Pokhara

Pokhara is a piece of heaven in the world. There are many beautiful and interesting places to visit in Nepal, outside the Kathmandu Valley. Pokhara is one of the most scenic and exciting valley in Nepal. Pokhara valley is the ‘Jewel of the mid-west’, second major tourist sport in Nepal but the favorite of tourists from around the globe.  It is linked by Air and by road from Kathmandu and the Indian border Sunauli. Pokhara lies 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu six hours by car and 25 minutes by flight. It is famous for its lakes and its location beneath the towering Annapurna massif. It is highly recommendable to visit this scenic valley, stay in small resort hotels with views of the magnificent Himalayan peaks, go boating on the calm waters of the Phewa and the Begnas lakes or go on tours or day hikes in the nearby hills or if time permits, on a well-organized trekking holiday.
 
Further 12 km east of Pokhara at the end of a road that turns north from highway to Kathmandu lies the Begnas Lake offering the perfect nature retreat because of its relative seclusion. Splendid hiking, boating and fishing opportunities can be found here. The Begnas Lake Resort, located on a hillside of unspoiled forestland with guest rooms built on rice terraces close to the lake offers magnificent views over tranquil waters of the Begnas, beautiful ethnic villages on the opposite hillsides and the snowy mountain peaks from every room.

Pokhara is an enormous sunlit playground of green hills, lakes, forests, rivers, waterfalls, terraced fields. For the mountain lover the Annapurna range and the Fishtail peak, appeared to be just standing in front of you with overwhelming views. Pokhara offers a mild climate is famous for the natural beauty of its great lakeside location, magnificent views of Dhaulagiri, Fishtail, Manaslu, five peaks of Annapurna and others. This is one of the few places in the world to provide such a dramatic view in a sub-tropical setting. Millions of people travel thousands of miles in the search of Heaven or Paradise on Earth, fully unaware of the existence of a corner of real paradise. This city popularly known as “City of Tourism” is absolutely free from any type of pollution. Pokhara valley is situated at an altitude of 827 meters from sea level. It is one of the most picturesque spots of Nepal.

Pokhara sits high on the list of ‘must visit’ places in Nepal. Tourists on extended holidays in Nepal make multiple visits to this famous valley of the three lakes. The tourist district of Pokhara better known as ‘Lakeside Pokhara’ is quite distinctly separate from Pokhara city. Lakeside sprawls beside Phewa Lake and is reminiscent of Thamel except for the ample space and miniscule traffic which makes Pokhara so much more enjoyable and relaxed than its counterpart in Kathmandu. The enchanting Pokhara valley with the dominating presence of Mt. Machhapuchhare (Fishtail Mountain) in the background is the gateway to the Annapurna region where many a trekker finds his Shangri-la.

Pokhara is also ideally placed for adventure sports such as: rafting, paragliding, sky diving and ultra-light flights. The relaxed atmosphere on the shores of Phewa Lake gives a trekker a much needed respite from days of hiking up and down the hills and mountains on one of the popular Annapurna treks. The crowded bars and restaurants are the places to seek companionship, where tall stories and real life experiences are shared with perfect strangers. The friendly Nepalese make a tourist feel at home to the point where many stay on for extended periods and come each year to seek those friends he’s made and find peace of mind.

It is also the starting point for trekking and rafting destinations. There are also plenty of short walks and day trips, suitable for children and weary trekkers that can be made around valley. More than 65% of the total trekkers of Nepal trek in Annapurna region. All kinds of tourist facilities such as, foreign currency exchange, ACAP entry permit, visa extension, flight ticket reconfirmation etc. are available in this multi -cultural city.

Pokhara is part of a once vibrant trade route extending between India and Tibet. To this day, mule trains can be seen camped on the outskirts of the town, bringing goods to trade from remote regions of the Himalaya. This is the land of Magars and Gurungs, hardworking farmers and valorous warriors who have earned worldwide fame as Gurkha soldiers. The Thakalis, another important ethnic group here, are known for their entrepreneurship. Activities such as boating, fishing and canoeing can be organized on the Phewa Lake.