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Location: Pokhara

Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City is the third largest city of Nepal after Kathmandu and Biratnagar. Regionally it is one of the important places, being the Headquarters of Kaski District, Gandaki Zone and the Western Development Region. Spanning 8 km north to south, and 6 km east to west, Pokhara is divided in roughly two halves of east and south by the Seti river. Because of its diverse geography, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the country. At one point the elevation is 1000m from sea level where the other point of Pokhara is 7500m.

Pokhara has become a major tourist hub of Nepal. The city offers a combination of nature and culture with a distinct tourist district in the southern subdivisions of Baidam, Lakeside and Damside. Pokhara is famous among most of the tourists as the starting and ending point of trekking to the Annapurna Base Camp and Mustang. Further, the Seti Gandaki river is one of its kind in the world.

Pokhara is quite a modern city with only few touristic attractions in the town itself. Most interesting is the old centre in the north of the city (purano bazar) where still many old shops and warehouses in the Newari style can be found. Mule caravans still arrive there from Mustang.

 Due to this sharp rise in altitude the area of Pokhara has one of the highest precipitation rates of the country (over 4,000 mm/year). Even within the city there is a noticeable difference in the amount of rain between the south of the city by the lake and the north at the foot of the mountains.

The climate is sub-tropical but due to the elevation the temperatures are moderate: the summer temperatures average between 25–35 °C, in winter around 5–15 °C.

In the south the city borders on Fewa lake (4.4 km² at an elevation of about 800 m above sea level), in the north at an elevation of around 1,000 m the outskirts of the city touch the base of the Annapurna mountain range.

Some Must-see places/things are:

Machhapuchhre		Annapurna Range

The Annapurna Range and Machhapuchhre

From the southern part of the city, 8000m+ mountains Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Manaslu are standing. In the middle of the Annapurna range, we can see Machapuchare Mountain with 7,000 m height. This mountain dominates the northern horizon of the city and its name derives from its twin peaks, not visible from the south.

Water, Water and Water

The Seti River:

View of Seti River from KI Singh Bridge

The shortage of touristic sites in Pokhara is made up by its scenic views in and around town. Most of them are not mentioned in any guide or map. The Seti Gandaki (White Gandaki) and its tributaries have created spectacular gorges in and around the whole city. The Seti gorge runs through the whole city from north to south thereby dividing Pokhara in two halves. At places it is only a few metres wide, but 100 m deep with a water depth of 20 m. It and its tributaries have dug impressive canyons into the valley floor, which are only visible from higher viewpoints or from the air.

In the middle of the city, the gorge widens to a canyon looking like a crater. In the north and south, just outside town, there are awesome canyons, in some places 100 m deep. These canyons extend through the whole Pokhara Valley. Impressive views are possible from the Prithvi Narayan Campus and from the other side at the foot of Kahu Danda (conjunction of several rivers and canyons). Behind the INF-Compound one can see the Seti River disappear into a slit in an almost 100 m wall, especially impressive in monsoon.

Fewa lake

Fewa Lake

Lake Fewa was slightly enlarged by damming. It is in danger of silting up because of the inflow during the monsoon. The outflowing water is partially used for hydro power. The dam collapsed in the late 1970s and has been rebuilt again. The power plant is located about 100 m below at the bottom of the Phusre Khola gorge. Water is also diverted for irrigation into the southern Pokhara valley. Fewa lake is also used for commercial fishing.

Patale Chhango (Devi's Falls)		Patale Chhango from Siddha Cave

Patale Chhango (Devi's Falls)

Another place worth visiting is the Patale Chhango (Hell's Falls), more commonly called "Davis Falls", named after a tourist who fell into the gorge. The water of these falls comes from the Fewa Lake flowing to the Seti. The falls plunge into a hole and disappear. In monsoon this sight is most spectacular.

The view of the tail of this falls can be seen from the end of Siddha cave.

Siddha Cave showing the view of Patale Chhango		Bats in the Bat Cave		Mahendra Cave

Bat Cave, Mahendra Cave and Siddha (Gupteshwor) Cave

The another side of Patale Chhango, i.e, across the road is the Siddha cave or Gupteshwor Cave. The Gupteshwor temple is about half way of the cave. This cave is elongated below the road to view the tail of the Patale Chhango, as in the picture.

The Bat Cave is at the opposite end of the city. This is exciting one with numerous bats inhibiting here. The cave's exit is the most exciting experience for all the people visiting here.

Another cave near to Bat cave in Batulechaur is Mahendra Cave. This cave ends with a statue. This cave is not as exciting as the previous two.

Sarangkot and Paragliding

View of Hyangja from Sarangkot		Paragliding @ Pokhara

The best viewpoint of Pokhara is Sarangkot (1,600 m) and Thulakot (in Lekhnath a part of famous Royal Trek from where four lakes Fewa, Begnas, Khaste and Dipang and whole Annapurna range is seen) to the west of the city. Paths and a road lead to the top from where one can enjoy spectacular views of the Annapurna range, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri and the city itself. In the top of the hill of Sarankot, there is a beautiful Buddhist stupa/monastery, which also attracts many tourists.

Temples and Stupa

World Stupa		Bindabasini Temple

Temples worth visiting in the older part of town are Bindhyabasini temple and Bhimsen temple. Another temple, Barahi temple, is located on an island in the Fewa lake. It is accessible only through boats available at the shores of the lake.

On a hill overlooking Fewa Tal from the south is the World Peace Stupa (at 1,113 m)QTVR built in 1996 with a view of the lake, across the city and of the snow peaked mountain range consisting of namely, Fishtail, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Himals (mountains).

Morisoon Bar		Club Amsterdam

Markets

The modern commercial city centre at Chiple Dhunga and Mahendrapul or Bhimsen Chowk - named after a martyr - is halfway between the lake and Purano Bazar, the old centre. Apart from this there are several subcentres in other parts of town: in the north in Bagar, in the south between Prithvi Chok and Srijana Chok (mainly hardware stores), and in the east, on the other side of the Seti, in Ram Bazar.

The tourist area is along the north shore of the lake (Lake Side and Dam Side). It is mainly made up of little shops, little hotels, restaurants and bars.

The larger hotels can be found on the southern and south-eastern fringes of the city, from where the view of the mountains, mainly Machapuchare (Fishtail), is seen best. To the east of the valley are few smaller and few bigger lakes, the largest being Begnas Tal and Rupakot Tal. Begnas Tal is also known for its fishery projects. There are no beaches in the valley, but one can rent boats in Fewa and Begnas Tal (lakes).