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Top 10 Things To Do in Pokhara

Country
Nepal
Best months
Oct · Nov · Mar · Apr
Population
600K
Language
Nepali
Budget / day
$35–90
Quick answer

Pokhara is Nepal's second city and the base for the Annapurna region: a lake at its centre, a valley floor at 822 metres, and 8,000 metre peaks on the horizon. Two days covers Phewa Lake, sunrise at Sarangkot, the World Peace Pagoda and a paragliding flight off the ridge. Longer usually means a trek, which is what most visitors are here for.

Pokhara sits at 822 metres with the Annapurna range filling the skyline 30 km north, and the town is arranged around that view. Phewa Lake holds the foreground, Sarangkot takes the sunrise, and the trailheads for Poon Hill, Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp are inside an hour by road.

The 10 best things to do in Pokhara

1
Photo

Phewa Lake and Tal Barahi Temple

Lake· Lakeside (Baidam), west of the city centre

The lake is why the town is where it is, and the pagoda of Tal Barahi sits on an island a few minutes out from the shore. Hire a wooden doonga at the Lakeside jetties and row yourself, or pay a boatman. Go early: the Annapurna reflection holds until the wind gets up mid-morning.

Time1 to 2 hours
CostBoat hire at the Lakeside jetties
Best atFirst light, before the wind
TipLife jackets come with the boat and are worth wearing
Map↗ Ramsar listing
2
Photo

Sunrise at Sarangkot

Viewpoint· Sarangkot, about 11 km north-west of Lakeside

The ridge at roughly 1,600 metres is the standard Pokhara sunrise: Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas and the fishtail summit of Machhapuchhre lighting up over the valley mist. Taxis leave Lakeside around 5am for the climb. Clear mornings are an October to April proposition.

Time2 hours with the drive
CostTaxi from Lakeside
Best at45 minutes before sunrise
TipWalk back down to Lakeside in about two hours rather than riding
Map
3
Photo

Paraglide off the Sarangkot ridge

Adventure· Take-off at Sarangkot, landing beside Phewa Lake

One of the steadiest tandem paragliding sites anywhere: a road to the take-off, reliable thermals off the ridge and a landing field on the lake shore. Flights run 20 to 40 minutes depending on the package. Mornings are the dependable window, and the monsoon months are not.

TimeHalf a morning
CostTandem flight
Best atMid-morning thermals
TipAsk whether the quoted price includes the photo and video package
Map
4
Photo

World Peace Pagoda

Landmark· The forested ridge on the south shore of Phewa Lake

Nepal's first peace pagoda, inaugurated on 30 October 1999 and the seventy-first built by the Japanese order Nipponzan Myohoji. The white dome stands 115 feet, and the terrace looks straight back up the lake to the Annapurnas. Cross by boat and climb through the forest for the better arrival.

Time2 to 3 hours from Lakeside
CostFree, plus the boat across
Best atLate afternoon
TipThe walk up from the south shore takes 30 to 45 minutes
Map
5
Photo

International Mountain Museum

Museum· Ratopairo, southern Pokhara, near the old airport

The Nepal Mountaineering Association's museum, opened on 5 February 2004, and the one place here that treats Himalayan climbing as a subject rather than a souvenir. Expedition equipment, the geology of the range, and the peoples who live under it. Two hours is about right.

Time2 hours
CostTicketed
Best atA cloudy morning
TipThe climbing wall and the model of Manaslu are outside, behind the halls
Map↗ Website
6
Photo

Devi's Fall and Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave

Natural landmark· Siddhartha Highway, Chhorepatan, southern Pokhara

The outflow from Phewa Lake drops into a sinkhole and runs about 150 metres underground, which is how the waterfall got its Nepali name, Patale Chhango. The cave over the road puts you beside the same water, past a Shiva shrine and down a wet stairway. Both are ticketed, ten minutes apart on foot.

Time1 hour for both
CostSmall entry fee at each
Best atMonsoon and just after
TipThe lower cave steps stay slippery year-round, so wear grippy shoes
Map
7
Photo

Pumdikot Shiva statue

Viewpoint· Pumdi Bhumdi, on the ridge south of Phewa Lake

A 108 foot Shiva, statue and stupa base together, opened in 2021 on a ridge at about 1,500 metres with 108 lingas ringed around the base. It gives the fullest view of the lake and the town, and at sunset it is far quieter than Sarangkot is at dawn.

Time2 hours with the drive
CostFree
Best atSunset
TipTaxis run to the gate; the walk up from Chhorepatan takes about two hours
Map
8
Photo

Begnas Lake

Lake· Begnas, about 15 km east of Lakeside

The valley's second lake, 3.28 km² of it, with fish cages along the shore and none of Lakeside's traffic. Row out, or walk the ridge between Begnas and Rupa Lake, which takes about two hours one way. The fish on the shoreline menus comes out of the water in front of you.

TimeHalf a day
CostLocal bus or taxi from Prithvi Chowk
Best atLate afternoon
TipRupa Lake sits 4 km east and is the quieter half of the walk
Map
9
Photo

Australian Camp day hike from Kande

Day hike· Trailhead at Kande, about 45 minutes by road from Lakeside

The shortest way into Annapurna scenery without committing to a trek: an hour of stone steps from Kande up to a ridge meadow at about 2,060 metres, then on to Dhampus and down to the road. Machhapuchhre stands directly in front of you. It is inside the conservation area, so carry the permit.

Time5 to 6 hours with transport
CostACAP permit
Best atClear mornings
TipBuy the permit in Pokhara before you go rather than at the trailhead
Map↗ Conservation area
10
Photo

Old Pokhara and Bindhyabasini Temple

Neighbourhood· Bagar and Bindhyabasini, northern Pokhara

The town that existed before tourism: Newar shopfronts along the old trade road north, and the white Bindhyabasini shrine on the bluff above them, busiest on Saturday mornings. It is a 20 minute taxi from Lakeside and a completely different city at the end of it.

Time2 hours
CostFree
Best atSaturday morning
TipCombine it with the Bat Cave and Mahendra Cave, both a few km further north
Map

8 of the 10, mapped

Pokhara · 8 spots
AllViewpointsLakesMuseumsFree

Pokhara travel FAQ

Is Pokhara worth visiting?+
Yes, and for two different trips. It is the base for the Annapurna treks, with trailheads under an hour away by road, and it is a lake town that holds three days on its own: Sarangkot at sunrise, a paraglider off the ridge, and the peace pagoda across the water.
How many days do you need in Pokhara?+
Three, if you are not trekking. One for Phewa Lake and the World Peace Pagoda, one for Sarangkot at sunrise and a flight down, one for Begnas or the caves. Add the trek on top: four days for Poon Hill, seven to ten for Annapurna Base Camp.
When is the best time to visit Pokhara?+
October and November are the clearest months, with March and April close behind. The monsoon from June to September hides the mountains for days and grounds the paragliders. Winter is dry and clear, but Sarangkot before dawn is cold.
How do you get from Kathmandu to Pokhara?+
Fly in about 25 minutes, or drive the 200 km of the Prithvi Highway in six to eight hours. Tourist coaches leave both cities early in the morning. Flights run through the day and are the first thing cancelled when the weather closes in.
Do you need a permit to trek from Pokhara?+
Yes. Everything above the valley sits inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, and the entry permit costs foreign nationals NPR 3,000. Buy it in Pokhara rather than at the trailhead. Nepal also requires foreign trekkers on these routes to walk with a licensed guide.
Beyond the paraglider

Best adventure sports in Pokhara

Five more ways to use the ridge, the river and the lake.
All 5 adventure sports →
Pokhara airport

Ultralight flight

15 to 60 min

Open-cockpit flights from the airport over the lake and the Annapurna foothills, 15 minutes to an hour.

Map
Sarangkot to Hyangja

ZipFlyer Nepal

1.8 km · 56° incline

1.8 km of cable and close to 600 metres of vertical drop, from Sarangkot down towards Hyangja.

Map
Hemja

Bungee at Hemja

70 m tower

A 70 metre tower cantilevered over the river, 25 minutes north of Lakeside on the Baglung road.

Map↗ Website
Seti Gandaki

Rafting the Seti

Grade 2 to 3

Half and full days of grade 2 to 3 water on the milky Seti, with the put-in about an hour from town.

Map
Lakeside

Kayaking on Phewa

By the hour

Kayaks by the hour along the Lakeside shore. Flat water, no permit, and the pagoda as a target.

Map
From the trailheads

Best treks and day hikes from Pokhara

Where the Annapurna routes actually start, and what each one costs in days.
All 5 treks and day hikes →
Trailhead at Nayapul

Ghorepani and Poon Hill

3 to 4 days · 3,210 m

Three to four days to a 3,210 metre viewpoint facing Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas. The busiest short trek in Nepal.

Map
Trailhead at Kande

Mardi Himal

4 to 5 days

Four to five days along a ridge directly under Machhapuchhre, starting from the road at Kande.

Map
Trailhead at Nayapul or Kande

Annapurna Base Camp

7 to 10 days · 4,130 m

Seven to ten days into the sanctuary at 4,130 metres, ringed by Annapurna I, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre.

Map
West of Phewa Lake

Panchase

2 days · 2,517 m

Two days on the ridge west of Phewa, through rhododendron forest to a 2,517 metre summit view.

Map
East of the centre

Kahun Danda

Half day

A half-day climb from the east side of town to a view tower above the valley. No permit needed.

Map
Underground

Best caves and gorges in Pokhara

The limestone the valley sits on, and the river cutting through the middle of it.
All 3 caves and gorges →
Batulechaur

Mahendra Cave

200 m long

200 metres of Pleistocene limestone with stalactites, found by villagers in 1951 and named for the king who visited in 1959.

Map
Batulechaur

Bat Cave

150 m · Torch provided

Chamere Gufa, 150 metres of passage a short walk from Mahendra Cave, with a resident horseshoe bat colony.

Map
K.I. Singh bridge

Seti River gorge

Free

The Seti runs through the middle of town in a slot a few metres wide. K.I. Singh bridge is where you see it.

Map
Quieter ground

Best temples and monasteries in Pokhara

Three worth the taxi, none of them on the lake shore.
All 3 temples and monasteries →
Matepani

Matepani Gumba

Free

A Karma Kagyu monastery on a wooded hill east of the centre, with the valley laid out from its courtyard.

Map
Hyangja

Tashi Palkhel

Est. 1962

The oldest Tibetan settlement here, established in 1962 at Hyangja, with a monastery and a carpet workshop.

Map
Chhorepatan

Tashi Ling

Free

The second settlement, near Devi's Fall, home to around 250 families, with a monastery and a carpet showroom.

Map
Beyond the mountain museum

Best museums in Pokhara

Three small collections, each about one thing.
All 3 museums →
Deep, northern Pokhara

Gurkha Memorial Museum

Ticketed

Uniforms, medals and regimental history of the Gurkha units, beside the British camp in the north of town.

Map
Nadipur

Pokhara Regional Museum

Ticketed

The valley's own history, and the Gurung, Thakali and Magar communities of the surrounding hills.

Map
Prithvi Narayan Campus

Annapurna Natural History Museum

Inside the campus

The butterfly museum, inside Prithvi Narayan Campus: insects, birds and the geology of the range.

Map
Where to eat

Best restaurants in Pokhara

Five Lakeside long-runners, each known for one thing.
All 5 restaurants →
Lakeside

Caffe Concerto

Italian · Since 1987

Italian, open since 1987, with wood-fired pizza and its own bakery attached.

Map
Lakeside

OR2K

Vegetarian

Floor-cushion seating and a vegetarian Middle Eastern menu. The hummus and falafel are the order.

Map
Sedi, north Lakeside

Krishna's Kitchen

Thai

Thai cooking in a garden at the quiet north end, under the paragliding landing field.

Map
Lakeside

Moondance

International

A Lakeside fixture for steaks, pizza and a wine list, busy from the first evening of the season.

Map
Lakeside

Busy Bee Cafe

Bar · Live music

Live music most nights, and where the rest of the strip ends up after ten.

Map
Within a few hours

Best day trips from Pokhara

Five that work in a day, ordered by how far the road runs.
All 5 day trips →
Annapurna foothills

Ghandruk

Jeep · 1 day

A Gurung village at about 2,000 metres with a village museum and Annapurna South overhead. Jeeps go and return in a day.

Map
Tanahun

Bandipur

75 km · 2 hrs

A Newar hill town on a ridge 75 km east, with a car-free main street. About two hours by road.

Map
Gorkha

Manakamana

Cable car

A cable car up to a hilltop temple on the Kathmandu road, and the standard break on that drive.

Map
Palpa

Tansen

4 hrs

A Newar hill town on the Siddhartha Highway about four hours south, under the Srinagar ridge.

Map
Sauraha, Chitwan

Chitwan National Park

5 hrs · Overnight

Nepal's first national park, and its rhinos, about five hours south at Sauraha. Better as an overnight.

Map↗ Website
What's on

Festivals & annual events in Pokhara (2026)

Time your trip around the city's biggest dates.
Mid-January

Maghe Sankranti

Ritual bathing at the river confluences at dawn, then sesame sweets and yam eaten across the valley.

February or March

Maha Shivaratri

Gupteshwor Mahadev draws overnight crowds to its cave shrine, the biggest night of that site's year.

March

Holi

Colour and water thrown along the Lakeside strip through the afternoon. Wear nothing you want back.

Mid-April

Nepali New Year

Baisakh 1 in the Bikram Sambat calendar, marked with processions, temple visits and family meals.

Late June

Ropain, National Paddy Day

Rice planting turns into a mud festival in the paddies around the valley, on Asar 15.

September or October

Dashain

Nepal's longest festival, fifteen days of it. Shops shut, buses fill and the town empties homeward.

October or November

Tihar

Five nights of oil lamps and marigold along the strip, with Deusi and Bhailo singing door to door.

28 December to 1 January

Pokhara Street Festival

Food stalls, music and a boat race along about 3.5 km of Lakeside, run by REBAN Pokhara.

Getting around

Pokhara transport & airports

How to arrive, and how to reach the trailheads.
PKR

Pokhara International Airport

Opened on 1 January 2023 east of the centre. The hop from Kathmandu takes about 25 minutes and runs several times a day. Scheduled international service has not started.

Map↗ Buddha Air
Prithvi Highway

Tourist coaches

About 200 km from Kathmandu on the Prithvi Highway, six to eight hours depending on the road. Tourist coaches leave both cities early in the morning.

Map
Local buses

Bus parks and trailheads

Prithvi Chowk handles long distance. Baglung bus park serves the west and the trailheads at Nayapul and Kande. Jeeps run the same routes and leave when full.

Map
Taxis

Around town

Taxis are unmetered in practice, so agree the fare first. Ride-hailing apps work here, and Lakeside rents scooters and bicycles by the day.

Map
Traditional food

Must-try dishes in Pokhara, Nepal

The classics to order before you leave.

Thakali khana set

The Thak Khola version of dal bhat: black lentils, greens and a curry, all on one plate.

Chukauni

A Gandaki potato salad in whipped yogurt, with mustard oil, turmeric and chilli.

Dhido with gundruk

Millet or buckwheat mash with fermented leafy greens. The hill staple, not a tourist dish.

Momo

Steamed or fried dumplings with tomato achar. Buffalo is the default filling.

Sekuwa

Charcoal-grilled marinated meat, sold by the plate once the evening cools.

Fried lake fish

Sahar and trout out of Phewa and Begnas, fried whole and eaten by the water.

Sel roti

A crisp ring of fermented rice batter, fried fresh at festival time.

Thukpa

Tibetan noodle soup, best in the settlements at Hyangja and Chhorepatan.

Pokhara fact sheet

Pokhara at a glance

The essentials worth knowing before you go.
Country
Nepal
Region
Gandaki Province, Kaski district, in the Pokhara valley at 822 metres
Population
600,051 in Pokhara Metropolitan City at the 2021 census, across 464 km² and 33 wards
Founded
A trading stop on the route between the Kali Gandaki valley and the plains, grown into Nepal's second city
Nickname
The city of lakes. Declared Nepal's tourism capital in March 2024.
Language
Nepali is official, with Gurung and Magar spoken across the surrounding hills and English used throughout tourism
Currency
Nepalese rupee (NPR, Rs)
Time zone
Nepal Time, UTC+5:45, no daylight saving
Calling code
+977, with 61 as the Pokhara area code
Airports
Pokhara International (PKR), opened 1 January 2023, on the east side of the city
Power
230V, 50Hz, type C, D and M plugs
Emergency
100 for police, 101 for fire, 102 for ambulance
Ideal length
3 days
Getting around
Walk Lakeside, taxis and ride-hailing apps for the rest, local buses and jeeps to the trailheads
Tourism board
Official site

Interesting facts

  • Machhapuchhre, the fishtail peak on the skyline at 6,993 metres, has never been summited. Climbing it was banned after 1957.
  • The valley floor sits at 822 metres and Annapurna I stands at 8,091 metres, about 30 km apart in a straight line.
  • Annapurna I was the first 8,000 metre peak ever climbed, on 3 June 1950, by a French expedition.
  • The nine lakes of the Pokhara valley became Nepal's tenth Ramsar wetland site on 2 February 2016.
  • Pokhara is the wettest of Nepal's cities, and the monsoon between June and September delivers most of that rain.

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