Pokhara

Phewa Lake is a favorite destination and most preferred among locals and tourists. Phewa lake provides you breathtaking views of lakes and mountain ranges like Annapurna, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Mountain) and the World Peace Pagoda. Also visit the island temple of Tal Barahi in the middle of lake. You can pay reverence to Goddess Durga, the resident deity of this two-storied pagoda temple.

As the second largest lake in Pokhara, and the third largest in Nepal, Begnas Lake has a peculiar local legend to it. The serene freshwater lake is perfect if you would like a peaceful environment for boating. Similarly, situated just behind Begnas lake, Rupa lake is another spot for relaxing.

About a half hour ride from the Lake Side, Davis Fall is a fairly popular tourist attraction. The waterfall is at times raging and with a nicely built viewing area, one can enjoy getting close to the wild stream without much danger. During the dry seasons, the waterfall can be seen descending through arches and tunnels as it makes its way to the cave across the street. A nice park with a section of 3D clay structures without heads is a fun addition, where one can click photos in different Nepali attires.

Moreover, Gupteswar Mahadev cave lies just opposite of Davis Fall. It is a religiously important cave where you will find a shrine of Lord Shiva. On the way to cave, you can see various scriptures imprinted on the wall. Other famous cave is Mahendra Cave. Mahendra Cave is located in Batulechaur on the northern end of the city. Inside the cave there are large limestone rocks and large number of bats hanging on the walls.

Food and Drinks

One of the best things about travelling to a place is to try its specific food. Fried trout fish and Nepali Thali set, Thakali meals are some foods to try in Pokhara. It is popular due to its unique spices and cooking style. If you are trekking, do not miss the opportunity of community home stay. Local people serve organic Nepali food, curd, milk and local chicken with good accommodations facilities.

Shopping

Shopping in Pokhara is a fun way to explore Nepal's culture, history and traditions. It offers unique and beautiful items from local clothing, handmade souvenirs, handicrafts to even local wine.

World Peace Pagoda also known as Shanti Stupa is the first World Peace Pagoda in Nepal. It is a Buddhist pagoda-styled monument with an amazing viewpoint on the top of Ananda hill. The roads leading up to the viewpoint are not very steep and blacktopped most of the way. From here you can enjoy the panoramic view of Pokhara city, Phewa lake and paragliders gliding from Sarangkot.

Sarangkot is a small hill station located west of Pokhara. It is 6 kilometers away from Pokhara city. It takes around 30 minutes to reach Sarangkot. It is a well known overnight destination, especially to experience the rising & setting sun. At the viewpoint of 1592 m, Sarangkot is the best spot to experience sunrise and sunset. Along with serene environment to enjoy village life, you can get the best views of Himalaya ranges such as Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Annapurna and Mt. Machhapuchhre.

To know about the history of mountains and renowned soldiers of Nepal, do visit to International Mountain Museum and Gurkha Memorial Museum in Pokhara. International Mountain Museum is an information treasure trove. As a country renowned for its massive mountains, it's no surprise that this museum also has facts about Nepal's Eight-thousanders. Gurkha Memorial Museum is dedicated to the achievements of Gurkha regiment who are part of the British Army and Indian Army. Divided into three floors, the museum has uniforms, medals, regimental history along with audio-visual effects.

Pokhara is a paradise for trekkers. Some of the nearest trekking destinations are Ghorepani Hill, Poon Hill, Australian Base Camp, Ghandruk, Siklish and Dhampus. These short treks will give amazing views and you will have remarkable and enjoyable experience.

Pokhara is a paradise city known for different adventure activities like sightseeing, boating, paragliding, mountain biking, zip-line, bungee jumping, ultralight flight, rock climbing, rafting, canyoning and many more.

A Pokhara trip is incomplete without a boat ride on the Phewa Lake. You can hire your own boat or get a ride. While boating on Phewa Lake, you can enjoy the mountain ranges like Annapurna, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Mountain) and the World Peace Pagoda. Some Pokhara cheese and a bottle of wine can add to the evening. By the time you are done with the boat ride, kick-start your nightlife at the Lake Side. Live music can be heard from inside the restaurants.

To get as close to the mountains as possible, you can try an ultralight flight. Available only from Pokhara, the ultralight flight gives you fantastic aerial views of World Peace Pagoda, Sarangkot and the mountains of the Annapurna Range. The duration of the flight determines what you will see when you are flying. The ultralight flight involves flying a small two seater aircraft with average speeds reaching up to 80 km per hour. Ultralight flight is more popular among foreign travelers as it gives you up close views of Nepal’s Himalayas at a relatively affordable price.

Mountain flights are a must-do list for those who are unable to trek and want closer mountain views. It grants you the opportunity to have closer views of mountain ranges. The views are so near that one can almost touch the mountains. Buddha Air operates Pokhara mountain flight. The scenic flight will take you on an hour long journey to view mountains like Annapurna, Machhapuchhre and Dhaulagiri.

Pokhara Canyoning is located in Ghalel Village at Kudi River. Hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists have already enjoyed the exhilarating canyoning experiences since its establishment. Descending through a series of 45 m and 75 m waterfall through canyon rappelling is physically and mentally challenging, but a refreshing and great experience.

Paragliding is a beautiful experience. Besides the feel of the wind blowing against you, you will get the most extraordinary views of snow capped mountains of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu and the shimmering Phewa Lake right beneath you. It started in Sarangkot, Pokhara in 1996 and has since been the favored spot for paragliding enthusiasts. The duration of the paraglide is usually 20-30 minutes. Moreover, experience one of the world’s highest, longest and fastest zipline at Sarangkot, Pokhara.

Pokhara is a doorway to the world’s best trekking destinations like Annapurna Circuit, Upper Mustang, Dhaulagiri Trek, Khopra Trek, Poon Hill, Ghandruk village, Ghorepani Hill, Annapurna Base Camp and several others.

There is no doubt that Pokhara has a huge list of activities to try out. Apart from them, check these 4 adventurous activities to do in Pokhara.

In terms of demography, Gurungs are the largest ethnic group. The rest of the people are Brahmins, Newars, and Magars . People speak Nepali and the respective ethnic groups speak their mother tongue. Pokhara is well known for music where number of concerts are organized. You can listen to traditional as well as western music playing around the city.

As in several parts of Nepal, Pokhara also celebrates tons of festivals throughout the year. Lakeside area of Pokhara is famous for Holi and street festival. Losar, a widely popular festival in Nepal is celebrated heavily in Pokhara. This festival belongs to Buddhists and is celebrated in several ways on various dates.

Buddha Air operates more than 16 flights daily from Pokhara to Kathmandu. The duration of Pokhara to Kathmandu flight is 30 minutes. Buddha Air also operates Pokhara Mountain Flight. Pokhara Airport is the sole domestic airport in Pokhara, Nepal. In the coming years, an international airport will be inaugurated soon in Pokhara.

A trip to Pokhara is unlike any other you will experience in Nepal. It will be unforgettable tour that will give you the amazing experiences from adventure to carefree ambience.

Besides, Pokhara and Kathmandu, Buddha Air also flies to other cities like Simara, Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa, Bharatpur for the convenience and ease of the passengers.