT
Hiun Chuli – 6434 M / 21109 FT
Gandharva Chuli – 6248 M / 20499 FT
Mountains seen from Pokhara
Pokhara, a picturesque city in Nepal, is surrounded by stunning mountain ranges, including the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. Some of the prominent mountains visible from Pokhara include:
- Annapurna Range:
- Annapurna I (8,091 meters / 26,545 feet)
- Annapurna II (7,937 meters / 26,040 feet)
- Annapurna III (7,555 meters / 24,787 feet)
- Annapurna IV (7,525 meters / 24,688 feet)
- Annapurna South (7,219 meters / 23,684 feet)
- Machapuchare (Fishtail):
- Machapuchare (6,993 meters / 22,943 feet)
- Dhaulagiri Range:
- Dhaulagiri I (8,167 meters / 26,795 feet)
- Dhaulagiri II (7,751 meters / 25,427 feet)
- Dhaulagiri III (7,715 meters / 25,318 feet)
- Dhaulagiri IV (7,661 meters / 25,135 feet)
- Dhaulagiri V (7,618 meters / 24,993 feet)
- Himchuli (Annapurna):
- Himchuli (6,441 meters / 21,132 feet)
- Gangapurna (Annapurna):
- Gangapurna (7,455 meters / 24,457 feet)
- Lamjung Himal:
- Lamjung Himal (6,983 meters / 22,910 feet)
Pokhara is not just a city, it’s a Paradise:
Pokhara is renowned for its stunning scenery, with the majestic Annapurna Range. The serene Phewa Lake mirrors the surrounding peaks, creating postcard-perfect views. The city’s charm lies not only in its natural beauty but also in the warm hospitality of its people.
Adventure:
For adrenaline junkies, Pokhara offers a plethora of adventure activities. From paragliding over the Phewa Lake to trekking in the Annapurna region, the city caters to all levels of thrill-seekers. The Annapurna Circuit trek, one of the world’s most famous trekking routes, starts and ends in Pokhara, making it a gateway to unparalleled mountain adventures.
Cultural Riches:
Beyond its natural wonders, Pokhara boasts a rich cultural tapestry. The city is dotted with temples, including the sacred Bindhyabasini Temple, Mahadev statue and the peaceful Peace Pagoda. Lakeside markets offer a vibrant mix of local crafts, making it an ideal place to immerse yourself in the local culture. The city is home to various ethnic communities, including Gurungs, Magars, and Brahmins, each contributing their unique customs to the cultural mosaic.
Tranquil Retreats:
Pokhara provides a haven for those seeking tranquility. Lakeside cafes and yoga retreats offer a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The city’s laid-back atmosphere, combined with stunning views, makes it a perfect destination for relaxation and self-discovery.
Gastronomic Delights:
Food enthusiasts will find Pokhara to be a culinary delight. Lakeside restaurants serve a variety of cuisines, from traditional Nepali dishes to international fare. Freshly caught fish from Phewa Lake, Rupa Lake and locally sourced ingredients add a unique touch.
Accommodation:
Pokhara caters to a diverse range of travelers, offering accommodation options ranging from budget-friendly guesthouses to luxurious lakeside resorts. Whether you prefer a cozy boutique hotel or a lakeside retreat, there’s something for every taste and budget.
How to reach Pokhara?
By Air:
Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM): The main international airport in Nepal is located in Kathmandu. From there, you can take a domestic flight to Pokhara Airport (PKR), which is approximately a 25-30 minute flight. Several airlines operate daily flights to Pokhara.
By Helicopter: For a more luxurious and time-efficient option, some charter companies offer helicopter services between Kathmandu and Pokhara.
By Road:
Tourist Bus: Direct tourist buses operate between Kathmandu and Pokhara. These buses are more comfortable and may include amenities such as air conditioning.
Local Bus or Microbus: Regular local buses and microbuses also connect Kathmandu and Pokhara. They are generally more economical but may take a longer time.
By Motorcycle: For a more adventurous journey, you can also rent a motorcycle in Kathmandu and ride to Pokhara. Ensure that you have the necessary permits and are familiar with local traffic rules.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Pokhara stands as a destination that seamlessly blends adventure, culture, and natural beauty. From the towering peaks of the Himalayas to the tranquil shores of Phewa Lake, this city captures the hearts of all who visit. Whether you seek adrenaline-pumping adventures or a peaceful retreat, Pokhara promises an unforgettable experience. Plan your journey to this Himalayan paradise, and discover why Pokhara ranks among the top destinations globally.
thank you so much for this awe-inspiring site me and my household favored this self-complacent and brainstorm