Pokhara
Not been yet
At a glance
- Country
- Nepal
- Region
- Gandaki Province
- Population
- around 520,000
- Best time to go
- October to November, March to April
- Main airport
- Pokhara International (PKR)
- Coordinates
- 28.21°N, 83.99°E
Visited Still to go Click a pin or country to read more. Zoom with + and −, a double-click or a pinch.
Overview
Pokhara spreads along the shore of Phewa Lake, with the snow peaks of the Annapurna range and the fishtail summit of Machapuchare towering behind. It is Nepal's great place to relax, before or after a trek.
Lakeside is full of cafés, gear shops and guesthouses, but it is easy to escape: paddle across the lake, walk up to a hilltop pagoda or rise early for sunrise over the mountains from Sarangkot.
Things to see
-
Photo: Jmhullot, CC BY-SA 3.0 Phewa Lake
Hire a colourful wooden boat and drift across the lake, with mountain reflections on still mornings.
-
Photo: দেবর্ষি রায় from Brno, Czech Republic, CC BY-SA 2.0 Tal Barahi Temple
A small two-tiered pagoda temple on an island in the lake, reached by boat.
-
Photo: ChillionaireRohitgiri, CC BY-SA 4.0 World Peace Pagoda
A white stupa on a ridge above the lake, with one of the best views of the Annapurnas.
-
Photo: Q-lieb-in, CC BY-SA 4.0 Sarangkot
A hilltop viewpoint where crowds gather before dawn to watch the sun light up the peaks.
-
Photo: Anup Sadi, CC BY-SA 4.0 International Mountain Museum
Exhibits on the Himalaya, mountaineering history and the cultures of mountain peoples.
Tickets and tours
Things to do
-
Photo: Rudolph.A.furtado, CC0 Paragliding
Tandem flights launch from Sarangkot and glide over the lake with the mountains at your shoulder.
Find tours -
Photo: Thapaliyashreeram, CC BY-SA 4.0 Trek to Poon Hill
A short trek of a few days through rhododendron forest to a famous sunrise viewpoint.
-
Photo: Nancy Collins, CC BY-SA 3.0 Annapurna treks
Pokhara is the starting point for the Annapurna Circuit and the trek to Annapurna Base Camp.
-
Photo: Satyamfxr, CC BY-SA 4.0 Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Cave
A waterfall that disappears into a gorge, and a cave across the road where you can see it from below.
Find tours
Where to stay
Lakeside
The centre of the action, with endless guesthouses, cafés and agencies.
Hotels in LakesideDamside
Quieter, at the southern end of the lake, with views of the mountains.
Hotels in DamsideSarangkot
Hilltop lodges with sunrise views on the doorstep, though far from restaurants.
Hotels in Sarangkot
Getting around
Lakeside is walkable, and taxis are easy to find for trips out. Bicycles and scooters can be hired.
Flights from Kathmandu take around 25 minutes and the airport is a short taxi ride from Lakeside; tourist buses take six to eight hours.
When to go
October and November have clear skies and ideal trekking weather. March and April are warm with rhododendrons in flower. The monsoon from June to September is very wet and often hides the mountains.
Plan your trip to Pokhara
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.