|
Pokhara is a city in central
Nepal, situated by Phewa Tal. It is best described as a roughshorn
resort town, a place to relax, go on leisure walks, ride boats and
bikes, find a shaded area and read a book, or sit on the lakeside
terrace of a restaurant enjoying the best lake and mountain views in
Nepal while eating Thamel-style fare. Not surprisingly, Pokhara is
the most visited destination in the country next to Kathmandu.
The valley town of Pokhara is located some 125 miles west of
Kathmandu. It is the hub of the central mountains, used as a base by
trekkers because of its proximity to several popular hiking routes.
Day and night busese run frequently to and from Kathmandu.
When the road is dry and not soaked by rain, it takes about six
hours to reach Kathmandu from Pokhara, which includes the typical
lunch stop at Mugling. The ride is bumpy but an interesting one that
passes through picturesque villages, river gorges, and pretty
terraced fields. Some choose to fly one way and bus the other, or
vice-versa.
Pokhara and its valley is the largest in Nepal, but its perennial
problem is its shortage of water for irrigation. The city is
situated 3,000 feet above sea level at a lower level than Kathmandu
and is only 20 miles south of the central Himalayas. This gives
residents great close-up views of the mountains, as well as an
astounding annual rainfall of more than 150 inches caused by clouds
dumping their rain as they crash into the peaks
Attractions
Pokhara is a popular destination mostly because of its rich natural
beauty. It is home to several lakes and mountains, but also offers
the customary Nepalese temples, ethnic communities, and bazaar
shopping.
Phewa Lake
Tourists are drawn to the Pokhara district of Baidam, the lakeside
area of Phewa Lake. Every year, the lake is lined with more hotels,
restaurants, bakeries, and souvenir and clothing stores. Numerous
lodges also surround the lake. Hotels have sprung up particularly at
the southern end of the lake below the dam. Renting a boat is pretty
easy, whether it’s a dinghy sailboat or a large row boat. You can
cruise leisurely and enjoy unobstructed views of the unclimbed
Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), which rises 23,000 feet high. The best way
to explore the lake area, however, is by bike. Along the lakeside
strip, mountain bikes and push-bikes are available for rent at rates
comparable with those in Kathmandu
In the middle of the lake, there is a small island with a Temple of
Varahi. Once you arrive, you can look back across and spot the villa
and compound of the Royal Family.
A few steps south of Phewa Tal is the Patle Chhango waterfall, also
known as Devin’s Fall or Devi, which is the name of a Nepali
goddess. No one knows how the falls got its name, but it is here
where the water from Phewa sinks thunderously below a channel,
causing a monsoon. A western woman, supposedly, once drowned here
while skinny-dipping.
Lake Begnas and Lake Rupa
There are two other lakes, Begnas and Rupa, located about 10 miles
east of Pokhara. The lakes are nestled in a ring of hills. You can
retreat to these refuges by biking up the hills, which is probably
the most quickest and enjoyable way of getting there. Or, you could
take a bus running from New Road to the lakes, which takes about 45
minutes.
Mountain Treks
Pokhara gets cloudy often by mid-morning. The best views of the
mountains are enjoyed at dawn when the sky is clear
The most popular mountain destination in the area is Sarangkot,
which is nestled high up on the north ridge of Phewa Tal. The
mountain stands 5,220 feet above sea level and takes three hours to
hike. Ruins of the fort built by the Kaski kings, who fell to the
Gorkhalis in 1781, are found at the summit. There are also lodges up
there where you can stay to enjoy the views at dawn and sunset. Plan
a full day’s excursion for the trek.
Kahun Dada is another mountain, although it is not as high as the
Sarangkot, reaching only 5,000 feet above sea level. The mountain
takes about three hours to climb. While the Kahun Dada is not as
spectacular as the Sarangkot, the trails of Kahun Dada are more
serene. There is also a lookout tower at the Kahun Dada’s summit.
Bazaar
Tourists are also attracted to the town’s main bazaar, located a few
miles north of Phewa Lake, beyond the highway to Kathmandu and its
airstrip. You can bargain over the price of the jewels, trinkets,
backpacks, blankets, and other goods sold at the bazaar.
Temples and Museums
You should also visit the Bindyabasini Temple. It is located on the
north side of Pokhara. It will provide a glimpse of what the city
was like before the development of the ubiquitous concrete box
buildings. A short way’s south of Bindyabasini Temple, you’ll also
find the Bhimsen Temple.
North of Bindyabasini and Bhimsen, you’ll find the perfect vantage
point for views of the Seti River’s narrow gorge. Nearby is the
British Pension Camp where the Gurkha soldiers are stationed. You’ll
also find a museum run by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project on
the Annapurna. A bit further beyond is a Tibetan refugee camp.
Ethnic Villages
Near Pokhara are two Tibetan settlements, Tashi Palkhel (or Hyangja)
and Tashiling. Both are famous for producing large quantities of
carpets for export. You can reach both by bike. Tashi Palkhel is
larger than Tashiling, home to about 1,000 residents. Tashiling is
half the size of Tashi Palkhel and is only 2 miles on the other side
of the dam. Both settlements have their own schools and gompa.
Tibetans have settled both towns since the past three decades. Some
operate souvenir shops by the lake while others work as peddlers.
Cuisine
Pokhara is famous for its budget-style “international” cuisine. Its
array of eateries specializing in this cuisine is second only to
Thamel. New restaurants continue to pop up. Most of them serve
entrees that include steak, pasta, rosti, momo and thukpa, vegetable
concoctions, and a diverse list of varied desserts.
History
Pokhara has grown by leaps and bounds. It was not until 1958 before
the city saw its first vehicle arrive on a plane. There were no
roads leading to Kathmandu until the early 1970’s. In the past 25
years, many people have moved down the hills from Kathmandu to
Pokhara, tripling Pokhara’s population.
Sarangkot Hiking
Day 01 : Arrival in Kathmandu,
transfer to hotel and rest of the time free.
Day 02 : After breakfast drive or fly to Pokhara.
Day 03 : Possibility for different hikes - a one-day to Sarangkot.
Or relax in your accommodation, enjoy the view.
Day 04 : After breakfast drive to Kathmandu, full day sightseeing,
dinner with culture show.
Day 05 : Departure to home country.
Our Services Include:
* Airport pick up and transfer to hotel.
* Accommodation on twin sharing basis
* American / Continental breakfast
* Services of qualified local guides (English speaking or choice of
your languages ) during the whole trip
* Arrival / departure & all tour by AC / Non AC vehicle
Exclusions
* Any kind of personal expenses such as laundry, telephone bills and
alcoholic beverages
* Insurance cover
* Any expenses caused by reasons beyond our control such as flight
delays, rescheduling or cancellations, any accidents, medical
evacuations, riots, strikes, etc
* Any tips to drivers, hotel staff, any meals apart from the ones
mentioned above
* Any flight charges
* Monument entrance fee (sightseeing fee)
Extension Trip
to Chitwan National Park:
POKHARA - CHITWAN NATIONAL
PARK.
Breakfast at Hotel, Drive to Chitwan National Park which is about
136 Km and will take 5 hrs drive & transfer to Resort at
Chitwan.After Lunch, Our Jungle Naturalist will short brief you
about Jungle activities with Elephant Safari – Sunset Program, Tharu
Culture Stick Dance Program
CHITWAN JUNGLE SAFARI
Breakfast at Resort, Jungle and Nature Walk, Canoeing Trip - Lunch
at Hotel and Visit Elephant Breading Center. Overnight at Resort.
CHITWAN - KATHMANDU:
Early morning bird watching program and breakfast at hotel, Drive to
KATHMANDU from Chitwan National Park. Transfer to hotel at KATHMANDU.
Dinner and Overnight at hotel.
KATHMANDU SIGHTSEEING:
After breakfast, full day sightseeing tour around the Kathmandu and
Patan City. Rest of day free for your own shopping and overnight at
hotel.
DEPARTURE:
After breakfast, transfer to airport for your onwards destination.
Service End. |
