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The Beauty of Pokhara, Nepal

Phew Lake in Pokhara

Phew Lake in Pokhara

[P]okhara, located near the Annapurna range of Himalaya mountains in Nepal, is the type of town you'll want to stay in for longer than you planned.

It's easygoing, has all the comforts you need, it's affordable, the people are friendly, and most of all the scenery is spectacular.

Pokhara is the starting point for many treks such as the Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Sanctuary trek, or the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek.

Pokhara, Nepal

Pokhara, Nepal

There are two main parts of Pokhara, one area that's mostly local and then there's a street, which they call “lakeside,” that's home to countless guesthouses, shops, restaurants, and facilities that cater to travelers and trekkers.

Friendly ladies who served me lunch

Friendly ladies who served me lunch

Along the lake you'll find all sorts of Western restaurants (and even a Korean one), but there are some marvelous local restaurants as well.

Dal bhat

Dal bhat

Dal bhat as you already know, is the staple and most common meal in Nepal. A pile of rice, dal, potatoes, and assorted other vegetarian curries makes the meal complete.

Chili chicken

Chili chicken

Another dish I enjoyed eating was chili chicken, deep-fried boneless pieces of chicken that are coated in a tangy chili sauce. It goes well with rice!

Pastries in Pokhara

Pastries in Pokhara

Additionally, there are quite a number of European cafes and bakeries where you can grab some tasty pastries.

The peacefulness of Phewa Lake

The peacefulness of Phewa Lake

One of the things I enjoyed most about staying in Pokhara was being so close to nature, yet still having all the comforts, like a clean bed, internet, and restaurants to choose from, of a town.

The banks of Phewa Lake are a nice place to take an early morning stroll.

Beautiful Pokhara

Beautiful Pokhara

There's a small temple that sits on an island within the lake that you can visit. Also, if you're interested you can rent a boat to cruise around Phewa Lake for the day.

Taking a walk through the town

Taking a walk through the town

The town is spread out and walking around you'll be greeted by friendly kids and find all sorts of interesting neighborhoods to explore. Most of all, anything you do will be peaceful and relaxing.

Catching a morning view of the clear peaks

Catching a morning view of the clear peaks

Still, nothing impresses like the view of the mountains. Due to a hill blocking the view, the range is not always visible from the lakeside street in Pokhara, but if you head a little into town, you can get some breathtaking scenery.

Pokhara is a great little town, and a must visit stop when you're in Nepal.

Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:

Francis Cassidy

Saturday 7th of December 2013

Nice account. The first photo by the way is lovely! It was a good spot on your part, the boats are arranged in a very peculiar way.

Rebecca

Thursday 28th of November 2013

some great pictures! love the colorful boats. this place looks beautiful with this simple town surrounded by the beautiful mountains!

Chanel @ La Viajera Morena

Monday 11th of November 2013

That looks like a beautiful place to visit. Thanks for sharing! This post gives me another great place to explore :D

Cam

Tuesday 5th of November 2013

Pokhara is a cool place. We stayed much longer than we planned... but some of that had to do with the fact that our legs didn't work anymore after returning from several days of trekking.

Andi

Tuesday 5th of November 2013

That 1st photo is beyond breathtaking!!! Take me to Nepal now! :)

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