Pokhara

Phewa Lake mirrors Machapuchare, with sunrises at Sarangkot and paragliding, and it is the base camp for Annapurna treks.

Pokhara lies in Gandaki Province in central Nepal at an altitude of about 800 m, roughly 200 km from the capital Kathmandu. It is Nepal's second-largest tourist city and the gateway to trekking in the Annapurna region. The city nestles beside Phewa Lake, and just over 30 km to the north stand Machapuchare (6,993 m) and the Annapurna range; lake and snow peaks in a single frame are Pokhara's signature view. Climate and seasons: October–November, after the monsoon ends, has the clearest skies and is the golden period for mountain views and trekking; December–February is clear and dry but cold in the mornings and evenings; March–April brings blooming rhododendrons, though afternoon haze is common; June–September is the monsoon, when the peaks are often hidden by clouds and mountain trails are slippery and have leeches. Areas to explore: Lakeside is the hub for lodging and dining, from where you can row to Tal Barahi Temple on the island in the lake and climb to the World Peace Pagoda; south of town are Davi's Falls, Gupteshwar Mahadev Cave, the International Mountain Museum and Tibetan settlements; to the north are Mahendra Cave, Bat Cave and the Sarangkot sunrise viewpoint; to the east are Begnas Lake and Rupa Lake. Outdoor activities include paragliding from Sarangkot, the short Australian Camp trek, and treks to Poon Hill, Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp. Getting there: Pokhara International Airport has flights to and from Kathmandu (about 25 minutes), and tourist buses take about 6–8 hours; from Chitwan it takes about 4–5 hours. We suggest staying 3–5 days, with extra days for any trek. Notes: foreigners trekking must obtain an ACAP permit and hire a licensed guide as required; choose reputable operators for paragliding and boat rentals; the lake is not suitable for swimming; policies and prices are subject to the latest local announcements.

Top sights

• Phewa Lake – The heart of Pokhara, where Annapurna and Machhapuchare are reflected on the lake. Rowing out to the island temple and strolling along the…
• Sarangkot – A hilltop viewpoint at 1,600 m, where Annapurna and Machapuchare glow gold at sunrise, and a world-famous paragliding takeoff site.
• Poon Hill Trek – Nepal's most popular beginner trek: a 3–4 day route up to Poon Hill (3,210 m), where the sunrise faces Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna peaks.
• World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa) – A white pagoda on a hilltop on the south shore of Phewa Lake, built with Japanese support from Nipponzan Myohoji, with views over Phewa Lak…
• Lakeside Pokhara – A tourist district on the east shore of Phewa Lake, packed with cafés, restaurants, outdoor gear shops and guesthouses. It is the center of…
• Davis Falls – Phewa Lake's outflow plunges here into a deep underground shaft. Locally called Hell's Falls, it is named after a Swiss tourist who fell in…
• Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave – A cave across the road from Davis Falls. The upper level houses a naturally formed Shiva lingam, and the lower level brings you close to wh…
• International Mountain Museum – A large museum covering the history of Himalayan mountaineering, mountain peoples, and mountain geology and ecology. It displays equipment…
• Begnas Lake – Pokhara's second-largest lake, surrounded by terraced fields and villages. It is far quieter than Phewa Lake and suited to boating, fishing…
• Rupa Lake – A small lake south of Begnas Lake, managed by a local community cooperative. Rice paddies and waterbirds along its shores make a peaceful v…
• Australian Camp & Dhampus – A ridge camp at about 2,060 meters, facing Machapuchare and South Annapurna. It is the easiest short trek of one to two days from Pokhara.
• Tal Barahi Temple – A two-tiered, pagoda-style Hindu temple on a small island in the middle of Phewa Lake, dedicated to Barahi, an incarnation of the goddess D…
• Bindhyabasini Temple – A Hindu temple on a small hill in Pokhara's old town, dedicated to an incarnation of the goddess Durga. On clear days you can see Machapuch…
• Mahendra Cave – A limestone cave on the northern outskirts of Pokhara, with stalactites and a Shiva image inside. It is named after the former king Mahendr…
• Bat Cave (Chamere Gufa) – A cave with thousands of bats hanging from its ceiling. The exit requires climbing through a narrow rock crevice, which adds a sense of adv…
• Seti River Gorge – The Seti River has cut a gorge through Pokhara that is tens of meters deep and only a few meters wide. Its milky water is breathtaking when…
• Gurkha Memorial Museum – A museum on the history of Gurkha soldiers, who served the British and Indian armies for two centuries. Medals, uniforms and battle records…
• Tashiling Tibetan Settlement – A Tibetan refugee settlement founded in the 1960s, with a monastery, carpet-weaving workshops and a handicraft market. It offers a glimpse…
• Pumdikot Shiva Statue – A seated Shiva statue about 16 meters tall on a hilltop southwest of Phewa Lake, completed in 2021. It overlooks the whole lake and Pokhara…
• Matepani Gumba – A Nyingma Tibetan Buddhist monastery on a hillside east of Pokhara. Its painted main hall houses Padmasambhava, and it overlooks the city.
• Ghandruk – A stone-roofed Gurung village on the southern slope of Annapurna, facing Annapurna South and Machapuchare. It can be reached by jeep for a…
• Mardi Himal Trek – A popular 4-to-6-day short trek that follows a ridge straight to the Mardi Himal base camp at the foot of Machapuchare. It has few visitors…
• Annapurna Base Camp Trek – A 7-to-10-day trek deep into the glacier valley of the Annapurna Sanctuary. At Base Camp, at 4,130 meters, you are surrounded by snowy peak…

Where to eat

• Caffe Concerto – A Lakeside Italian institution open since 1997, known for thin-crust pizza, handmade pasta and house-made gelato. Some…
• Pokhara Thakali Kitchen – A well-known Thakali set-meal restaurant on Lakeside, serving refillable Thakali dal bhat in a garden setting. Popular…
• Rosemary Kitchen – One of the best-reviewed Western fusion restaurants on Lakeside, with a refined courtyard setting. Pumpkin ravioli, bur…
• OR2K Vegetarian Restaurant – A Middle Eastern vegetarian restaurant popular with backpackers, with floor seating and views over Phewa Lake. It offer…
• Asian Tea House – A family-run spot in a Lakeside alley where dal bhat refills are unlimited and momos are cheap. A good choice for affor…

Itineraries

• Classic Nepal: Ancient Cities, Snow Mountains & Jungle – From Kathmandu Valley, Bandipur, and Pokhara to Chitwan, connecting ancient cities, snow-capped mountains, and jungles.
• Poon Hill Sunrise & Ghandruk Gurung Village – A short teahouse trek starting from Pokhara, climbing Poon Hill for sunrise, and descending to the Gurung village of Gh…
• Annapurna Circuit Trek: Crossing Thorong La – Follow the Marshyangdi River valley up to Manang, cross Thorong La to Muktinath, and descend along the Kali Gandaki bac…
• Upper Mustang Lo Manthang Jeep Tour – Charter a jeep from Pokhara to traverse the Kali Gandaki Gorge, delve into the ancient city of Lo Manthang and its cave…