Pokhara Travel

Bring yourself over because the show’s on the road. And what a show it is! There’s scintillating scenery for the nature lover, there’s a massive mountain for the trekking enthusiast and there’s pizza and peace for the travel-fatigued.

That’s Pokhara for you: a thriving tourist centre with an unmistakable rustic feel, so many things, to so many people. Thousands of tourists every year make the trip, book in and look out, only to be hooked forever.

The world’s tenth greatest mountain looms up in tantalizingly close proximity, the large clear lake with it’s leafy embankment seems to invite leisurely strolls, the aroma of great baking spills out of the numerous cake shops, and happy faces plot routes on trekking maps or savour an absorbing paperback.

Economy
Pokhara’s economy is dominated by the tourism industry and almost every family has at least one member in the business. The locals own, manage and staff the various hotels, pubs, restaurants and travel agencies. Many people have converted their homes into mid-rung and budget accommodation, catering to the never-ending flow of backpackers.

Habitat
The town of Pokhara is situated on the banks of the second largest lake in Nepal, the Phewa Tal. Lying northwest of Kathmandu, Pokhara is only 48 km from the base of the world’s 10th tallest mountain, Annapurna I (8091 meters). Though it’s very close to the upper Himalayas, Pokhara itself lies in a low-lying subtropical valley at a height of about 800 meters.

The mountains of Manaslu, Annapurna and Machhpuchhre (Fish-tail) loom up above it, but the defining factor is actually the lakes. The entire valley was once submerged under one lake, but there are now three lakes and the town has come up on the banks of the biggest, Phewa Tal. The town’s name comes from the Nepali word for ‘pond’, "pokhari". The river Seti Gandaki flows through it.