Located west of Kathmandu at a distance of 203 km, Pokhara’s valley is the second-largest valley in the hilly region of Nepal. It is also one of the most visited travel destinations in Nepal. This popularity of Pokhara is courtesy of all the wide range of activities which you can enjoy here accompanied by the stunning sight of mountain vistas, shimmering lakes, and dense green forests. These activities include different kinds of adventure sports, treks, tours, and so on. These activities are also the opportunity to experience the unique lifestyle of the people living in Nepal’s hilly regions.
The natural beauty of Pokhara is unrivaled. It is a gateway to countless trekking routes to the Annapurna region. One of the most famous treks globally, the Annapurna Base Camp trek, also starts from here! So, Pokhara is surrounded by the spectacular view of the Annapurna range, followed by other snow-covered peaks. The assemblage of mountain peaks includes Dhaulagiri (8167m), Annapurna II (7937m), Machhapuchhre (6993m), Manaslu, and so on. Travelers can take a short trek to popular destinations like Sarangkot, Shanti Stupa, and so on to bask in the close-up view of the marvelous Himalayan ranges and a beautiful bird-eye view of Pokhara Valley. The view of mountains is more evident during the spring and autumn season.
Pokhara is also gifted with many water bodies, including lakes like Phewa Lake and Begnas Lake. The Seti-Gandaki river flows throughout Pokhara’s valley, creating several gorges that are hundreds of meters deep. Pokhara’s most enthralling thing is its porous underground, which has allowed the formation of several underground caves.
Gupteshwor Cave and Mahendra Cave are two of the most visited caves in Nepal, which reside in Pokhara. Just outside the entrance of Gupteshwor is also the stunning waterfall named Patale Chhango (a.k.a. Davis Falls).
The fascinating rise and fall in altitude in a short distance is the specialty of Pokhara. Owing to this, travelers can enjoy several extreme sports at an affordable price. One can enjoy bungee jumping, white water rafting in the Seti River, zip-lining (fastest zip line in Nepal), paragliding, and so on. To come down from the extreme sports rush, you can then enjoy a relaxing day drifting along the Fewa Lake in a boat and enjoy bird watching.
Pokhara also has high cultural importance. It contains many temples and stupas that are visited by many Hindu and Buddhist Pilgrims every year. The Bindabasini temple, which lies in the middle of Phewa Lake, is one of Pokhara’s most popular pilgrim destinations. There is also the Gupteshwor cave where the sacred statue of Lord Shiva resides. Stupas like the World peace stupa (Shanti stupa) and Matepani Gumba are extremely important to the Buddhist pilgrims.
The lifestyle of the Pokhara valley is a mix of modern and traditional lifestyles. On the one hand, the outskirt of Pokhara valley perfectly depicts Nepal’s hilly regions’ lifestyle. The lone mud houses with a thatched roof, terraced paddy fields, and traditional farming methods and agriculture are common features of Nepal’s hilly regions, which can be found in Pokhara.
On the other hand, the nightlife of Pokhara is stunning. The lakeside area is filled with countless bars and restaurants which are open until late at night. It is the best atmosphere to wind off from a tiring trekking journey with a beer in one hand and overlooking the light reflecting from Phewa Lake.