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