Pokhara is located roughly 200 km west of Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. The journey between these two famed cites is certainly part of the Pokhara experience. Flying over the snow-capped Himalaya to the north and the green Mahabharat range to the south is thrilling, while the overland journey past sparse rural settlements nested along Trisuli river provides a view of life particular to Nepal’s middle hills. There are daily flight and bus services between Kathmandu and Pokhara

As Kathmandu is the cultural hub of Nepal, Pokhara is its center of adventure. An enchanting city nestled in a tranquil valley. It is the starting point for the many of the Nepal’s most popular trekking and rafting destinations. The atmosphere on the shore of the Phewa lake is one of excited vitality as hipster backpackers crowd the many bars and restaruarnts exchanging recomemdations on guest houses and viewpoints, both by the lake and above the clouds.

Pokhara is the place of remarkable natural beauty. The serenity of Phewa Lake and the magnificence of the fistailed summit of Machhapuchhre (6,997 m) rising behind it create an ambience of peace and magic. At an elevation lower than Kathmandu, it has muchmore tropical feel to it, a fact well appreciated by the beautiful diversity of flowers which prosper in its environs. Indeed, the valley surrounding Pokhara is home to thick forests, gushing rivers, emerald lakes, and of course, the world famous views of the Himalaya.

The powerful rule of the old kings of Kathmandu, the Lichhavis and the Mallas, held sway over this valley for some time. As these dynasties fell prey to their own troubles, Pokhara Valley and the surrounding hills disintegrated into small kingdoms, frequentlya t war with each other. These were called Chaubise Rajya or the Twenty-four Kingdoms. It was among these that Kulmandan Shah established his kingdom. His descendant Drabya Shah was the first to establish Gorkha., source of the legendary Gurkha warriors.

Finally, Pokhara is part of a once vibrant trade route extending between India and Tibet. To this day, mule trains can be seen camped on outskirts of the town, bringing goods to trade from remote regions of the Himalaya. This is the land of the of hard working farmers and valorous warriors who have earned worldwide fame as Gurkha soldiers.

Mountain Veiws:

Clearly the most stunning of Pokhara’s sights is the spectacular panorama of the Annapurna range which forms its backdrop. Stretching from east to west, the Annapurna massif includes Annapurna I to IV and Annapurna South. Although the highest among them is Annapurna I (8,091), it is Machhapuchhre which dominates all others in this neighbouhood. Boastfully levitating in the skyline, the fis-tailed pinnacle is the archetypal snow-capped, needle-pointed mountain. If you want to see the mountains from close up, Airlines offer mountain flight from Pokhara that takes you on an Aerial sightseeing tour of the western Himalaya.

Phewa Lake:

Phewa Lake, the second largest lake in the Kingdom, is the center of all attraction IN Pokhara. It is the largest and most enchanting of the seven lakes that add to the resplendence of Pokhara. Here, one can sail or row a hired boat across to the water or visit the island temple in its middle. The eastern shore, popularly known as lakeside or Baidam, is favorite home base for travelers and is whre most of the hotels, restaurants and handicraft shops are located.

Barahi Temple: The Barahi temple is the most important monument in Pokhara, Built almost in the center of Phewa Lake, this two-storied pagoda is dedicated to the boar manifestation of Ajima, the protectress deity representing the female force Shakti. Devotees can be seen, especially on Saturdays, carrying male animals and fowl across the lake to be sacrificed to the deity.

Seti Gandaki:

Another of Pokhara’s natural wonders that unfailingly interests visitors is the Seti Gandaki river. Flowing right through the city, the boisterous river runs completely underground at places. Amazingly, at certain points the river appers hardly two meters wide. But its depth is quite beyond imagination-over 20 meters! Mahendrapul, a small bridge near the old Mission Hospital, provides a perfect view of the river’s dreadful rush and the deep gorge made by its powerful flow.

Devi’s Fall:

Locally know as the Patale Chhango. Devi’s Fall is a lovely waterfall lying about two kilometer south-west of the Pokhara airport on the Siddhartha Highway. Legend has it that a trekker named David was washed away by the Pardi Khola and mysteriously disappeared down into an underground passage beneath the fall.

Mahendra Cave:

Another of nature’s wonder in Pokhara is the Mahendra Cave. This large limestone cave is locally know as the House of bats, an apt name for it . A tow-hours walk to the north of Pokhara, it is best to bring your own torch to see the stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the local winged residents.

The Old Bazaar:

Pokhara’s traditional bazaar is colorful and so are its ethnically diverse traders. In its temples and monuments can be seen ties to the Newar architecture of the Kathmandu Valley. Located about four km from Lakeside, the market’s original charm is alive and well. This area strewn with shops selling commodities from edibles and cloth to cosmetics and gold is a pleasant and shady spot to stroll around.

The old bazaar is also home to one of Pokhara’s most important shrines. Locally called the Bindhyabasini Mandir, this white dome-like structure dominates a spacious stone-paved courtyard built atop a shady hillock. It is dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati, yet another manifestation of Shakti. The park-like grounds offer a fine picnic area, and on Saturdays and Tuesdays when devotees flock there to offer sacrifices, its takes on a festive local flavor.

Musueums: The Pokhara Musuem, located between the bus stop and Mahendrapul, reflects the ethnic mosaic of western Nepal. The lifestyles and history of ethnic groups such as the Gurung, Thakali and Tharu are attractively displayed through models, photographs and artifacts. One major attraction is a display highlighting the newly discovered remains of an 8000-year –old settlement in Mustang.

The Annapurna Regional Museum, also known as the Natural History Museum, is another interesting visit in Pokhara. Run by the Annapurna Conservation Area Oriject (ACAP), the museum has an exceptional collection of butterflies, insects, birds and models of wildlife found in the area. Located at Prithvi Narayan Campus east of the old bazaar, it is open daily except Saturdays.

International Mountain Museum: The plan to open Internation Mountain Museum (IMM) in Pokhara is Nepal Mountaneering Association’s most ambitious project. Pokhara was chosen as the site for this unique and the only kind of museum in the world because of the scenic location, and first eight thousander Mt. Annapurna I summated by Maurice Herzog and Luis Lachnel, lies in the laps of mighty Annapurna range. Moreover, almost every visitor to Nepal has Pokhara included in the itinerary.

International Mountain Museum is not a museum of the ordinary kind; it has the objectives of documenting, recording and chronicling the past and present development of mountaineering not only in Nepal but the world over. It can be said that it will be place where “man, mountain and mountaineering” will meet under one roof. The importance of the museum lies in the fact that Nepal has the longest range of the Himalayan range including eight of he world’s 14 highest peaks over 8,000 meters. IMM is spread over a total floor area of 4,242 square meters in 12.5 acres of land.

The museum contains three main exhibition halls: Hall of the Great Himalayas, Hall of Fame and the Hall of world Mountains. It also contains the models of famous peaks, mannequins of famous mountaineers, culture and lifestyle of mountain peoples, flora and fauna including geology.

IMM is indeed a “mega project” considering the huge investments being made. With the income generated by issuing permits to the 33 NMA peaks it has many works lined up. NMA has been active in utilizing its own resources together with support of friendly and generous donors. The reason that NMA has received support over the years for the project is that it has very good relations with all the alpine clubs of the world.

Surrounding Areas:

Pokhara is the starting and/or finishing point for some the most popular treks including the Annapurna Circuit and the Jomsom Trek. It also offers a number of short treks for those who cannot opt for long, challenging ones. The most popular destination among them is Sarangkot (1592m), a former Kaski fort lying atop a hill to the west of Pokhara. The panoramic view of the Himalaya seen from this point is superb, Kahundanda, Naudanda, Ghandrung, Ghorepani, and Ghalchok are other favorite destiniations around Pokhara.

Views on Pokhara:

“In all my travels in the Himalayas I say no scenery as enchanting as that which enraptured me at Pokhara”

--- Ekai Kawaguchi
(First foreigner to visit Pokhara in 1899)