Hotel Barahi, Lake Side Pokhara Hotel Barahi named after the presiding deity of Fewa Lake, is a place of peace, tranquility and bliss. The hotel is located in a tranquil oasis right in the heart of Lakeside, Pokhara's hub of tourist area. One step away from the hustle and bustle, guests can enjoy the serene comfort of an expansive and lush landscaped garden replete with beutyful swimming pool and a profusion of flowers, trees and birds. The hotel is unique, starting from its prime location, a specious parking area, the ambience and decor ... more

Trek-O-Tel, Lake Side Pokhara Trek-O-Tel Located in the heart of the tourist hub - the Fewa Lake - numerous restaurants and shops are all within walking distance. The view of the mountain range on the north and the Fewa Lake that extends till the foothills of the Peace Pagoda on the south are all yours from this hotel. The second most popular tourist destination of Nepal is a valley surrounded by Mountains, Caves, Lakes and Gorges. At a distance of 200 kms or 6 hrs drive or 30 minutes by air from kathmandu is a must for every visitor. A ... more

Hotel The Kantipur, Pokhara Kantipur is the poetic name of ancient Kathmandu the capital city of Nepal. Now, this poetic essence although disappearing in Kathmandu, has finally materialized in Pokhara 200 km all the way west of Kathmandu along with the combination of beauty, comfort and taste. That is in the class from of an exotic place to relax and enjoy delicious cuisine amidst the magnificent views of the most beautiful Himalaya "Fish Tail" of Annapurna range reflecting itself within the PHEWA LAKE. The hotel expertise started a ... more

Hotel Stupa, Pokhara First opened in 3rd September 1996 Hotel Stupa is a family run hotel and has since been a home away from home to many of the tourists visiting the enchanting city of Pokhara. Operated in a traditional style, built in a unique Nepali style, the always-helpful and caring employees and the homely environment of the hotel will make you feel like staying at your own home from the day of your arrival till your departure. For the last couple of years since its operation hotel Stupa has been able to win thehearts of ... more

Hotel Snowland, Pokhara Hotel Snowland P. Ltd. is just a stones throw from Lake Fewa, one of the most popular touristy areas and the whole Annapurna ranges can be seen from the hotel. The hotel has got 42 rooms with satellite TV, telephone and air conditioning heating/cooling. They are extremely well furnished and tastefully decorated and are en suite with a bath tub (hot and cold water). Along with that every room has a mini bar as well as its own balcony with views of the garden, lake and Himalayas. We have parking spaces ... more

Hotel Landmark Pokhara Hotel For a comfortable stay in Pokhara Hotel Landmark Pokhara Pvt. Ltd. is ideal for our valued guests so that they may carry memorable experience of hospitality. When they are back home. Besides in order to live up to Nepal's reputation as the trekker paradise and holiday makers. We have also made arrangements for storage of trekking equipments. With 35 cultural ethnic heritage amenities tastefully furnished deluxe rooms that offers peaceful atmosphere, spectacular mountain views. Rooms with ... more

Mum's Garden Resort Namaste! Welcome to Mum's Garden Resort. This website will give you an idea of the services and people we cater for. First, we are glad to introduce our newly established hotel, located at Lake Side, Pokhara, Nepal. The hotel consists of two guest room buildings and one reception building. These buildings are built around a garden cafe. We provide cozy rooms with attached bathrooms- with bathtubs! All rooms have a terrace with a wonderful view of the Himalaya. The main attraction of the hotel are the walls, which ... more

Hotel Tulsi, Lake Side Pokhara Hotel Tulsi - an internation hotel with modern design providing the panoramic view of the surrounding Annapurna ranges and the bank of Fewa lake Secures its place by the lakeside, the tourist hub of pokhara. Thirty-five luxurious twin & double-bed rooms adorned with elegrant furniture, modern-day amenities; air-conditioned, multi channel Television, global communication net-work, 24 hours hot/cold running water, and the most exciting of all, the breath-taking views of fish-tail mountain ... more

Base Camp Resort, Pokhara Nestled in the lap of mighty Fishtail and Annapurna mountain range, Pokhara is probably one of the most beautiful valleys on earth. The diverse natural beauty, snow topped mountains, live culture and lush green forest, gushing rivers, pristine lakes, gorges and of course the tantalizing mountains have knitted the city as an enchanting paradise. Famous for its remarkable natural serenity and grandeur, Pokhara is the center of adventure and the starting point for most of the world's best trekking and rafting ... more

Hotel Lake Palace, Pokhara Hotel Lake Palace (P) Ltd. is located at lake side and offers 24 luxurious rooms. Most of our rooms offers an uninterrupted view of Fewa Lake and snow-capped mountains. Equipped with centralized AC, Cable TV, Telephone, Mini Bar, and of course, attach bath with hot and cold shower, our rooms are designed to provide a hogh standard comfort and luxury. you will find a team of dedicated young people who are highly motivated and committed to a high degree of professionalism. Personalized service, homely ... more

The Hotel Glacier, Pokhara Namaste and many Happy Greetings from everyone here at the Glacier Hotel in Pokhara, Nepal. It is a tradition of our hidden Himalayan kingdom to treat guests as gods. We at the Glacier Hotel are proud to treat our guests to the legendary hospitality which is characteristic of Nepalese culture. We are here to make sure that our guests are comfortable and relaxed. Of course, many of our guests become good friends as well and stay in touch from around the world. If you have stayed with us already then we ... more

Lake View Resort, Pokhara, Come experience Lake View Resort located at the shores of Phewa Lake, and at the heart of tourist hub Lakeside. The hotel offers superior service, spectacular view, fine dining, traditional dance show and large open space. One of the oldest hotels in Pokhara, Lake view resort offers economy, deluxe and luxurious bedrooms with private balconies to enjoy the open view of the Spectacular Himalayas and the lake Fewa. The resort boasts more than 100,000 square feet of open space dotted with tropical trees such as ... more

Hotels, Guest House & Tourism Information Pokhara Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City is a city of close to 200,000 inhabitants in central Nepal located at 28.25°N, 83.99°E, 198 km west of Kathmandu. It is the third largest city of Nepal after Kathmandu and Biratnagar. It is the Headquarters of Kaski District, Gandaki Zone and the Western Development Region. It is also one of the most popular tourist destinations of the country. Pokhara is a big tourist spot because it has the beautiful Phewa Tal Lake, great mountain scenery, and is the gateway to the most popular treks in Nepal. It is one of the most beautiful places in Nepal. There are several excellent one day trips and short works in the area. Some of the best river rafting tours in Nepal begin nearby. It is a pleasant laid-back, relaxed place to stay for a while. Located at just 800m above sea level, it is close to the 8000m Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges and there some outstanding views to the north. Machhapuchhare (Fishtail Peak), which is one of the most beautiful mountains in the world, is right next to the city. Pokhara is 200km west of Kathmandu. It is a great place to relax after a long trek. Pokhara has an excellent selection of good hotels and restaurants. Hotels are clean, well-maintained and often have a pleasant garden. Restaurants have a wide selection of Western, Chinese, and Italian and have a pleasant atmosphere. Hotel views sometimes get blocked by newly built ones, so thing can change often in Pokhara. There are three large lakes, Phewa Tal right next to the city, and Rupa Tal and Begnas Tal, which are a little east of town. The road between Kathmandu and Pokhara (Prithvi Highway) was built in the early 1970s with the help of the Chinese. The road from the Indian border town of Sanauli was built with the help of the India also in the 1970s. The first tourists to find Pokhara were hippies in the 1970s. Since then Pokhara has become a major tourist town. It is not as cold here in the winter as Kathmandu, because it is at 884m elevation, while Kathmandu is at 1500m. It can get pretty hot in May and June. The rainfall can be heavy during the monsoon and the humility can be really bad. It receives about twice as much rain as Kathmandu yearly. The Pokhara Valleys is mainly Chhetris and Bahuns, while the hills surrounding Pokhara are mainly inhabited by Gurungs. The Gurungs make up a good percentage of the Gurkhas regiments in India and other places. Pokhara is situated in the northwestern corner of the Pokhara Valley, which is a widening of the Seti Gandaki valley. The Seti River and its tributaries have dug impressive canyons into the valley floor, which are only visible from higher viewpoints or from the air. To the east of Pokhara is the municipality of Lekhnath, a recently established town in the valley. In no other place do mountains rise so quickly. In this area, within 30 km, the elevation rises from 1,000 m to over 7,500 m. 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 Phewa Tal (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. From the southern fringes of the city 3 eight-thousanders (Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu) and, in the middle of the Annapurna range, the Machapuchhre (Nepali language: Machhapuchhre: 'Fishtail') with close to 7,000 m can be seen. This mountain dominates the northern horizon of the city and its name derives from its twin peaks, not visible from the south. The porous underground of the Pokhara valley favours the development of caves of which three prominent ones can be found within the city: Mahendra, Bat and Gupteswor. In the south of the city, a tributary of the Seti coming from Fewa Tal disappears at Patale Chhango (Nepali for Hell's Falls, also called Devi's or David's Falls, after someone who supposedly fell into the falls) into an underground gorge, to reappear 500 metres further south. Most of the hotels in Pokhara run by friendly locals and offering good value for money. The strip along the shores of the Phewa Lake is a hugely popular resort destination for both Nepalis and foreigners. You can also use our interactive Pokhara map to choose your Pokhara hotel based on its location. The journey between Kathmandu and Pokhara can be as much a part of the experience as arriving in Pokhara itself. If you opt to fly, you will be rewarded with a bird's eye view of the mighty Himalayas in the north and the green Mahabharat Mountain in the south. Coming here by road can be equally enjoyable, with the bus or taxi driving past several villages and tiny settlements by the banks of the Trisuli River. With so many travellers heading to Pokhara, it is important to book your Pokhara hotels, lodges or guesthouses as soon as possible. With our travel portal we offer hotels in Pokhara, as well as some great Pokhara tour options. We are a locally based company and can offer you the best advice when travelling to Pokhara. Some Tourist Class Hotels & Guest Houses in Pokhara The Hotel Barahi, Lakeside, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal: has an excellent choice of comfortable, well appointed and scrupulously clean accommodation. All rooms include a private balcony from which guests can enjoy spectacular views of Fishtail Mountain and the Annapurnas. All rooms come with en-suite bathroom (including shower and tub) as well as hot running water 24 hours a day, naturally. We have a 24 hour room service and a laundry service. Trek - O - Tel, Lakeside, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal: Standing singular not only in the beauty of its architecture, but also in the magnetic atmosphere it has, the cosiness of its rooms complemented by the cordiality of its staff, Trek - O - Tel is a mid-range boutique hotel located close to Fewa Lake in Pokhara. Hotel Landmark Pokhara, Lakeside, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal: If it is hard for you to believe that good things in life need not come with a big price, just check-in at Hotel Landmark Pokhara, where you will get to enjoy warm hospitality along with excellent dining facilities, cultural entertainment and a lot of other fun-filled activities for you to choose from. Hotel Stupa, Lakeside, Pokhara, Nepal: Recently upgraded to a deluxe class hotel with 36 comfortable rooms, an elegant garden, an in-house restaurant, Hotel Stupa offers excellent rooms, delectable food and almost everything you may expect as a guest of a Nepalese family. It is a tough contender among budget hotels in Pokhara, set up in a less crowded area of Lakeside with banks, ATMs and stores not too far away. Mum's Garden Resort, Lakeside, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal: Mum's Garden Resort at Lakeside of Pokhara is a perfect place for you to take your repose with a feeling of being at home. Its beautifully designed bungalows, terrace, lawn and a well-tended garden add to the refreshing atmosphere in and around the resort. Base Camp Resort, Lakeside, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal: Base Camp Resort invites you to spend a fabulous vacation in Pokhara where you can choose between its elegant Deluxe rooms or newly added luxurious Bungalows for the kind of refreshing break from your routine work or a romantic one with just the two of you and nothing else to bother about. Vardan Resort n' Apartment, Lakeside, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal: Like a breath of fresh air, Vardan Resort n' Apartment is a perfect revival of the 13th century Nepalese architecture - thanks to the traditionally skilled artisans and masons from Bhaktapur. Here, you will find everything you need to make your short trip, extended stay or honeymoon in Pokhara memorable and worthwhile. Hotel The Kantipur, Lakeside, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal: Located ideally at the edge of Lake Fewa, Hotel The Kantipur prides itself in its exquisitely cut decorative stone walls. Not only the architecture, but also the services offered are inspired by those of Kathmandu, a.k.a Kantipur in olden days. Hotel Glacier, Lakeside, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal: Hotel Glacier offers some of the best BB plans for those on a shoestring budget and is chosen by many trekkers and travellers for the variety and quality of its services. Lake View Resort, Lakeside, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal: Imagine what it feels like living in an affordable and family-friendly resort located right beside one of the most beautiful waterfronts in Pokhara and offering superior hospitality along with fine cuisines and cultural shows every night. Lake View Resort is probably the best place to get that experience. Hotel Tulsi Pokhara, Lakeside, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal: Hotel Tulsi Pokhara offers one of the nicest mid-range B n' B accommodations available in Pokhara. Right by the serene Fewa Lake and at the most happening tourist hub of Nepal, this hotel is run by a friendly service crew and an efficient management team. Hotel Snowland, Lakeside, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal: Hotel Snowland at Barahi Chowk of Lakeside, Pokhara, offers affordable B n' B packages throughout the year. It is, in short, a good accommodation in a great location from where you will not miss the real charms of Pokhara. Hotel Taj, Lakeside, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal: Managed by a leading adventure sport company in Pokhara, Hotel Taj offers deluxe rooms with private balconies that face the serene Fewa Lake. While the professional and courteous staff is committed to serve your needs, the advance security features like emergency exit and fire alarm ensure your safety too. History Pokhara lies on an important old trading route between China and India. In the 17th century it was part of the influential Kingdom of Kaski which again was one of the Chaubise Rajaya (24 Kingdoms of Nepal) ruled by a branch of the Shah Dynasty. Many of the mountains around Pokhara still have medieval ruins from this time. In 1786 Prithvi Narayan Shah added Pokhara into his kingdom. It had by then become an important trading place on the routes from Kathmandu to Jumla and from India to Tibet. Originally Pokhara was largely inhabited by Brahmin, Chhetri and Thakuri (the major villages were located in Parsyang, Malepatan, Pardi and Harichowk areas of modern Pokhara) and the Majhi community near the Fewa Lake. Later in the 18th century A.D the newars of Bhaktapur migrated to Pokhara and settled near main business locations such as Bindhyabasini temple, Nalakomukh and Bhairab Tole. The establishment of a British recruitment camp brought larger Magar and Gurung communities to Pokhara. At present the Khas (Brahmin, Chhetri, Thakuri and Dalits), Gurung (Tamu) and Magar form the dominant community of Pokhara. There is also a sizeable population of Newaris in Pokhara. A small Muslim community is located on eastern fringes of Pokhara generally called Miya Patan. The nearby hill villages around Pokhara are a mixed community of Khas and Gurung. Small Magar communities are also present mostly in the southern outlying hills. Newari community is almost non-existent in the villages of outlying hills outside the Pokhara city limits. From 1959 to 1962 some 300,000 refugees fled to Nepal from neighbouring Tibet after it was annexed by China. Four refugee camps were established in and around Pokhara: Tashipalkhel, Tashiling, Paljorling and Jambling. These camps have evolved into well built settlements, each with a gompa (Buddhist monastery), chorten and its particular architecture, and Tibetans have become a visible minority in the city. Until the end of the 1960s the town was only accessible by foot and it was considered even more a mystical place than Kathmandu. The first road was completed in 1968 (Siddhartha Highway) after which tourism set in and the city grew rapidly. The area along the Phewa lake has developed into one of the major tourism hubs of Nepal. Structure Pokhara spans 8 km from north to south and 6 km from east to west but, unlike Kathmandu, it is quite loosely built up and still has much green space. The Seti Gandaki flowing through the city from north to south divides the city roughly in two halves with the down-town area of Chipledunga in the middle, the old town centre of Bagar in the north and the tourist district of Lakeside (Baidam) in the south all lying on the western side of the river. The gorge through which the river flows is crossed at five points, the major ones are (from north to south): K.I. Singh Pul, Mahendra Pul and Prithvi Highway Pul. The eastern side of town is mainly residential. About half of all tourists visiting Pokhara are there for the start or end of a trek to the Annapurna Base Camp and Mustang. Lake Phewa 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. 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. The eastern Pokhara Valley receives irrigation water through a canal running from a reservoir by the Seti in the north of the city. Phewa lake is also used for commercial fishing. The tourist area is along the north shore of the lake (Baidam, Lakeside and Damside). 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 is best. To the east of the valley, in Lekhnath, are several smaller lakes, the largest being Begnas Tal and Rupa Tal. Begnas Tal is also known for its fishery projects. There are no beaches in the valley, but one can rent boats in Phewa and Begnas Tal. Tourism After the annexation of Tibet by China that led to the Indo-China war the trading route to India became defunct. Today only few caravans from Mustang still arrive in Bagar. Pokhara has become a major tourist hub of Nepal, more than making up for the loss of its trading importance. The city offers a combination of nature and culture and is mostly known as the gateway to the trekking route "Round Annapurana", which is usually a trek of 25 days. Pokhara is quite a modern city with only few tourist attractions in the town itself. Most interesting is the old centre in the north of the city (Bagar, Purano Bazar) where many old shops and warehouses in the Newari style can still be found. Although more seldom, mule caravans still arrive there from Mustang. 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 Phewa lake, accessible only by boats. The modern commercial city centre at Chiple Dhunga and Mahendrapul (now called Bhimsen Chowk, named after a Shahid (Martyr) in Jana-aandolan II, April, 2006) 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. On a hill overlooking Phewa 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 ranges of Manaslu, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Himal. The best viewpoint of Pokhara is Sarangkot (1,600 m) and Thulakot (in Lekhnath a part of famous Royal Trek from where four lakes Phewa, Begnas, Khaste and Dipang and whole Annapurna range can be seen) to the west of the city. Paths and a road lead almost to the top of Sarangkot with an excellent view of the mountains and the city. On the summit of Sarankot there is a Buddhist stupa/monastery, which also attracts many tourists. The major touristic attractions of Pokhara are its scenic views in and around town and the cable cars. Many of them are not mentioned in guides or maps. 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. At places it is only a few metres wide and the river is so far down below that, at places it is not visible or audible. In the middle of the city, the gorge widens to a canyon looking like a crater. In the north and south, just outside town, the rivers created canyons, in some places 100 m deep. These canyons extend through the whole Pokhara Valley. Viewpoints are not easy to find. One place is the Prithvi Narayan Campus and the other side at the foot of Kahu Danda, where several rivers and canyons join. Behind the INF-Compound (Tundikhel) one can see the Seti River disappear into a small slit of a wall about 30 metres high which is especially impressive in monsoon. Betulechaur in the far north of Pokhara is known for the musicians caste of the Gain List of lakes & rivers in Pokhara area: Phewa Lake Begnas Lake Rupa Lake Seti River Gandaki River Gude Lake Neurani Lake Deepang Lake Maidy Lake Khastey Lake Bijayapur River Sports The sporting activities are mainly centered in the multi purpose stadium Pokhara Rangasala in Rambazaar. Many competitions are held frequently like Aaha Gold Cup. The women's volleyball team of Nepal is mostly dominated by Pokhara girls. National handball is having its deep roots being established here. The most prolific sport institution is Sahara club. Besides the Kaski district ANFA also a conducts various leagues and tournaments. There are various tennis courts and golf course in and around the city. Music The music in Pokhara has its own taste. The folk (lok music) has been dominant in the whole music scenario of Pokhara. The notable figures in nepalese music scene from Pokhara is Nepathaya, The Edge Band(Pokhara), Jhalak Man Gandarbha, Kandhara, D-marcha and Madhyanha(Karna Das). Orientation Pokhara is a spread out city that runs north–south for about 5km. The oldest section of the city is the bazaar area in the north of town. Most of the shops for the locals and the post office are near Mahendra Pool in the area of the bazaar. Pokhara University is in the area of the bazaar. The bus station is south of the bazaar, and south of this is the airport. The tourist office and three of the more expensive hotels are near the airport. The immigration office and tourist bus park is between the airport and Phewa Tal, at the north end of Damside. West of the bus station and airport is the Phewa Tal lake and the Lakeside or Baidam area on the east side of the lake. The main tourist area is the Lakeside area where most of the foreign tourists stay. Along the road on the lake there are many hotels, restaurants and tourist shops. If you go from south to north it is uphill. The southeast end of Phewa Tal Lake is known as Damside or Pardi. There are many hotels in this area. Money You can change money at Nepal Grindlays in Lakeside (Sun to Thursday, 10 am to 4 pm, Friday, 10 am to 1 pm). They also take MasterCard and Visa cards. Rastriya Baniya is open 8 am to 7 pm. There are several legal money changers at Lakeside, Damside, and the airport that are open daily usually from 8 am to 6 pm. Some hotels change money. Immigration Office The Central Immigration office, just north of Damside, gives visa extensions and issues trekking permits for the Annapurna region (not other areas). Open for applications Sundays to Thursday 10.30 am to 1 pm, and to noon on Friday. You can pick them up in the afternoon from 3 to 4 pm and from 2 to 3 on Fridays. There is a Rs 1000 fee to enter the Annapurna Conservation Area. Travel agents can arrange the permits for Rs 150 to Rs 300. Passport photos can be gotten from the photo places near the office (about Rs 200 for four photos). ACAP Information Centre The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) has an Information Centre, at the immigration office, has excellent information about trekking. They can give latest information on the trails and weather conditions. They also sell some useful books and maps. Open daily except Saturday, 9 am to 4 pm. Practical Information There are cultural Music and Dance programs at nightly during the season at the Fish Tail Lodge and the Hotel Dragon. Pokhara Sports and Fitness Centre (20707), has a good gym, a sauna, a tennis court and aerobic classes (6 am to 8 pm). Pokhara Holiday Inn, MustangChowk, has a pool that can be used from 9 am to 12 pm and 1 to 4 pm. Mountain Views From the lake you get a fantastic view of the Annapurna Mountains. The mountains that can be seen are the Annapurna peaks: Annapurna I to IV and Annapurna South, and the outstanding Machhapuchhare. Other mountains that can be seen are Hiunchuli, Tarke Kang, Lamjung Himal, Gangapurna, Varahashikar and Khangsar Kang. West of the Annapurna mountains is Dhaulagiri at 8167m, which at one time was considered to be the highest mountain in the world, before more precise systems of measurement were discovered. There is an interesting story about the climbing of Annapurna I at 8091m. It is not easily seen from Pokhara because it a good distance to the north. After a French led expedition in 1950 led by Maurice Herzog made it to the top of this peak, it became the peak above 8000m to be climbed. The story of the climbing of this mountain is told in Herzog’s classic book Annapurna, which makes very interesting reading. After a severe mountain storm caught the expedition, Herzog got a frostbite in which he lost most of his fingers and toes. Machhapuchhare stands out because it is nearer to Pokhara than any of the other peaks. At 6997m it is the lowest of the mountains. Machhapuchhare means “fish tail.” From Pokhara, Machhapuchhare looks like a singular mountain peak. If one walks several days towards Jomsom, at this point you can see that the mountains has a second peak and at that place is resembles a fish tail. No one is allowed to climb this mountain, because it is considered holy. An expedition in 1957, led by the late Colonel Jimmy Roberts got to within 50m of the top, before turning back after the Sherpas refused to go any further. At Sarangkot you can get an excellent view of the mountains. To get here you take a taxi for around Rs 700 and from where it lets you off is a half-hour walk. From Pokhara it is a beautiful three hour walk. Phewa Tal (Lake) This beautiful lake, along with the mountain views are the main attractions of Pokhara. It is the second largest lake. Rara Lake, in the west side of Nepal, is the largest. You can take a boat ride on the lake. You can hire your own boat and hire a boat with someone to row you around. A sail boat can be rented at the Hotel Fewa. For longer period there are discounts. Boats are most expensive opposite the Varahi Temple, and are cheaper going towards Damside. While boating it is advised to stay away from the dam, because the currents can be rough and therefore dangerous. There is a small island in the lake, which has on it the Varahi Temple dedicated to the goddess Varahi Bhagwati, the Shakti energy. Damside (Pardi) There is a great class view of the mountains from a small Vishnu temple in the piece of land between the lake and the spillway. Pardi Dam is next to the Damside area. It can not be walked on. Seti Gandaki River The Seti Gandaki River flows through the east part of Pokhara. In some places it flows completely underground and can not be seen. Seti means white and the water is turned a milky color by the limestone in the soil. You can get a good view of the river at the north end of the bazaar, from the bridge near the old Mission Hospital and just north of the main bus station. From the bus station you go north past Shanti Batika Park which then pasts some jungle and you make a right at the path. You can also get an even better view of the river on the footbridge, on the other (east) side of the airport runway. You can also see the river from the Mahendrapul Bridge in the area of the main bazaar. Tibetan Places There are several Tibetan settlements in the area of Pokhara. Many Tibetans sell crafts in the area of the lake. From the hill-top Tibetan Buddhist Monastery there are good views of the Pokhara Valley. It has a large statue of Buddha and some nice wall paintings. To get here you cross the Mahendrapul Bridge from the bazaar area and then follow the road to here. The Tashiling Tibetan Village is a few km southwest of the airport. They make Tibetan carpets there. There is a good-size Tibetan settlement called Tashipalkhel at Hyangja, which is a short drive away. It is an hour or two walk northwest of Pokhara along the Pokhara to Jomsom trek. Places to See North of town is Mahendra Gufa, which is a cave with several tunnels. You need a flashlight. Devi Falls It is also known as Patale Chango and Devin’s. The Pardi Khola is the river that flows from the Phewa Tal Lake. At Devi Falls the river falls down into a hole and disappears. The Pardi Khola flows underground for around 200m and then re-emerges again and flows in the Phusre Khola which later meets the Seti Gandaki River. It is also known as David’s Falls because one story says that a tourist names David and his girlfriend fell into the hole and were never seen again. Devi Falls is just before the Tashiling Tibetan Village on Siddhartha Highway, about 2km southwest of the airport. Museums There are three museums in Pokhara, but neither is so interesting. Pokhara Museum has local history exhibits, crafts and costumes. The exhibits are good. It is on the main road, north of the bus station. Open daily except Tuesday, 10 am to 5 pm, closes 3 pm on Friday. Ational History Museum has a natural history section that has a good butterfly, moth and insect exhibit. It is also called the Annapurna Regional Museum. There is an ACAP exhibits showing the environmental problems of the area. Open daily except Saturday, 10 am to 1 pm and 2 to 4 pm. Admission is free, but it would be nice to give a donation. Near the museum is the Information Center for the Annapurna Conservation Area Project which has some good cultural exhibits in the ACAP region. Tamu Kohibo Museum has exhibits relating to the Gurung culture and shamanic traditions. It is on the east side of town near the Seti River. Temples There are not many temples in Pokhara, The double-roofed Newari-style Bhimsen Temple is located in the northern part of the bazaar on the main road. It has some erotic carvings on its roof struts. In the north part of town, on a small hill, is the Binde Basini Temple. In this temple is Durga (Parvati) manifested in the form of a shalagram. It is located in a pleasant location and there are good mountain views. There are animal sacrifices at this temple, the main day being Saturday and the ninth day of Dasain in October. Entertainment At the Fish Tail Lodge there is an excellent daily cultural program featuring Nepali dance. From 6.30 to 7.30 pm. There is also a cultural music and dance show at the Hotel Dragon. Village Development Committees VDC's & Towns of Kaski District: Arba Vijaya Armala Begnas Bhachok Bhadaure Tamagi, Bharat Pokhari Chapakot Dangsing Deurali Dhampus Dhikure Pokhari Dhital Ghachok Ghandruk Hansapur Hemaja Kahun Kalika Kaskikot Kritinachnechaur Lahachok Lamachaur Lekhnath Lumle Lwangghale Machhapuchchhre Majhthana Mala Mauja Mijuredada Namarjung Nirmalpokhari Parche Pokhara Pumdibhumdi Puranchaur Rakhi Reevan Rupakot Saimarang Salyan Sarangkot Sardikhola Shisuwa Siddha Sildujure Thumakodada Thumki Valam more