Top places to visit in Pokhara

• Pumdikot Shiva Statue

  hindu_temple · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A colossal 51-foot Shiva statue and temple complex on a hill south of Phewa Lake, a newer landmark with 108 shivalingas and a superb sunset panorama over Pokhara.

• Davis Falls (Devi's Fall)

  waterfall · 4.0 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A dramatic waterfall where the Pardi Khola vanishes underground into a deep gorge, spectacular in the monsoon; linked by legend to a Swiss tourist swept away here.

• Bindhyabasini Temple

  hindu_temple · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Pokhara's oldest and most important Hindu temple, a hilltop white shrine to the goddess Bhagwati in the Old Bazaar, busy with pilgrims and morning worship.

• Tal Barahi Temple

  hindu_temple · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A two-storey pagoda temple to the goddess Barahi on a small island in Phewa Lake, reached by short boat rides — Pokhara's most-visited religious shrine.

• Begnas Lake

  lake · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  A quieter, greener lake east of Pokhara ringed by rice terraces and forest — popular for rowing, fishing and lakeside walks away from the Lakeside crowds.

• Mahendra Cave

  cave · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A large limestone cave north of Pokhara with stalactite and stalagmite formations and a Shiva shrine, named after the late King Mahendra.

• World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa)

  buddhist_stupa · 4.6 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A gleaming white Buddhist stupa built by Japanese monks on a ridge above Phewa Lake, with one of the finest panoramas of Pokhara, the lake and the Annapurna range.

• International Mountain Museum

  mountain_museum · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A major museum devoted to the mountains and mountaineering of the Himalaya — exhibits on peaks, expeditions, mountain peoples and ecology, with a model of Manaslu to climb.

• Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave

  cave_temple · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A revered limestone cave shrine to Shiva directly across from Davis Falls, with stalactite chambers descending to a viewpoint of the underground waterfall.

• Phewa Lake (Fewa Tal)

  lake · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Pokhara's serene freshwater lake, mirroring the Annapurna and Machhapuchhre peaks; wooden doonga boats ferry visitors to the island Tal Barahi temple and the far shore.

• Bat Cave (Chamere Gufa)

  cave · 4.2 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A narrow cave near Mahendra Cave home to a colony of horseshoe bats, explored with a guide and a squeeze through a low exit passage.

• Gurkha Memorial Museum

  military_museum · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A museum honouring the Gurkha soldiers of Nepal, displaying Victoria Crosses, uniforms, weapons and campaign history of the famed regiments.

Things to do

• Tandem Paragliding from Sarangkot Adventure · 0.8 h · from NPR 9,000 per person
• Sarangkot Sunrise Tour Nature · 3 h · from NPR 1,800 per person
• Phewa Lake Boating & Tal Barahi Nature · 2 h · from NPR 1,200 per person
• Ultralight Flight over the Annapurnas Adventure · 0.5 h · from NPR 15,000 per person
• Pokhara Zip-flyer Adventure · 1 h · from NPR 8,500 per person
• Australian Camp Day Hike Nature · 6 h · from NPR 3,500 per person

Day trips and tours

• Pokhara Sunrise & Sightseeing Day Tour 8 h · from NPR 4,500
• Annapurna Foothills Day Hike from Pokhara 9 h · from NPR 4,500

Where to stay in Pokhara

• Lakeside (Baidam) about NPR 5,000 per night

  Pokhara's main tourist strip along Phewa Lake — restaurants, bars, boat hire and the widest range of hotels with lake and mountain views.

• Damside (Pardi) about NPR 4,000 per night

  A quieter lakeside area at the southern end near the dam, with mountain views and easy access to Davis Falls.

• Old Bazaar about NPR 2,500 per night

  The historic commercial core of Pokhara with traditional Newari architecture and the Bindhyabasini temple, away from the tourist strip.

Hotels

• Hotel Barahi 4-star · NPR 7,000 to NPR 13,000 per night
• Hotel Middle Path & Spa 3-star · NPR 5,000 to NPR 10,000 per night
• Sacred Valley Inn 2-star · NPR 1,800 to NPR 4,000 per night
• Temple Tree Resort & Spa 4-star · NPR 12,000 to NPR 22,000 per night
• Zostel Pokhara NPR 700 to NPR 3,000 per night
• Fish Tail Lodge 4-star · NPR 10,000 to NPR 20,000 per night

Where to eat

• Moondance Restaurant Continental, Steak, Pizza · about NPR 1,200 per person
• Godfather's Pizzeria Italian, Pizza · about NPR 950 per person
• Caffe Concerto Italian, Pizza · about NPR 1,100 per person
• Busy Bee Café Continental, Nepali, Bar · about NPR 1,100 per person
• AM/PM Organic Café Cafe, Healthy, Continental · about NPR 800 per person
• OR2K Pokhara Middle Eastern, Vegetarian · about NPR 850 per person
• Thakali Bhanchha Ghar Thakali, Nepali · about NPR 550 per person
• Once Upon a Time Continental, Nepali, Indian · about NPR 900 per person

Getting to Pokhara

Airport: Pokhara (PKR)

How visitors arrive in Pokhara

• Bus from Kathmandu By road from Kathmandu · common

  Tourist and local buses run between Kathmandu and Pokhara; road works have made the trip slower. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Flight from Kathmandu By air from Kathmandu · common

  Several airlines fly the short hop to Pokhara; the page warns of delays and suggests flying while road works continue. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus from the Indian border By road from Sunauli (Indian border) · possible

  Buses run from the Sunauli border crossing, with Butwal as a connecting town. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Taxi from Pokhara airport to Lakeside

  The most direct route from the airport to Lakeside. Agree the fare before you set off. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• City bus past the airport unconfirmed

  A city bus passes the airport and can take you toward Lakeside; a slower option. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Flights from Kathmandu are often delayed and afternoon flights can be cancelled, so keep onward plans flexible. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the bus terminal to the centre

• Tourist bus from Kathmandu unconfirmed

  Tourist buses from Kathmandu arrive at the tourist bus park on the northern edge of Lakeside, a short walk or taxi ride from most hotels. Expect a long road journey; roadworks have slowed it. Source: inyourpocket.com

Getting around

• Scooter Rental

  Scooters and motorbikes can be rented around Lakeside; automatic scooters struggle on the steep road to Sarangkot and the World Peace Pagoda.

• Taxi

  Taxis can be hired around town, and the inDrive app can be used to book a taxi or motorbike.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Trek permit & rescue-insurance cons

  Lakeside

  Unregistered operators sell Annapurna treks without proper TIMS/ACAP permits or adequate rescue insurance.

  How to avoid it: Buy TIMS and ACAP permits through official counters; confirm your operator and insurance cover helicopter rescue.

• Paragliding "best price" bait

  Lakeside

  Street agents quote a low paragliding price then add charges for photos, video or "premium" pilots at launch.

  How to avoid it: Confirm the total price including photos/video in writing before paying a deposit.

Best time to visit Pokhara

• Jan 20°C
• Feb 23°C
• Mar 27°C
• Apr 30°C
• May 30°C
• Jun 31°C
• Jul 30°C
• Aug 31°C
• Sep 30°C
• Oct 28°C
• Nov 24°C
• Dec 21°C

More in Nepal

• Kathmandu
• Bhaktapur
• Patan (Lalitpur)
• Sauraha (Chitwan)
• Lumbini
• Nagarkot

Frequently asked questions about Pokhara

How many days do you need in Pokhara?

A typical trip to Pokhara is 3-4 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Pokhara?

The highest-rated places in our Pokhara guide are Phewa Lake (Fewa Tal), Pumdikot Shiva Statue, Bindhyabasini Temple, Tal Barahi Temple, Begnas Lake.

Where should I stay in Pokhara?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Pokhara: Lakeside (Baidam), Damside (Pardi), Old Bazaar.

How do I get around Pokhara?

Ways to get around Pokhara covered in our guide: Scooter rental, Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Pokhara?

Scams reported to us for Pokhara include Trek permit & rescue-insurance cons; Paragliding "best price" bait. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Pokhara?

Average daytime highs in Pokhara run from 20°C in Jan to 31°C in Jun.

Which airport is nearest to Pokhara?

The nearest airport to Pokhara has the code PKR.