Pokhara and Phewa Lake

Nepal'S Second Tourist City On Phewa Lake, Gateway To The Annapurna Region, With Machhapuchhre And The Annapurnas On Its Skyline · Pokhara, Gandaki

Pokhara is Nepal's great lakeside town, set on the shore of Phewa Lake with the Annapurna range filling the northern sky, and above all the fishtail peak of Machhapuchhre, sacred and unclimbed, which seems to rise straight out of the town. It is the gateway to the Annapurna treks and the place most travellers rest before and after them. Lakeside is a relaxed strip of guesthouses, cafes and boat hire. The classic morning is sunrise from Sarangkot, a ridge above the lake where the Annapurnas turn pink; later the same ridge launches paragliders, and Pokhara is one of the most popular paragliding sites in the world. Rowing boats cross Phewa to the island temple of Tal Barahi and to the path up to the white World Peace Pagoda on the far hill. The mountains are only reliably clear from October to April; in the monsoon they can hide for weeks. Pokhara has grown fast, with new building and a new international airport, but the view from the lake on a clear morning still stops people in their tracks.

Lakeside, Pokhara, Kaski District, Pokhara, Gandaki, Nepal

A town, open at all times. Boats on Phewa Lake are hired by the hour at Lakeside. Paragliding runs in good weather, mainly October to April. Pokhara has an international airport and domestic flights from Kathmandu, and is about six to eight hours by road from Kathmandu. Mountain views are best early in the morning.

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