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Pokhara

Pokhara pairs the Annapurna skyline with Phewa Lake, old trading quarters and the practical comforts of Nepal’s principal trekking gateway.

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Every trip we run through Pokhara, including the ones that pass through on a longer route.

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Understand Pokhara

The Story of Pokhara

Pokhara began as a Kaski trading town, absorbed Tibetan influences after 1959 and grew into Nepal’s trekking capital beneath the Annapurna range.

Chapter 01 · ORIGIN

A market beneath the passes

By the 17th century, Pokhara had developed under the Kaski kingdom as a stopping point between Himalayan trade routes and the plains. Newar merchants later established shops and temples around the Old Bazaar. After Kaski entered the expanding Gorkha state in 1786, the town became more closely tied to the political centre in Kathmandu.

Fact The Old Bazaar preserves the commercial axis that connected Pokhara with Baglung, Mustang and routes toward Tibet.

Chapter 02 · PEOPLE

Communities shaped by hills and migration

Gurung and Magar communities from the surrounding hills have long used Pokhara as their market and administrative centre. Newar traders influenced the Old Bazaar, while Tibetan refugees arriving after 1959 established settlements including Tashi Palkhel. Tourism added guides, pilots, hoteliers and trekking workers from across Nepal to the city’s population.

Fact Tashi Palkhel became one of the Tibetan refugee settlements established around Pokhara after the 1959 Tibetan uprising.

Chapter 03 · FOOD

Meals from the mountain corridor

Pokhara’s kitchens reflect the same routes that built its markets. Dal bhat remains the everyday Nepali meal, while momo and thukpa recall Tibetan migration after 1959. Thakali sets came south from the Kali Gandaki corridor, where traders from Mustang combined rice, lentils, greens, pickles and meat into carefully balanced plates.

Fact Thakali cuisine takes its name from the Thak Khola region along the Kali Gandaki River north of Pokhara.

Chapter 04 · ARCHITECTURE

Shah temples and a modern peace monument

Pokhara’s built landscape follows its rulers and later international connections. Shah-era Hindu patronage shaped Bindhyabasini Temple and shrines around the Old Bazaar, where Newar merchants added carved brick-and-timber shop houses. On Anadu Hill, the Shanti Stupa completed in 1999 introduced a Japanese Buddhist form overlooking Phewa Lake and the Annapurna range.

Fact Pokhara’s Shanti Stupa was built through the Nipponzan-Myōhōji Buddhist movement and completed in 1999.

Chapter 05 · NATURE

A lake basin facing the Annapurnas

Pokhara lies around 800 metres above sea level in a basin cut by the Seti River. Phewa Lake reflects Machhapuchhre, whose summit reaches 6,993 metres, while Annapurna I rises to 8,091 metres farther north. Heavy monsoon rainfall feeds waterfalls, caves and gorges, explaining both the green landscape and the region’s seasonal road disruptions.

Fact The Seti River passes through Pokhara in gorges that narrow dramatically near Mahendra Pul and K. I. Singh Bridge.

Turning points

  1. 17th century

    Trading town develops

    Pokhara grows under Kaski rulers along Himalayan and plains trade routes.

  2. 1786

    Kaski joins Gorkha

    The expanding Gorkha kingdom incorporates Kaski and Pokhara.

  3. 1958

    Airport opens

    Pokhara Airport begins operations, improving access from Kathmandu.

  4. 1959

    Tibetan migration begins

    Tibetan refugees establish communities and craft centres around Pokhara.

  5. 1974

    Kathmandu road connection

    Prithvi Highway strengthens road travel between Kathmandu and Pokhara.

  6. 2004

    Mountain museum opens

    The International Mountain Museum opens with Himalayan climbing and cultural collections.

  7. 2023

    International airport inaugurated

    Pokhara International Airport officially opens on 1 January.

Discover

Experience Pokhara

Days move between sunrise above Sarangkot, boating on Phewa Lake, walking the Old Bazaar and watching the Seti River disappear into narrow limestone gorges.

Tal Barahi Temple

Phewa Lake

Tal Barahi Temple

This two-storey pagoda temple occupies a small island reached by boat from the lakeshore.

World Peace Pagoda

Pumdi Bhumdi

World Peace Pagoda

Japanese Buddhist monks built this white stupa above Phewa Lake, facing the Annapurna range.

Devi's Fall

Chhorepatan

Devi's Fall

The Pardi Khola disappears underground here after flowing from Phewa Lake.

Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave

Chhorepatan

Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave

A stairway descends to a Shiva shrine and a cavern overlooking Devi's Fall underground.

International Mountain Museum

Ratopahiro

International Mountain Museum

Opened in 2004, the museum documents Himalayan peoples, expeditions and all fourteen 8,000-metre peaks.

Bindhyabasini Temple

Old Pokhara

Bindhyabasini Temple

Pokhara's hilltop Shakti temple overlooks the old bazaar and the Annapurna skyline.

Pumdikot Shiva Statue

Pumdikot

Pumdikot Shiva Statue

A 51-foot seated Shiva statue crowns Pumdikot hill above Phewa Lake and Pokhara Valley.

Sarangkot Viewpoint

Sarangkot

Sarangkot Viewpoint

The ridge provides sunrise views towards Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Machhapuchhre on clear mornings.

Phewa Lake

Phewa Lake

Phewa Lake

Pokhara's second-largest lake reflects Machhapuchhre when calm and supports boating from Lakeside.

On the table

Food & culture

Thakali khana set

Lakeside

Rice, lentils, greens, pickles and curry arrive as a refillable mountain-region meal.

Steamed momo

Lakeside

Buffalo, chicken or vegetable dumplings are served with a sharp tomato and sesame achar.

Begnas fish curry

Begnas Lake

Local fish is cooked in a spiced gravy at restaurants around the eastern lake.

Newari khaja set

Old Pokhara

Beaten rice accompanies beans, pickles, meat and fried snacks linked to Newar trading communities.

Sel roti

Old Pokhara

This ring-shaped rice bread is fried until crisp outside and mildly sweet within.

Kodo ko roti

Pokhara Valley

Finger-millet flatbread reflects the hill farming traditions of Gurung communities around Pokhara.
  • Remove shoes before entering temples, shrines and private homes when indicated.
  • Walk clockwise around Buddhist stupas and prayer wheels.
  • Use the right hand when giving money, food or religious offerings.
  • Ask permission before photographing worshippers, monks or private ceremonies.

Plan

Plan Your Journey

Things to do

  • Paddle across Phewa Lake to Tal Barahi Temple
  • Watch sunrise illuminate Machhapuchhre from Sarangkot
  • Paraglide from Sarangkot towards the Phewa Valley
  • Walk through forest to the World Peace Pagoda
  • Study Himalayan expeditions at the International Mountain Museum
  • Take a boat across quieter Begnas Lake

Getting there and how long to stay

three or four nights is what the place is worth — not how long our trips happen to run.

Pokhara International Airport receives domestic flights from Kathmandu, although international schedules remain limited and changeable. Tourist buses and private cars follow the Prithvi Highway from Kathmandu, while Siddhartha Highway connects Pokhara with Butwal and the Indian border approaches at Sunauli. Road times vary sharply with traffic, landslides and construction.

Getting around

Lakeside and Damside are walkable, but Sarangkot, Pumdikot and the Old Bazaar are easier by metered taxi or a fare agreed before departure. Local buses serve main roads cheaply but require route knowledge. Boats cross Phewa Lake from Lakeside, while bicycles and scooters suit confident riders outside the busiest streets.

Who it suits

  • First-time visitors to Nepal Pokhara combines Annapurna views, easy lakefront logistics and short cultural excursions without Kathmandu’s intensity.
  • Trekkers The city is the established staging point for Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal and Ghorepani routes.
  • Families with older children Phewa boating, caves, mountain museums and short viewpoints provide varied days without committing to a trek.
  • Paragliders and adventure travellers Sarangkot launches pair long-established paragliding operations with direct views toward Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna massif.
Currency
NPR
Dialling code
+977

Emergency numbers

100 Police
101 Fire
102 Ambulance
103 Traffic Police
1144 Tourist Police

Your trip manager confirms embassy contacts and local numbers for your own route before you travel — these change by state and city.

Visa and entry rules depend on your passport. Ask us what you'll need.

Questions, answered

When is the best time to visit Pokhara?
September to May is the published travel season. October–November and March–April usually offer the clearest mountain views and comfortable walking weather.
Do Indian citizens need a visa for Pokhara?
No. Indian citizens are visa-exempt for Nepal but should carry an original passport or Election Commission voter ID, especially when flying.
Which languages are useful in Pokhara?
Nepali is official. English is common around Lakeside and trekking businesses, while Hindi is widely understood.
Is Pokhara safe for travellers?
Pokhara is generally safe, but road conditions, altitude, changing trekking weather and poorly lit streets require care. Use registered guides for remote routes.
What should be packed for Pokhara?
Pack layered clothing, walking shoes, rain protection, sun protection and prescribed medicines. Winter mornings and higher viewpoints can be cold.
What should travellers do in an emergency?
Call Police 100, Fire 101, Ambulance 102 or Tourist Police 1144. Keep accommodation and insurance details accessible.

Get ready

Take this

  • Layered clothing for changing valley temperatures
  • Comfortable shoes with reliable grip
  • Light rain jacket or compact umbrella
  • Sunscreen, sunglasses and a sun hat
  • Personal medicines in original packaging
  • Reusable water bottle with purification option

You may need this

  • Warm jacket for winter mornings
  • Trekking boots for mountain trails
  • Trekking poles for steep routes
  • Dry bag for monsoon travel
  • Motion-sickness tablets for winding roads
  • Headlamp for early viewpoint departures

Don't forget

  • Original passport or Election Commission voter ID
  • Travel insurance covering planned trekking altitude
  • Type C, D and M plug adapter
  • Chargers and cabin-packed power bank
  • Copies of bookings and identity documents
  • Nepal trekking permits when required

Check before flying

Baggage allowances, liquids, power banks and battery rules differ by airline and by route, and they change. We publish them here only once we have checked them against the airline's own page — until then, check your airline directly, and your trip manager will confirm anything unusual on your route.

Practical reference

Your time

7:11 PM

Asia/Kolkata

In Pokhara

7:26 PM

Asia/Kathmandu

Currency
NPR (Rs.)

ISO 3166 / 4217

Worth in rupees
Rs.1 ≈ ₹0.63

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Official languages
Nepali

ISO 3166 / 4217

Time zone
Asia/Kathmandu

IANA time zone database

Ahead of India
0h 15m ahead

IANA time zone database

Plugs, SIM cards, tipping and embassy contacts are not here yet — we will not publish those until each one is verified against an official source. Your trip manager has them for your route in the meantime.

Keep exploring

More near Pokhara

Annapurna Region
Chitwan
Everest Region
Kathmandu Valley
Lumbini

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