Pokhara Valley

Pokhara Valley - A beautiful city

Pokhara valley, the ‘Jewel of the mid-west’ is a favorite of tourists from around the globe. With the magnificent Annapurna range of mountains as a backdrop and the serenity of the three lakes of Phewa, Rupa and Begnas, Pokhara is the ultimate destination for relaxation. Yet the valley has grown in recent years as the destination for adventures sports such as paragliding and ultra-light flights. With boating, bird watching, trekking and mountain biking as the other attractions, Pokhara has it all.

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 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. Pokhara’s bewitching beauty has been the subject of many travel writers. Its pristine air, the spectacular backdrop of the snowy peaks, the serene lakes and the surrounding greenery make it ‘the jewel in the Himalaya’, a place of remarkable natural beauty. Mt. Machhapuchhare (6,977 m) has a mesmerizing effect on any nature lover and the Phewa Lake creates an ambience of peace that is magical. Warmer than Kathmandu because of it lower altitude, Pokhara is pleasant in the winter and has a rich flora and fauna making it ideal for bird watching. Pokhara once lay on the important trade route between India and Tibet. To this day, mule trains arrive and set up camp on the outskirts of the town, bringing goods from remote regions of the Himalaya including Mustang. The people of this region are predominantly Magars and Gurungs, hardworking farmers who are known for their valor and have earned world-wide fame as fierce Gurkha warrior soldiers. The other well-known ethnic group found here are the Thakalis. Known for their entrepreneurship, they run many tea houses along the trek routes in the Annapurna region.

Hiking Around Pokhara

Taking to your feet is the only way to see most mountain areas of Nepal but it is also the best way to see the valley rich in cultural diversity, snowcapped mountains and the beautiful lakes If Katmandu is the cultural hub of Nepal, then Pokhara is its center of adventure. An enchanting city nestled in a tranquil valley; it is the starting point of many Nepal’s most popular trekking, hiking, biking, paragliding and rafting destinations. Exploring picturesque villages, gently rolling chains of hills with terraced fields of rice, subtropical forests and the unique outline of the Himalayas - whose gigantic mountains are only thirty kilometers away. This Land, is very much favorable for mountain bikers. There are many routes for biking which are full of mountain views and typical mountain villages.

1) Pokhara –Sarangkot-Pokhara (1 day)

The Sarangkot hill is very popular for its best Mountains and sunrise view. We start our trip early morning around 5-5:30 am by car .Normally sun rises at 6 am. After the sunrise and Mountain View we walk down from sarangkot along with the pokhara city view and the Fewa lake view with green forest. We walk around 4-5 hours. Note:-The length of the time depends on your choice of route.

2) Pokhara- sarangkot- Naudanda- Dhampus – Pokhara (2 days)

This route is popular both for mountain and sunrise view and to experience the Nepalese village life. The view point, Sarangkot offers the excellent panoramic view of Annapurnas and the sunrise while Naudanda offers the dramatic view of the twin tails of Machapuchhre (Fishtail) and the massif Dhaulagiri view. We walk through the Kaskikot village ,Naudanda village and the culturally rich Dhampus village where the view of Annapurnas seems very close and we can feel the cool and fresh air of the mountains.

3) Pokhara-Dhampus –Naudanda-Pokhara (1 day)

The main focus of the hike in this area is the scenic beauty of Naudanda and the ancient traditional culture and the great panoramic view of mountains from Dhampus village. While walking we pass through the diverse forest with the rhododendron and wild orchid flowers. We walk through the terraced rice fields and through the stone houses with thatched roofs.

4) Pokhara-Lahachowk - Ghahachowk-Pokhara (2 days)

This route offers the scenic beauty and the oldest settlement rich in culture; we start our walk from the Hemja village, famous for orange garden. We cross Seti and Mardi River to reach this typical Gurung village.

5) Pokhara - Chapakot-Pokhara (1 day)

After the 45 minute drive from Pokhara, we start walking from Pame west of Pokhara. We follow the Harpan River, the source of Phewa Lake then climb the hills with small villages. We walk through paddy field with the mountain and lake view.

6) Pokhara-Ramche Danda- Pokhara (1-2 days)

After 45 minutes drive south of Pokhara, we start our 7 hours hike climbing the hills, passing through villages and cultivated land. We walk through the forest of religious Chandan and oak tree. The smell of mountain can be sensed when we walk through the extensive forest of Rhododendron.

7) Pokhara- World Peace Pagoda -Pokhara (1 day)

World Peace Pagoda, a massive Buddhist stupa is situated on the top of a hill on the southern shore of Phewa Lake. Besides being a impressive sight in itself, the shrine is a great vantage point which offers the spectacular views of the Annapurna range, Phewa Lake, and the Pokhara city. We Climb the Raniban forest crossing the suspension bridge. After the 2 hours of walk we reach stupa and enjoy the spiritual and scenic beauty. Climbing down from Pagoda is more enjoyable with the view of Phewa Lake and the mountains. We cross the lake after the 20 minutes of boating with the visit to island temple (Barahi temple) in the middle of lake.

8) Pokhara - Foksing-Pokhara (1-2 days)

Around 10 minutes of drive south of pokhara we climb the hill passing the suspension bridge. The Foksing hill is popular for its fascinating mountain view. The Orange garden and the terraced rice fields and the typical Nepali houses with thatched roof can be experienced. The length of stay could be prolonged if you are interested to stay overnight with the villagers.

9) Pokhara-Kahun Danda – Pokhara (1-2 days)

Normally, this is one day hiking route but if you are interested to spend some time with the villagers you can make it for 2 days. The Khaun Danda (1520 m) to the northeast of Pokhara has a ruined fort on the summit as well as a view tower with spectacular scenery. The dramatic change of colors after the sunrise on the Annapurnas gives you the experience of natural beauty.

10) Pokhara-Kalikasthan-Pokhara (1-2 days)

This is the best view point to view the serene 7 lakes around Pokhara. The panoramic view of Annapurnas and the experience of village life is the highlight of the hiking.