Pokhara – 3 days

This is a city of close to 350,000 inhabitants in central Nepal. It is the second largest city of country, Headquarters of Kaski District, Gandaki Zone. Pokhara is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal. It is also known as the Tourist capital of Nepal, noted for its tranquil atmosphere and the beauty of the surrounding countryside. Three out of the ten highest mountains in the world can be viewed very closely from Pokhara. It is also a base for trekkers undertaking the Annapurna region treks. Pokhara is situated in the northwestern corner of the Pokhara Valley, which is a widening of the Seti Gandaki valley. The Seti River and its tributaries have dug impressive canyons into the valley floor, which are only visible from higher viewpoints or from the air. In no other place do mountains rise so quickly. In this area within 30 km the elevation rises from 1000m to over 7500m.

In the south the city borders on Fewa Tal (lake) (4.4km² at an elevation of about 800m above sea level), in the north at an elevation of around 1000m the outskirts of the city touch the base of the Annapurna mountain range. From the southern fringes of the city 3 eight-thousanders (Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu and, in the middle of the Annapurna range, the Machapuchare (‘Fishtail’) with close to 7000m can be seen. This mountain dominates the northern horizon of the city. The porous underground of the Pokhara valley favours the development of caves of which three prominent ones can be found within the city: Mahendra, Bat and Gupteswor. In the south of the city, a tributary of the Seti coming from Fewa Lake disappears at Patale Chhango (known as Hell’s Falls, also Devi’s or David’s Falls, after someone who supposedly fell into the falls) into an underground gorge, to reappear 500m further south.

Temples worth visiting in the city are Bindhyabasini, Bhadrakali, Sitaldevi, Gita mandir temple and Bhimsen temple. Another temple, Barahi temple, is located on an island in the Fewa lake, which is accessible only by boat.

On a hill overlooking Fewa Lake from the south is the World Peace Stupa (at 1113m) built in 1996 with a view of the lake, across the city and of the snow peaked mountain ranges of Manaslu, Annapurna, Machapuchare (Fishtail) and Dhaulagiri Himal. The best viewpoint of Pokhara is Sarangkot (1600m) and Thulakot (in Lekhnath, a part of famous Royal Trek) from where four lakes Fewa, Begnas, Khaste, Dipang out of more than half dozen and whole Annapurna range can be seen along with enchanting and clean city. Sarangkot being the highest viewpoint attracts many tourists. The city offers a combination of nature and culture and is mostly known as the gateway to the trekking in Annapurana region. By car you need 5-6 hrs to get to Pokhara from Kathmandu. In order to see most of the tourist attractions in and around Pokhara you need 3 days. Many of them are not mentioned in guides or maps. We will take you there!