Pokhara Hotels

Pokhara Rundown

A venerable and historic city of over 350,000 people, Pokhara compels visitors to Nepal to depart the sacred UNESCO World Heritage confines of the Kathmandu Valley. The second city of Nepal is 125 mi (200 km) west of the capital and proffers some of the most spectacular environs of any town within eyeshot of the incomparable Himalayas. ... Read more »

Geography, then, is mostly to blame for Pokhara's mystical charm. The city resides within a deep valley in the verdant Gandaki zone and hill region of Nepal. Mountains spire dramatically in the distance and provide a sharp and supremely photogenic contrast with the crystalline waters of Phewa Lake. The ultimate, often inevitable, effect on observers new to this altitudinous part of the world borders on worshipful awe.

Like Kathmandu and, indeed, the rest of Nepal, Pokhara is a pilgrimage destination of sorts, with a handful of pristine pagodas, temples and shrines on display. The likes of Bindhya Basini Temple, Bhimsen Temle, Barahi Temple and the World Peace Pagoda top the tourist list and compete with a few vital museums for your time.

Pokhara’s Top 10

10. International Mountain Museum has kid-in-a-candy-store allure for Jon Krakauer types.	5. Bindhya Basini Temple is one of the most impressive shrines in Nepal.
9. Gurkha Museum A museum that illustrates a famous statement made by a late Field Marshal of India: “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gurkha.”	4. Varahi Mandir is arguably the most famous Hindu temple in Pokhara.
8. Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave Come, as people do, to see the suggestive phallic stalagmite and Devil’s Falls.	3. World Peace Pagoda The climb up to the brilliant white stupa of the World Peace Pagoda affords remarkable views of the mountains and Phewa Lake.
7. Tashi Ling Tibetan Village is where visitors go to score genuine Tibetan handicrafts.	2. Phusre Khola Gorge is a dramatic natural landmark.
6. Pokhara Regional Museum is a civic archive that unfurls a terrific collection of artefacts.	1. Karma Dubgyu Chokhorling Monastery contains a beautiful prayer hall and scupture garden.

Pokhara Events

Clandestine yoga ashrams and meditation studios dot the countryside in the vicinity of Pokhara proper.

Sarangkot is a small mountain village outside of Pokhara with magnificent panoramas of the Himalayas.

Treks to the Annapurna range, home to some of the most dangerous summits on the planet, rely on Pokhara as a platform.

Bagh Jatra is a traditional Newa festival held in August.

Pokhara Street Festival is a flagship arts and culture bash at the end of December.

Old Bazaar is one of the best marketplaces in Nepal and the place to shop in Pokhara.

Diwali is a major holiday in Nepal.

When To Go

Pokhara enjoys subtropical weather but altitude tempers and alters conditions to a considerable degree. Overall, visitors can expect a four season climate with moderate to heavy rainfall from June to September.

Throughout the winter months of December to February, temperatures waver from 39°F (4°C) to 64.5°F (18°C). In summer, from June to September, the weather heats up between 66°F (19°C) and 81°F (27°C).

Balmy months to consider include March, April, October and November.

Getting Around

Bus fleets depart Kathmandu for Pokhara ever fifteen minutes or so and offer the most dependable mode of transport between the two. The journey takes six hours on a good day but security checkpoints and precarious road conditions can sometimes bump it up to eight or nine.

Royal Nepal Airlines offers affordable fares between Pokhara and Kathmandu. Total flight time is a brief twenty minutes but long enough to enjoy spectacular views of the Himalayas.

Bicycle, motorcycle and scooter rentals abound in Pokhara and provide a good alternative to taxis. From a service perspective, the modest bus and tram network in the city is somewhat arbitrary.

General Information

Attractions & Activities

Restaurants & Nightlife

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