Pokhara is a remarkable place of natural beauty. Situated at an altitude
of 827m from the sea level and 200km west of Kathmandu valley, the city
is known as a center of adventure. This enchanting city has several
beautiful lakes and offers stunning panoramic views of Himalayan peaks.
The serenity of lakes and the magnificence of the Himalayas rising
behind them create an ambiance of peace and magic. So today the city has
not only become the starting point for most popular trekking and
rafting destinations but also a place to relax and enjoy the beauty of
nature.
The climate of Pokhara is slightly warmer than Kathmandu with daytime
temperature hovering around 15 degrees Celsius in winter and 35 degrees
in summer. The monsoon season which lasts from mid-June to mid-September
is very wet; in fact Pokhara records the highest rainfall in the
country. Best time to visit is between October and April. In pokhara you can also visit the following places:
Phewa Lake: The second largest lake in the kingdom,
this is the center of attraction in Pokhara. The eastern shore,
popularly known as lake side, or Baidam, is the favorite hang
out for travelers, and is where most of the hotels, restaurants,
and handicraft shops are located. Begnas & Rupa Lake - The lakes offer the perfect natural retreat because of their relative seclusion. Splendid boating and fishing oppertunities can be had here.
Barahi Temple: The most important religious monument
in Pokhara, built almost in the middle of Phewa Lake, this two
storied pagoda is dedicated to the manifestation of Ajima, the
protectress deity who represents the female force.
Seti Gandaki: Flowing right through the city,
this turbulent river runs completely underground in places. Amazingly,
at certain points, the river hardly appears to be two meters wide,
but it is quite deep, up to over 45 meters.
Devi’s Fall: Locally known as "Pataley Chhango",
this is an awesome waterfall lying about two km. southwest of
Pokhara airport. Legend has it that a trekker (Devin David)
was washed away by the Pardi Khola (river) and mysteriously disappeared
down into an underground passage beneath the fall.
Mahendra Gupha (cave): Another of nature's wonders
in Pokhara is the Mahendra Gupha. This large limestone cave is
locally known as the house of bats, which is an apt name for it.
A two hour walk to the north of Pokhara, it is best to bring your
own torch in order to see the stalactites and stalagmites, as
well as the local winged residents.
Pokhara is the starting and ending point for many of the popular
trekking routes in Nepal. Longer treks (one to three week long) such as
the Jomsom trek, Annapurna Circuit, and Annapurna Sanctuary begin here.
Check a book on Nepal trekking for more details on this. Otherwise, you
can also visit this site Pilgrims Book House for information on trekking
books of Nepal.
For those with less time, Pokhara also
provides shorter (one to seven days) more leisurely treks around the
neighboring hills and villages. The popular ones are:
Naudanda Trek: two days, to Naudanda from Suikhet and then back through Kaski, west of Pokhara.
Ghorepani Circuit: five
to seven days long, upto the Gurung village of Ghandruk village, great
views of the Annapurna range, north-west of Pokhara.
Sarangkot: day trip, great view of the mountain range including Dhaulagiri, north of Fewa Lake, 1592m altitude.
You are most welcome to visit Phokhara, Nepal.
