Lakeside Pokhara - Your Guide To Plan A Trip

The beautiful and mystical country of Nepal never fails to impress, with its dense jungles, cloudy mountaintops, exotic wildlife, fascinating cultures and scintillating topography. The lakes, glimmering like mirrors and reflecting the enviable skyline of snow-capped mountains and blue skies make for perfect postcard moments. Apart from the welcome change, the idyllic region is also pocket-friendly. This gives you much-needed respite from bustling city life but does not deny you all the luxury you deserve. One of the best locations in Nepal to enjoy your holiday is at Pokhara. Here is your guide to discover Pokhara, complete with activities, sites and everything else you will need!

Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal, after Kathmandu. The town is about 200 kilometres away from Kathmandu, to the west. It rests at the foot of the Annapurna range and is a favourite trekking starting point. The city of Pokhara can be divided in two - the charming Lakeside Pokhara, and the Old City. The Lakeside part offers many tourist attractions and beautiful views, while the Old City is the commercial hub of Pokhara. You can choose to stay in either location, although we recommend Lakeside. The Lakeside is further divided into the North and the Southside. Lakeside is named so, as it surrounds the Phewa Lake or the Phewa Tal, a gorgeous freshwater lake which is eerily similar to a mirror! The lake gained popularity for its breathtaking reflection of the blue skies and the towering Mt. Machhapuchhre of the Annapurna range.

Since the city is just 200 kilometres away from Kathmandu, you can access by both road and air. Travelling by road is cheaper, of course, costing you about NPR 700. You can also access the city by air, as there is a domestic airport in Pokhara. Foreign visitors will have to alight at Kathmandu and catch a separate flight to Pokhara, which takes about half an hour and costs about NPR 13000. A bus journey takes 6-8 hours, but the views are definitely worth it! For an extra charge, you can also opt to indulge in a lunch buffet during your ride. We recommend hiring a taxi from the airport or the bus station to your hotel, instead of walking, as the terrain is quite hard to manoeuvre.

Built after World War II by Buddhist monks from the Nipponzan Myohoji organisation of Japan, this towering Pagoda stands on a ledge overlooking Phewa Lake. This destination can be reached by rowing on the Phewa Tal, and trekking for about an hour on the other side. The views are breathtakingly beautiful, and the serenity is bound to make you contemplate and meditate. You can also take a bus to the Pagoda.

Revered as the holiest Hindu shrine in Pokhara, this beautiful temple is located right in the middle of Phewa Lake, on a small island. You can access the temple by rowboat from Varahi Ghat and pay your respects to the fierce Varahi, who is known to grant all wishes.

This is the pride of Pokhara. The Gurkha Museum, located near Mahendra Pul, chronicles the valiant achievements of the Gurkha regiment and has an interactive display as well. The AV show details the nuances of the regiment, and the exhibits contain many medals, artefacts and weapons used. There is also a wall of fame, naming prominent Gurkha soldiers.

The International Mountain Museum is an exclusive space devoted to the Himalayas and her explorers. Containing the mountain scaling equipment of yore, champion trekkers and other exciting details, the museum also holds exhibits of the unique flora and fauna of the Himalayas. Outside, you can try your luck at mountain climbing, by trying to scale a replica of Mt Manaslu!

This waterfall is special because half of it is underground! On the surface, it is a small stream which swells during the monsoon, but the water leads into an underground tunnel, surfacing at the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave near the World Peace Pagoda. Patale Chhango is the actual name of this waterfall, but it is locally known as Devi's Falls. Head over there and discover the local lore of how the waterfall got its name!

Pokhara is one of the most popular paragliding destinations in the world. Get ready to glide with the birds here! You can take off at Sarangkot, near Lakeside. You will find most paragliding companies by the lake itself, and it is best to negotiate costs there - prices are very competitive. You can take solo flights (if you are qualified), or tandem flights. You can paraglide all year long, provided that the weather is conducive. Peak season is from April to September. Frontiers Paragliding and Sunrise Paragliding are two companies you can look into. Remember that you will have to be insured for this activity. All companies offer paragliding equipment on rent as well.

As Lakeside Pokhara is the starting point for trekkers attempting to scale the Annapurna range, this is a welcome opportunity for you to meet like-minded people and trek with them. October to December is the best time to trek the Annapurna Circuit, which is a famous route. A minimum of three days is required to cover at least a part of this route - ideally, it takes 21 days to complete. Remember that you have to possess a permit card from the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (which costs NPR 2000) before you can attempt this route. Guided tours start from USD 25. We recommend that you book trekking packages that include accommodation and food after you reach the country, as prices are cheaper. If you are trekking solo or are indulging in a self-guided trek, you can buy supplies nearby.

There are two rivers you can raft on near Lakeside, which are the Seti and Narayani. Many agencies near the rivers offer kayaking options, starting at USD 40 for a single trip. You can take a kayak from the Narayani River all the way to Chitwan National Park. Most agencies rent all the kayaking equipment you will need, for an extra price. You can check out Adrenaline Nepal or Himalayan Encounters, which offer kayaking and rafting packages in Pokhara. Kayaking and rafting lessons are also provided. Don't forget to visit the Seti River Gorge when you're there, for a jaw-dropping view!

You can hire a Doonga, which is a brightly painted boat, to take you around Phewa Lake, which is very picturesque. You can either row the boat yourself, or hire a boatman as well. The starting rate for one hour comes to around NPR 300.

The most laid-back activity on our list, enjoy your vacation and watch your stresses melting away as you lounge by the lake. You can take walks, bike rides, shop and even compose poetry with the lake as your muse. Try to capture the perfect reflection of the Annapurna range on the lake, on a camera. We assure you, it's really easy!

There are no auto-rickshaws in Pokhara, so you can take the bus or hire a taxi. Most tourists opt to walk instead, or rent bikes. This is not only a healthier alternative, but it gives you ample time and leniency to halt wherever you want so that you can enjoy the view. You can hire a boat to explore the lake.

There are many options for connoisseurs of fine food in Lakeside Pokhara. There are many restaurants that offer continental, Italian, Indian, Thai, French, Burmese, Chinese, Japanese and Nepali options. Pokhara is also known for its distinct brew of coffee, so step into a roadside café and drink away! The city also has some cafés, pubs and bars that you can frequent. Lakeside Pokhara promises you food with a good view, as most restaurants and cafés are located overlooking Phewa Lake. We assure you that you will remember this experience for a lifetime! Bonus tip: This location is perfect for a romantic evening!