Pokhara Things to Do

Devi's Fall is a small waterfall that disappears underground at a depth of 100 feet for a distance of 500m and is named after a Swiss lady, Mrs Devis, who was washed away when strong water came from Phewa Lake in 1961. The falls are at their best in August and September but don't get too close.

There are several (4) refugee camps around Pokhara to visit, Tashipalkhel, Paljorling, Tashiling, and Jambling. Each can be reached on a bicycle. The Tibetans at each camp are friendly and will be pleased to show you around. The nearest one is easy to reach, go to the outskirts of town and turn right (left goes to the airport), and after a while you will pass devi's falls on the right, continue a little further and the camp/village will be on your left. This will be Tashiling if i remember correctly.

On the lakeside you will come across a Hindu Shrine overlooking the lake. Lord Shiva is inside while Buddhist flags wave in the wind outside because many Nepalese accept aspects of both religions. This is a pleasant place to hang out for a while and enjoy the cool breeze while observing the lake.

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Get up early and trek to Sarangkot. the trail takes you to the end of the lake and through a few Newari villages where the children will welcome you enthusiastically. The last part od the trail is qiute steep as it winds round the hill but you will be rewarded with some wonderful views of Pokhara and Lake Phewa far below. On a clear day you will see Dhulagiri and Machapuchare (Fishtail mountain). Machapuchare is considered a Holy mountain and climbing was banned there many years ago. As far as i know nobody managed to scale it but quite a few died trying! Also if you stay overnight in Sarangkot you might be treated to a wonderful sunset. Allow 3 hours to hile from Pokhara, that will give you plenty time for photography and rest.

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There are plenty of marine fossils sold in the Pokhara gift shops. They start at 100 rupees and go up to 900 rupees. These are marine fossils found at a height of 9000 feet. My explanation is the flood at the time of Noah.

These Fossil ammonites (coiled marine cephalopods) are found in limestone beds in the Himalayas of Nepal.

Genesis 7:19
Finally, the water covered even the highest mountains on the earth,

The Riverside Springs Resort is located half way between Kathmandu and Pokhara. The total distance is 200 km and Spring Resort is at the 100 km mark so plan your journey to stop here.

Having lunch here and going down to the Trisuli river beach is an amazing experience. The swimming pool is famous too.

In March and April 2009 there was much fog and haze in Pokhara, and we couldn't see the Himalayas/Annapurna Range when we first arrived. The local told us to wait for the morning after a rainfall evening. So the morning after a rainfall we went for the Peace Pagoda at 5 am and the view of Annapurna Range in sunrise at 5:30-6 am. So we where happy everytime it was a downpour in the evening, because we knew it was a chance that the rain got the haze down so we could see peaks the next day. We did the trip to the Peace Pagoda 5 times and we had nice view of Annapurna Range in 4 of them. This is where the photo above is taken from.

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You've come a long and costly way to get to Nepal but you don't have the time or energy to see the Himalayas up close? Well, there's a faster and easier way to do it. Book and fly on an ultra-light plane ride at any Pokhara travel office as late as the day before you wish to fly. The flights are operated by the Avia Club Nepal and the planes are piloted by Europeans (mine was Russian). I took the 30-min. ride which cost me about USD 161 (as of April 2011).

The cost was worth it! For a rig that's as small as a compact car that seats only 2 people (the pilot and you), with wings similar to those of hang-gliders and a single prop-engine, you're suited up, helmeted, and buckled to your seat very well. And for a guy like me who has a fear of heights, I think the ride was therapeutic.