Pokhara
Things to do, places to see and restaurants to visit.
Pokhara is the second city of Nepal and lies on the edge of Lake Phewa in central Nepal. It’s beautiful lakeside location surrounded by lush green wooded hills with stunning snow-peaked backdrop means it’s a haven for tourists.
It’s the home of the famous Gurkha soldiers and is the gateway to the Annapurna region of the Himalayas with three of the ten highest mountains in the world, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna 1 and Manaslu located close by.
There’s plenty of activities located close by in Pokhara. Whether it’s something more daring, such as, paragliding or whitewater rafting or for those that want something a little more relaxing, there’s boat trips on Lake Phewa, museums to visit or a visit to Sarangkot at sunrise to take in the panoramic view over the mountains. The chilled-out nature of Pokhara is ideal for meditation, yoga or spa treatments.
Restaurants:
There are numerous restaurants in Pokhara to suit many different tastes. Nepal is a highly vegetarian society so there is always a great choice for non-meat eaters.
Fresh Elements
This restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and evening meal serving a range of continental and Nepalese dishes. I ate here numerous times whilst in Pokhara. My favourite is the fresh banana pancakes for breakfast and the delicious paneer curry for evening meal. It is has a modern feel and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.
Olive
A small cafe bar in the centre of Pokhara. This restaurant has a balcony overlooking the main street to while away the time and watch the world go by. It’s open from breakfast through to evening and serves burgers, vegetable platters, pasta dishes and sumptuous cake.
Moondance
A large family-owned restaurant located over two floors. The family has it’s own farm that supplies much of the produce. Other ingredients are sourced freshly from local farmers. The restaurant has an extensive menu and serves steaks and burgers, fish, pizza, pasta and Indian dishes. It also has a good vegetarian selection.
OR2K
This vegetarian restaurant is located on the second floor of the Centrepoint complex with extensive views across Lake Phewa. It has an extensive multi-ethnic menu and has a gluten free menu. My favourites include the falafel and hummus, babaganoush and their delicious goats cheese pizza.
Jiva cafe
This cafe is combined with a spa where’s there’s a number of treatment packages. It also hosts yoga and meditation sessions. It’s set in a lovely tranquil location on the edge of the picturesque Lake Phewa. The cafe serves a range of healthy option light meals with locally sourced produce and has an extensive smoothie menu.
Jiva Cafe
Visitor Attractions:
The World Peace Stupa
Standing on the summit of the wooded Anadu Hill, the World Peace Stupa is a fantastic viewpoint back down to the city of Pokhara, across to Sarangkot and beyond to the stunning fisthtail peak of Machhapuchhre.
You can catch one of the small boats across to Lake Phewa then follow the narrow pathway that winds it way upwards through the forest to the summit. The white stupa is a tranquil haven to meditate and relax. Located beneath the summit is a couple of cafes. Alternatively, you can catch a taxi to drive you up the dirt roads round the back of the hill to bring you closer to the summit. Davi’s Falls can be visited on the way back down for an alternatively longer walk back to Pokhara.
Peace Stupa
Sarangkot
You can either walk up through the farm settlements and forest to the summit of Sarangkot from the shores of Lake Phewa or take a taxi ride from the city. There’s little handicraft stalls and cafes below the summit and for a small fee you can reach the viewing area. You have panoramic views over the Annapurna range, where you’ll see the majestic snow-covered peaks of Machhrapuchhre, Dhaulagiri and the various Annapurna summits. Sunrise or sunset is an especially good time to catch the stunning orange alpen-glow effect.
This interesting museum is situated in the suburbs of Pokhara so you’ll need to take a taxi ride to reach it. It chronicles the history of the Gurkhas and their involvement with the British Army since 1815. Their motto is ‘it’s better to die than be a coward’.
The International Mountain Museum
This large modern museum with a roof depicting a mountain peak is situated on the outskirts of Pokhara. It houses the records of all successful mountaineers who have climbed one of the 8000m peaks in the country inn addition to records on the flora and fauna and human activities in the Himalayas.
It has a range of exhibits and galleries portraying the culture, natural history and mountaineering activities. Additionally, it houses a shop, restaurant and climbing wall.
