Pokhara, Nepal: travel guide
Nepal's adventure and lakeside capital on the shore of Phewa Lake, gateway to the Annapurna trekking region with dramatic Himalayan panoramas including Machhapuchhre (Fishtail).
- Country
- Nepal
- Currency
- NPR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kathmandu
- Nearest airport
- PKR
Top places to visit in Pokhara
Pumdikot Shiva Statue
Temple · 4.6 rating · about 1 h
A colossal 51-foot Shiva statue and temple complex on a hill south of Phewa Lake, a newer landmark with 108 shivalingas and a superb sunset panorama over Pokhara.
Davis Falls (Devi's Fall)
Waterfall · 4.0 rating · about 0.5 h · entry NPR 100
A dramatic waterfall where the Pardi Khola vanishes underground into a deep gorge, spectacular in the monsoon; linked by legend to a Swiss tourist swept away here.
Bindhyabasini Temple
Temple · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h
Pokhara's oldest and most important Hindu temple, a hilltop white shrine to the goddess Bhagwati in the Old Bazaar, busy with pilgrims and morning worship.
Tal Barahi Temple
Temple · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h
A two-storey pagoda temple to the goddess Barahi on a small island in Phewa Lake, reached by short boat rides — Pokhara's most-visited religious shrine.
Begnas Lake
Nature · 4.6 rating · about 2 h
A quieter, greener lake east of Pokhara ringed by rice terraces and forest — popular for rowing, fishing and lakeside walks away from the Lakeside crowds.
Mahendra Cave
Nature · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · entry NPR 100
A large limestone cave north of Pokhara with stalactite and stalagmite formations and a Shiva shrine, named after the late King Mahendra.
World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa)
Monastery · 4.6 rating · about 1.3 h
A gleaming white Buddhist stupa built by Japanese monks on a ridge above Phewa Lake, with one of the finest panoramas of Pokhara, the lake and the Annapurna range.
International Mountain Museum
Museum · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · entry NPR 500
A major museum devoted to the mountains and mountaineering of the Himalaya — exhibits on peaks, expeditions, mountain peoples and ecology, with a model of Manaslu to climb.
Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave
Temple · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · entry NPR 100
A revered limestone cave shrine to Shiva directly across from Davis Falls, with stalactite chambers descending to a viewpoint of the underground waterfall.
Phewa Lake (Fewa Tal)
Nature · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h
Pokhara's serene freshwater lake, mirroring the Annapurna and Machhapuchhre peaks; wooden doonga boats ferry visitors to the island Tal Barahi temple and the far shore.
Bat Cave (Chamere Gufa)
Nature · 4.2 rating · about 0.5 h · entry NPR 100
A narrow cave near Mahendra Cave home to a colony of horseshoe bats, explored with a guide and a squeeze through a low exit passage.
Gurkha Memorial Museum
Museum · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · entry NPR 200
A museum honouring the Gurkha soldiers of Nepal, displaying Victoria Crosses, uniforms, weapons and campaign history of the famed regiments.
Things to do
- Tandem Paragliding from Sarangkot Adventure · 0.8 h · from NPR 9,000 per person
- Sarangkot Sunrise Tour Nature · 3 h · from NPR 1,800 per person
- Phewa Lake Boating & Tal Barahi Nature · 2 h · from NPR 1,200 per person
- Ultralight Flight over the Annapurnas Adventure · 0.5 h · from NPR 15,000 per person
- Pokhara Zip-flyer Adventure · 1 h · from NPR 8,500 per person
- Australian Camp Day Hike Nature · 6 h · from NPR 3,500 per person
Day trips and tours
- Pokhara Sunrise & Sightseeing Day Tour 8 h · from NPR 4,500
- Annapurna Foothills Day Hike from Pokhara 9 h · from NPR 4,500
Where to stay in Pokhara
- Lakeside (Baidam) about NPR 5,000 per night
Pokhara's main tourist strip along Phewa Lake — restaurants, bars, boat hire and the widest range of hotels with lake and mountain views.
- Damside (Pardi) about NPR 4,000 per night
A quieter lakeside area at the southern end near the dam, with mountain views and easy access to Davis Falls.
- Old Bazaar about NPR 2,500 per night
The historic commercial core of Pokhara with traditional Newari architecture and the Bindhyabasini temple, away from the tourist strip.
Hotels
- Hotel Barahi 4-star · NPR 7,000 to NPR 13,000 per night
- Hotel Middle Path & Spa 3-star · NPR 5,000 to NPR 10,000 per night
- Sacred Valley Inn 2-star · NPR 1,800 to NPR 4,000 per night
- Temple Tree Resort & Spa 4-star · NPR 12,000 to NPR 22,000 per night
- Zostel Pokhara NPR 700 to NPR 3,000 per night
- Fish Tail Lodge 4-star · NPR 10,000 to NPR 20,000 per night
Where to eat
- Moondance Restaurant Continental, Steak, Pizza · about NPR 1,200 per person
- Godfather's Pizzeria Italian, Pizza · about NPR 950 per person
- Caffe Concerto Italian, Pizza · about NPR 1,100 per person
- Busy Bee Café Continental, Nepali, Bar · about NPR 1,100 per person
- AM/PM Organic Café Cafe, Healthy, Continental · about NPR 800 per person
- OR2K Pokhara Middle Eastern, Vegetarian · about NPR 850 per person
- Thakali Bhanchha Ghar Thakali, Nepali · about NPR 550 per person
- Once Upon a Time Continental, Nepali, Indian · about NPR 900 per person
Getting around
- Scooter Rental main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
Safety and scams to avoid
Trek permit & rescue-insurance cons
Lakeside
Unregistered operators sell Annapurna treks without proper TIMS/ACAP permits or adequate rescue insurance.
How to avoid it: Buy TIMS and ACAP permits through official counters; confirm your operator and insurance cover helicopter rescue.
Paragliding "best price" bait
Lakeside
Street agents quote a low paragliding price then add charges for photos, video or "premium" pilots at launch.
How to avoid it: Confirm the total price including photos/video in writing before paying a deposit.