A Paradise called Pokhara beckons you

Pokhara

Nepal, the small Himalayan country with a population of about 26 million has for years acted like a magnet in drawing visitors to its fold. Some came to view the numerous UNESCO world heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley, some came to pay homage at Lumbini, the birth place of The Buddha. Many came to Nepal in their quest for adventure as this country has been the gateway to the Himalayas and home to eight of the World’s tallest mountains including Mt. Everest.

So it is no small wonder that Tourism has been one of the main sources of income for this small country.

Alas! In April,2015, the earth under this tiny country shook and rumbled like never before, leaving in its wake destruction of the kind that was never seen before. More than 8, 000 human lives lost, countless rendered homeless, Kathmandu Valley, once buzzing with tourists admiring its many palaces, temples and other buildings was rendered an expanse of ruins and rubble.
Pokhara

It is over an year since that apocalyptic day, Nepal has recovered and is recovering, albeit slowly. What Nepal needs today is a stream of visitors who would help in its economic recovery. Though the earthquake did devastate and destroy many of the sites in Kathmandu, but there are still many places which were not ravaged by the earthquake and which are a delight to behold.

Pokhara

About 200 kilometres west of Kathmandu lies Pokhara, the second largest city of Nepal. It is a picturesque place and is very close to the Annapurna Range of mountains which consist of 3 of the 10 highest mountains in the world, namely Dhaulagiri, Annapurna  and Manaslu. The picturesque town of Pokhara is embellished by the emerald waters of the Phewa lake. Interestingly, even though compared to Kathmandu; Pokhara was closer to the epicenter of the earthquake, it escaped relatively unscathed in the year 2015.

Pokhara is the gateway to some amazing treks that would take you through the Himalayan mountain ranges and across amazing rhododendron forests with panoramic views of the snow clad Himalayan peaks.

Pokhara Activities

Sarankot

Pokhara

Head to Sarankot, a mountain with an altitude of 1600 meters to catch a sublime view of the sun rising against the backdrop of the three snow clad peaks of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna  and Manaslu. You can also get an awesome view of Pokhara city from this vantage point. If weather permits, you can also indulge your Adrenalin glands with some paragliding.

Phewa Lake

Pokhara

You can stroll along this stunning lake with its emerald waters glistening in the sunlight and crowned by the snow clad Annapurna mountains in the horizon. The experience is ethereal and you can spend hours here basking in the beauty of nature. You can also have some fun by paddle boarding in the waters of the Phewa Lake.

Peace Temple

Pokhara

 

This is a Pagoda atop a hill that is reached by climbing a thousand steps. But the reward that awaits you at the end of the climb will make all your tiredness vanish into thin air. True to its name, the place is indeed synonymous with peace and tranquility. One is overcome by an indescribable feeling of being at peace with oneself and in complete harmony with nature as you view the magnificent panorama that stretches out before you.

Apart from the above there are numerous hikes and treks to choose from ranging from the easy to the very difficult ones that could spread over weeks.

But if you want to just chill and enjoy the natural beauty of nature, you are in the right place. Pokhara is a place where you go to do nothing, but breathe in the fresh mountain air, take long walks and admire panoramic views of the mountain peaks.

How to Get to Pokhara

  • You can fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, there are about 10 flights operating daily, the flight takes about 25 minutes. flights are operated by Buddha Air and Yeti Air
  • You can take a morning Tourist bus from Kathmandu, ordinary bus fares would be in the range of $8 to $12 while luxury buses with air-conditioning would cost around $18 to $25. The travel time is around 6-7 hours by road
  • You can take a private taxi to Pokhara, which would set you back by about $100 to $150, but you would end up reaching your destination under 5 hours

Where to stay in Pokhara

  • Pokhara Choice Inn is a nice place to stay with family, the hotel is clean, with good ambience and wonderful views, approximate cost $40 for a double room with breakfast
  • Hotel Tara located very near to the lake is also a good option and would cost approximately $20/per day

When to head out to Pokhara

The best months to visit Pokhara is between April and June as the days are warm and the skies are clear and one can enjoy panoramic views of the mountains and catch some amazing sunrises.

If you love wildlife and want to see wild elephants, rhinos, hyenas, and crocodiles up close then you can head to Chitwan National Park which is around 150 kilometres from Pokhara. You can also reach Chitwan from Kathmandu.

Nepal needs you, help this beautiful Himalayan nation by visiting it and helping in rebuilding its economy. Check out this post – seven great reasons why you should still definitely visit Nepal.

Are you planning to visit this gateway to the Himalayas? Do let us know your thoughts through the comments section.

Pokhara

Pokhara

 

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59 thoughts on “A Paradise called Pokhara beckons you”

  1. Nepal will always remain to be one of the most beautiful places in the world regardless of what it’s been through. I’m glad that there are a lot of places to see despite the tragedy that happened last year. I’m sure they will recover in time. For now, we need to help them with their tourism so they can rebuild themselves!

  2. I always hear about Nepal, but have never met anyone who has been, so it’s very interesting to read blog posts like this. The pictures are gorgeous. I have never heard of Pokhara until now. Thank you for sharing!

    1. Thank you. 🙂 Mostly all adventure seekers who love to trek visit Pokhara and other parts of Nepal. Nepal is definitely a beautiful land.

  3. Pokra looks so naturally beautiful. I can only imagine being there and feeling completely at peace – especially at the Peace Temple!! 🙂 I would love to visit Nepal and I wish the country all the luck in the world, in rebuilding and for the future.

  4. I have never been on a trip to this part of the world, but it looks beautiful. I would love the chance one day.

  5. Wow, it’s stunning. I think I fell in love with the Peace Temple and Phewa Lake 🙂 How amazing it would be to walk around there. Does it get super crowded?

  6. Im from Asia , India to be specific and you have captured the place beautifully in your photographs. I was so saddened by the earthquake last year but things are getting better nowadays. .

    1. Glad to know Subhadrika. Hopefully Nepal should bounce back soon and we as travelers can help them in a small way by visiting the beautiful country.

  7. The place is stunning! Your photos the countryside, lakes and temple is absolutely enthralling! Knowing what places to visit to a certain place is always helpful. Not to mention that you have included how to get there and when to go is another plus for this article. Thanks!

  8. Great guide! The Peace Temple especially calls out to me… it looks so pristine and perfect. Appreciated some of the context too around the earthquake… with so many tragedies in this world, it’s often easy to forget about the ones that happen, even if they were only a year ago.

  9. So glad to find a meaningful article on Nepal. This country is so beautiful and deserves more tourists than ever before. Beautiful pictures. I will surely visit Pokhara someday.

  10. I’ve always had dreams of visiting Nepal! I hadn’t heard much about Pokhara prior to this post. I am so impressed by the beauty here and hope to visit sometime soon. Thank you for the informative article!

  11. Being my neighbor country Nepal is high on my bucket list. Working as a travel professional i have sent so many people to Nepal bt still couldn’t make it for my self. This post making me More eager to visit.

  12. When I see images like that of Sarankot it reminds me how much beauty the world has to offer. Nepal is def on my to do list! Thanks for the great post 🙂

  13. I have wanted to visit Nepal since I was a teenager, but over the years due to the war and earthquakes have kept putting it farther away on my list. These photos are lovely and remind me I still need to plan to go

  14. ever since I am intrigued by travelling to Nepal and I hope to make it there one day! I hope it will soon fully recover from the earthquake last year… however, big compliment as well on your pictures, they are amazing 🙂

  15. We visited Nepal before the earthquake and went to both Kathmandu and Pokhara, both places are amazingly beautiful although completely different. From the chaotic capital to the tranquil lakeside city, there is so much to do. We tried paragliding and it was an incredible adventure. You can check it in our blog too 😉

  16. Just started planning my trip there this week so I searched your site, knowing you would have some info and great pictures of this beautiful area of Nepal. I’m getting beyond excited. Do you have any other recommendations? How long would you stay in this area.

    1. That is good to know. If you love trekking then you could spend about a week to couple of weeks here. It is beautiful and I am sure you will enjoy every moment. Added to that, the place is not very expensive. Do carry some warm clothes if you are traveling during winter.

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