Pokhara is one of the popular destinations in Nepal due its scenic nature and proximity to Kathmandu. People would normally spend here more than just a few days and go trekking. However, if your time is limited (as was mine) this place is still a must and you can do amazing things here. I have summarised the things I enjoyed the most, and these can be done in a day or two.
Go Paragliding
I think for me paragliding was the highlight of the whole Nepal trip. Do not expect in-depth health and safety training, but instructors know what they are doing. They give you a short 5min brief and off you go. You can find various instructors and agencies online, and check their reviews. They all do pretty much the same as there are several mountains from where you can go paragliding, so you will see lots of instructors from different agencies at the same place. I paid NPR 5,500 for the whole experience and also had videos and photos taken of me. It is ”the thing to do” in Pokhara and I can definitely see why.
Go to a Movie Garden
This outdoor cinema was a hidden gem and I came across it simply by accident. It is set up by another expat Dan and they screen English movies most nights. You can order drinks and snacks from the bar (kitchen did not work when I was there, so we were informed in advance to bring some snacks if we would like). Come early if you want to grab better seats, as it does get packed. The cinema with its scenery looks even better during the day time!
Get a Lake Boat
Phewa lake is in the centre of Pokhara and you can rent boats and kayaks there. It was very hot and sunny when I was there so I got a boat with a roof, where we floated for about 30 min whilst listening to some music. There are several places from where you can get the boat, just walk around the lake and bargain a little. Mind that they do insist that you rent a life jacket, but they do not expect you to be wearing it.
Watch sunset at World Peace Pagoda
I asked local people where is the best spot to watch sunset and they unanimously said World Peace temple. It is a Buddhist temple offering a stunning view of mountains and lake. It is actually called Shanti Stupa, which translates to Peace Pagoda and there are 80 peace pagodas in the world; Nepal has 2, one in Lumbini and one here in Pokhara. It is on top of Anandu Hill, which is a 1,100m hill, so be prepared to spend some time trekking. I think it took me about 40min as I also stopped for some view breaks. They also did a ceremony just before the closure of the temple (just before the sunset!), where a monk was walking around the temple loudly praying. All visitors are made to leave the temple before the ceremony, meaning you can’t really watch sunset right at the top, but you can sit at the other areas and watch it while security guard clears entire area – as long as you see 1 more local person staying, just stay as well. Unfortunately I was too busy enjoying the sunset (and my phone froze) so I couldn’t take many photos.
Fly to Kathmandu
Depending on how you got to Pokhara, flying to Kathmandu is an option. It’s a 25min flight (I was stuck at the tiny airport for a few hours though) and you will fly over Himalayan mountains – a pretty scenic view. Sit on the left side of the plane for Pokhara – Kathmandu route and on the right side for Kathmandu – Pokhara route to enjoy the views of Himalayas.
How to get to Pokhara from Kathmandu
There are several ways you can reach Pokhara from Kathmandu. It is about 25min flight, 2-3hr drive by car, or 10hr journey by bus. I took the bus on the way to Pokhara. BIG MISTAKE. I thought this way I will explore more and see amazing views on the way there. It was also the cheapest option and the advertised journey time was 5hr. Yet, it was double the time, very inconvenient and I saw similar scenery when I arrived in Pokhara. Fortunately I was flying back to Kathmandu, but flights are also very unreliable with severe delays, so if I had to find a way to get there from Kathmandu again, I would opt for getting a taxi unless I really wanted more Himalayas views, then I would just fly one way.
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