Pokhara Tourist Attractions

If Kathmandu is the political hub of Nepal, Pokhara is its center of culture and adventure in Nepal. Pokhara is a picturesque location at the foothills of the Himalayas. A bustling city amidst tranquil valley; Pokhara is the gateway for most of Nepal's popular trekking and rafting destinations. The city remains full of trekkers and backpackers round the year. The stretches of hotels and restaurants near the Fewa Lake looks like the melting pot for different races. The sound of various languages spoken at the same time has a melody in itself.

Pokhara is a place of magnificent and incomparable natural beauty. The most serene locale in the city is Fewa Lake. The image of the snow-clad mountain peaks that fall in the tranquil water creates an ambience of peace and magic. At an elevation lower than Kathmandu, Pokhara has a much more tropical feel to it; a fact much appreciated by the beautiful diversity of flowers which prosper in its environs. Pokhara has lot more to offer, here we list a few: -

Mountain Views
The most stunning and magnificent site of Pokhra is the spectacular panorama of the Annapurna range that forms its backdrop. The Annapurna stretches from west to east and includes Annapurna I to Annapurna IV in its massif. Apart from that it also includes the Annapurna South peak. Although the highest among them is Annapurna I that stands 8,091 meters above the sea, it is Machhapuchhre Peak, which dominates all others in its vicinity. Boastfully levitating in the skyline, the fishtailed pinnacle is the archetypal snow-capped, needlepointed mountain. Nevertheless, none can get you same experience as a clear weather Mountain flight. The one by the Everest Air is the best among the available option.

Fewa Lake
Fewa Lake, also written as Phewa Lake, is the second largest lake in the Kingdom of Nepal. Nevertheless this lake is second to no one in terms of beauty. In fact, the Fewa Lake is the Manhattan of Pokhara. It is the largest and most enchanting of the three lakes that add to the resplendence of Pokhara. The real charm of this place is to hire a sailboat or a rowboat and enjoy the tranquility. Another interesting site is the island temple in its middle. The eastern shore, popularly known as Lakeside is the most preferred hangout for the foreign backpackers. This is the place where most of the hotels, restaurants and handicraft shops are located.

Barahi Temple
Among the monuments, the Barahi temple is the most important in Pokhara region. This temple is built on an island right in the Center of Phewa Lake. This double-storied pagoda like temple is dedicated to the boar manifestation of Ajima, the protesters deity representing the female force Shakti. Saturday is the day dedicated to this goddess and you can notice people carrying animals for the sacrifice. The design of this temple is heavily influenced from Bhutanese architecture school and the monument hardly looks like a Hindu Temple.

Seti Gandaki
Pokhara is the city of Natural wonders. Another feather in its cap is Seti Gandaki River that never fails to interest the visitors. The boisterous river runs right through the city and at places, it remains completely underground. Amazingly, at certain points the river appears hardly two meters wide. Nevertheless its depth reaches to over 20 meters at places. Mahendra Pul, a British style span bridge, provides the perfect view of the river's dreadful rush and the deep gorge made by its powerful flow. The gorge is the only one of its kind in the valley.

Mahendra Cave
In the long queue of natural wonders in Pokhara, Mahendra Gupha or Mahendra Cave is another addition. This large limestone cave is locally known as the House of Bats. This name has been given because of the nests of bats that hang form the series of Stalagmites that run through the cave. The place is a 2-hours walk from the downtown Pokhra. Don't forget to bring a torch in order to see stalactites, stalagmites as well as the dreadful looking bats.

The Old Bazaar
Pokhara's traditional bazaar is colorful and so are its ethnically diverse traders. The place remains bustling with traders from not only Nepal but also from places as far as Kashmir, Tibet, Ladakh and China. The market is full of monuments that give a sneak peak into the Newar architecture and culture. Located about four km from Lakeside, the market's original charm is alive and flourishing. Though the market has nothing to offer to tourists; to walk down the lanes has a charm in itself.

The Pokhara Museum
Located between the bus stop and Mahendra Pul, Pokhara museum reflects the ethnic mosaic of western Nepal. The lifestyles and history of ethnic groups such as Gurungs, Thakalis and Tharus 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 museum is opened weeklong except Tuesdays and is must for both researchers as well as tourists.