Pokhara is a city that attracts all who come for its great charm, tranquility and beauty. It is located on the shore of Lake Phewa, surrounded by impressive mountains and snow-capped peaks, with some of the best hiking trails in the world. It is known to be the gateway to the Himalayas. A paradise for all lovers of mountain routes and adventure sports.
Suppose you are not one of those looking to practice hiking or extreme sports. In that case, it offers many other activities such as visiting lakes, practicing yoga and meditation, caves, museums, getting lost in its streets.
In addition, it offers a wide variety of cultural and leisure activities: markets, temples, restaurants, cafes and many sportswear shops (to buy before hiking), souvenirs, jewelers. Here is a list of Best things to do in Pokhara.
One of the things that makes Pokhara such a wonderful and peaceful place is Phewa Lake. Boating in Fewa lake is one of the best thing to do in Pokhara. A great lake (the second largest in Nepal), where you can walk along the shore and relax with its incredible views.
In addition, throughout the day, along the shore of the lake, you will see the daily life of the locals of the city: fishermen, boatmen, children playing, locals selling street food, bars … A hidden places in pokhara full of magic , which at the sunset time creates a beautiful landscape.
You can also enjoy and entertainment in pokhara the fewa lake by renting one of the rowboats that you will find along the walk and take a walk around the lake contemplating its surroundings.
| Address : | Phewa Lake |
| How to get there: | Walking |
| Opening Hours | 7AM to 5PM (extended depending on High Season) |
| Recommendations: | Go at sunset time |
Pokhara is one of the best places to do this activity as it meets the perfect conditions for an exciting and safe experience. Apart from unbeatable views of the Himalayas.
It takes off on the hill of Sarangkot and its duration is 30 minutes. An unforgettable experience in the air that you will keep for a lifetime.
The Barahi Temple is located within Lake Phewa, on a small island . To access you have to take a rowing boat of the many that are in the walk.
It is a highly revered temple among the locals dedicated to Goddess Durga (Barahi), the protector of the gods. It is used for worship by the Hindus. There you can observe the ceremonies and offerings offered to the goddess. Especially on Saturdays they take male animals and birds to be sacrificed by their God. Your can enjoy the Arati in Barahi temple at evening.
Night life of pokhara and Arati in Barahi temple is best things to do in pokhara at night.
| How to get there: | Walking |
| Hours: | All day |
| Price: | Rent a boat |
| Recommendations: | Every day at sunset, in front of the temple (on the shore of the lake), they celebrate the Barahi Aarati ceremony (the fire ceremony), to venerate the temple To rent the boat we advise to gather 5 people who want to go, so the cost is much lower |
The Peace Pagoda is a white stupa built by Buddhist monks from a Japanese organization to promote world peace. The shiny gold statue depicts the Buddha in the posture he was in when he was born.
World peace pagoda is located on the top of a mountain above Phewa Lake and Pokhara, Nepal. As well as being impressive on its own, the shrine is a vantage point that offers spectacular views of the Annapurna mountain range and the city of Beautiful Pokhara.
Boat: You can rent a boat to cross the lake and from there you will see all the signs to get to the top on foot. You will have to climb a few stairs, but you will see that it will have been worth the effort when you get to the top. (go and return approx. 1,200 – 1,500 rupees for 5 people (approx. € 10/14 for 5 people).
Taxi: If you do not have much time, renting a taxi is the fastest (you have to negotiate with him/ her the price and the duration, but they are approx 1,500 (approx. $15) for a round trip).
Bus: The cheapest option if you don’t want to walk is to take a local bus that leaves from the local Pokhara bus station. (approx. 20 rupees-approx. € 0.15)
Walking: This option is the most adventurous, the duration is about 3 hours and you will have to walk to the north of Lake Phewa, walk to a bridge, and cross it, once there, you will enter the mountain and see the signs get there. (We recommend downloading maps.me so as not to get lost since in this application you get the route)
Recommendations: The best time to climb it is at sunrise or sunset as it offers incredible panoramic views.
The Devi’s waterfall located 2 km south of Pokhara. It is known as “The fall of hell” but not because they are giant waterfalls but because the waterfall disappears under the ground and the end is not seen.
It is famous because a tourist named Devil’s disappeared who was dragged down the waterfall and his body was never found.
Recommendations: When you go to see it you can also go to see the Pagoda since it is in the same direction and you take advantage of the road to see both things
These two lakes, Rupa Lake and Begnas Lake, are just outside the center of Pokhara, about 15 km away. They are divided by a wooded hill, but both can be visited by hiking through a natural refuge with magical views . In addition, you can also take a boat trip, swim, fish. Both are very quiet large lakes, where you can spend an excellent day walking and enjoying their beauty and tranquility.
Taxi: It can be taken on the same main street, since you will find many taxis or tuks-tuks in the area. The journey lasts approximately 40 min.
Bus: You can take a local bus from Prithivi Chowk or Barahi Chowk station . Buses leave every 30 min. Going by local bus is the cheapest option.
Recommendations: Go early to enjoy all its corners.
Recommended Tour : Kathmandu and Pokhara Tour
If you want to get out of the most touristy area and get into the most local and authentic life, we recommend going to visit the old town of Pokhara, here you will discover the most original area of the city.
You can visit temples that are more than 200 years old, such as the Birmsen temple, among others. You will also find markets, street food stalls and many charms outside the tourist area.
Due to the conflicts between China and Tibet, Nepal welcomed many Tibetans and shelters them to protect them, in this refuge of Tashilling approximately 500 Tibetans live. But they are still locked up and not allowed to work legally. For this reason, they are dedicated to making carpets, jewelry, handicrafts …
Tashilling is located about 3km south of Lakeside, a Tibetan town with a peaceful and caring mentality, where everyone who goes welcomes them with open arms and a big smile.
Every day between 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. a prayer ceremony is held , everyone gathers in their colored robes and recites sacred mantras accompanied by Tibetan instruments, such as the prayer horn. A plethora of moments where it will take you to Tibet.
| How to get there: | Motorcycle or taxi |
| Recommendations: | Go at the time of the ceremony as it is a very special moment. |
Sarangkot is a small town located 11 km from Pokhara, at about 1,600 meters of altitude. A well-known place, for offering a viewpoint with spectacular 360º views of the Himalayas, peaks that exceed seven thousand meters, Pokhara and other towns. And on clear days, you can see the incredible Machapuchare, among others.
In addition, enjoying these spectacular views is also an ideal place to paraglide through this dreamlike landscape.
| How to get there: | Motorcycle or taxi and Walking |
| Recommendations: | Go up at sunrise or sunset to enjoy a unique landscape wrapped in the great Himalayas. |
Right in front of the Devi waterfalls, is the Gupteshwor Mahadev cave. To access you have to go down some spiral-shaped stairs to get to the cave.
The cave is like an artificially lit natural tunnel , the shapes of the stalactites are surprising. It has two parts, one of them is barely 50 meters long and is considered the shrine of Shiva. The other part goes to the Devis waterfall on a lighted path, where you will see the waterfall fall inside the cave.
| How to get there: | Motorcycle, or taxi |
| Hours: | 6am to 7pm |
| Recommendations: |
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The Chamare cave or Bat cave, is a cave full of bats that live inside. You have to watch as there are hundreds and the walk is in full darkness.
It is a small U-shaped cave, which you are in the middle of the cave and look up to see the ceiling, you will only see hundreds of bats, a unique experience. That it can give a certain impression being in the midst of these creatures. That is why it is better to go with a guide to explain and guide you during the expedition.
| How to get there: | Motorcycle, or taxi |
| Hours: | 6am to 7pm |
| Recommendations: | Go with guide |
| How to get there: | Motorcycle, walking |
| Hours: | 8am to 6pm |
| Recommendations: | It is a very interesting museum to see as it tells you a lot of history about the Himalayas and its people. |
In the heart of Pokhara, there are many options of schools for yoga and / or meditation , where they offer courses or individual classes , depending on your availability. Different classes are held for all levels (beginners or advanced) .
Pokhara is the ideal place to take these courses since it is a beautiful and very quiet area, to be able to connect with the “inner self” and to be able to connect with your most spiritual part. In fact, Pokhara has been called “Pokhara the city of meditation” for a few years.
One of the most hectic and exciting sports in Pokhara is rafting or kayaking on the Seti River. A river with spectacular views of the Annapurnas and white waters that come from the glaciers in the mountains.
An exciting experience, full of rapids that will make you feel very excited and nervous at all times.
It is one of the best experiences in the heart of the Himalayas, as it is the steepest zip line in the world , with an incline of 56 degrees, a total length of 1800 meters and a vertical drop of 600 meters that will take you 140 km/hour.
It is the highest, longest and steepest zip line in the world. In addition, it offers the best 180-degree panoramic views of the Annapurna’s.
One of the most dream activities in the world, jumping from the height of 13,000 feet to one of the most beautiful landscapes you have ever seen , with 360-degree views. A most moving experience, where you will fly above the clouds watching all the incredible passage until you fall into the lap of nature.
A flight that provides a panoramic view of the entire Annapurna Mountain Range and Dhaulagiri. A relatively new activity, which will make you feel a sensation of feeling complete freedom in the air seeing the highest mountains in the world. Indescribable moment.
The speed of this flight is about 50 km/hour at 90 km/hour and its maximum altitude reaches 5,000 meters.
Shopping in Pokhara is one of the inevitable things to do in Pokhara, since it is a walk where you will find a wide variety of shops: clothing and accessories for hiking (sleeping bags, mats, clothing, etc.) at a very good price since everything is imitation, other handcrafted objects made by hand, textile clothing shops made by Tibetan women and many more shops. Apart from many bars and restaurants.
So do not worry if you need something to go on a trek or want to buy a gift for family/friends, because here you have many options.
| How to get there: | Walking |
| Recommendations: | It is possible to use the haggling technique since being a tourist they inflate the price |
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