13 Best Things To Do In Pokhara | The Vibrant City Of Nepal
13 Best Things To Do In Pokhara
Exploring Pokhara On A Bike Ride
A city with less population and traffic than Kathmandu, it is ideal to explore Pokhara through bike ride. There are many rental companies in Pokhara that provides you bikes/bicycles on hire on hourly or daily basis. If you don’t have a driver license, you can hire someone to drive for you too. On your bike ride, you can explore the beautiful Lakeside, Pame village, Davis Falls, Sarangkot, Peace Pagoda, etc.
Stroll Around Phewa Lake
You can just walk and chill around the Phewa Lake in the evening. There is also a walking path in the Phewa Lake in Pokhara Nepal where you can just stroll around enjoying the beauty of the lake and the sceneries around. You can also explore various souvenir stores, bookshops, and restaurants. From the shore, on clear days, you'll have the best views of the Himalaya and see the reflection of the peaks on the water's surface. Strolling by the Phewa Lake is also one of the best things to do in Pokhara Lakeside.
Boating In The Phewa Lake
Boating at the Phewa Lake in Pokhara Lakeside is a wonderful recreational activity. The Phewa Lake in Pokhara is the second largest lake in Pokhara. The lake is bordered by hills. If the weather is clear, you can view the reflection of the Fishtail mountain in the lake. In the Phewa Lake, there is a little island with a temple. On your boat ride, you can plan a short visit to this Barahi Temple. From the boat, you can also enjoy the beautiful view of paragliding that takes off from Sarangkot, Ultralight and also the White Stupa (Peace Pagoda). You can hire boats based on need i.e hourly or daily basis with or without a guide.
Zip flying In Pokhara
The adventurous zip flying in Pokhara allows you to ride the world's tallest and longest zipline 600m up in the air, zoom down at 140km per hour covering a distance of 1.8 km. Unlike paragliding in Pokhara, the zip flying in Pokhara consists of a trolley mounted on a steel cable 1.8 KM in length, the ride descends 2000 vertical feet at an angle of 56%. With resulting speeds of over 90 miles per hour, this makes it the most extreme zipline ride in the world. The zip flying in Pokhara is the world’s steepest, tallest and the fastest of its type in the world. A ride of this magnitude has never been built before, and we assure you that this ride will truly be a unique experience.
White Water Rafting In Pokhara
White water rafting in Pokhara in the Seti river in Pokhara is a must do thing while in Pokhara. The rafting point is just 30 minutes away from Lakeside Pokhara. The 1 ½ hours rafting in Pokhara is filled with non-stop adrenaline filled rapids, fantastic Annapurna mountain views, crystal clear Himalayan whitewater and a beautiful gorge decorated with prayer flags. White water rafting in Pokhara is also one of the best things to do in Pokhara.
Paragliding In Pokhara From Sarangkot
Sarangkot is one of the best places to visit in Pokhara. And paragliding in Pokhara from Sarangkot is definitely a must do thing when in Pokhara. Paragliding in Pokhara lets you enjoy the best view of the Fishtail Mountain in your front and the beautiful Phewa Lake below you. The shortest duration of the paragliding in Pokhara flight is of 20 minutes. These tandem flights are conducted by many agencies in Pokhara. It is recommended to take quotations from different agencies to get better prices. The agency will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to Sarangkot. You can also enjoy the most spectacular views of Pokhara from Sarangkot. Enjoying the bird’s eye view of this wonderful city through Paragliding in Pokhara will be a best decision. Paragliding from Sarangkot is one of the best things to do in Pokhara.
Mountain Biking In Pokhara
Mountain biking in Pokhara offers one of the best experience that is a combination of adventure along with the view of mountains and lakes. You can visit Sarangkot in a bike and witness the beautiful sunrise and sunset. You can also drive through various destinations in Pokhara like Devi’s fall, Seti Gandaki (River Gorge), Gupteswar Gupha (Cave), Mahendra Gupha (Cave) Bindbyabasini Temple, Matepani Gumba (Buddhist Monastery), World Peace Pagoda, Begnas Lake, etc. Take a ride through the lush green hills across typical villages along the river banks and ride around the temples as you explore the magnificent surrounding. You can rent bikes can on an hourly or daily basis from the various bicycle rental shops around the city. This is also one of the best things to do in Pokhara.
Boating At The Begnas Lake
Boating at the Begnas Lake is also one of the most recommended things to do in Pokhara. You can reach the Begnas Lake in about 35 minutes using a private vehicle. Just like boating at the Phewa Lake, you can hire boats at the Begnas Lake in hourly or daily basis. You can also get the best view of the mountains while boating at this lake. Choosing a guided boat will be a good idea as the guide will provide you interesting information about the lake and the surrounding areas. You can get a view of Rupa Lake from the Begnas Lake. You need to cross the Begnas Lake and hike for about 20 minutes. Upon reaching the top, you’ll get a view of the Rupa Lake.
Bunjee Jumping In Pokhara
If you missed the chance to do Bunjee Jumping in Kathmandu, you can try Bunjee jumping in Pokhara. Bungee Jumping was introduced in Pokhara in the mid-September 2014. The Bunjee jump in Pokhara offers you a 70 meter vertical drop and a 3 second free fall before you bounce back and enjoy the rest of your experience. The major perk of Bunjee jumping in Pokhara is that you can get views of the Himalayas and surrounding mountains and rivers as you jump.
Hike To The World Peace Stupa In Pokhara
The World Peace Stupa in Pokhara, also known as the Shanti Stupa, is a symbol of peace and prosperity. You can hike to the World Peace Pagoda from Lakeside. The dome-shaped pagoda has four images of the Buddha facing the four directions. The pagoda has an impressive architecture. It is highly recommended to take a boat to the hill opposite to the Phewa Lake and starting hiking from there. The hike to the world Peace Pagoda is about 40 minutes. Climbing up, you can enjoy the best view of the Annapurna range. Entrance to the World Peace Pagoda is free of cost, however, you can donate few dollars though!
Attend Yoga Or Meditation Session
If you want to spend some time relaxing, attending a yoga or meditation session would be a great idea for you. There are many places in Pokhara where you can get the best yoga or mediation experience. However, the most recommended one is the Purna Yoga Retreat near the Castle Resort.
Similarly, you can also opt for a Vipassana session. If you have enough stay time in Pokhara, You can join a 10-day Vipassana session. In this 10 days session, you will learn its basics and perform sufficient practice to experience its benefits. During this duration, you will go on a food and a social media diet as you will be served basic food and not be allowed to use your phone.
Skydiving In Pokhara
Get ready to be thrilled by the most exciting Skydiving in Pokhara. While you Skydive, your whole experience will be captured using GoPro so that you can relive the whole thrilling adventure again. The drop zone is at Pame Lauruk which is just 11 km northward from the emerald lake Phewa. Just like paragliding in Pokhara, Skydiving is a wonderful treat that you can give to yourself when you visit Pokhara to keep your adrenaline rushing. This is definitely one of the best things to do in Pokhara Valley.
Get Massage Done From Seeing Hands
There’s nothing better than a good massage after a trek, hike or tour around the city. There are numerous massage parlors in Pokhara. But, we recommend you to book an appointment with Seeing Hands. This social organization provides massage related training and employment to visually impaired people. Seeing Hands are open seven days a week but booking in advance will help you get the service in the required time.
Places To Visit In Pokhara
Visit to Trekking Destinations
You can plan for small 2-3 days trek while on your stay in Pokhara. Some of the best short trekking destinations would be Ulleri, Ghorepani, Poon Hills, Tadapani and Chomrung. Throughout the trek, you can enjoy beautiful landscape along with cultures of the locals in the area. March to June and October to November are some of the best months for trekking in Pokhara.
Visit Davis Falls
The Davi’s Falls has always been a major attraction for the locals as well as the tourists. This water fall in Pokhara named as Davi’s Fall has a very interesting and sad story. In the year 1961, a Swiss couple went for Swimming in the Davi’s Falls and the women named David drowned in the pit because of the sudden water flow. Her body was recovered three days later. Her father wished to name the Falls as David’s Falls which was later changed to Davi’s Falls.
The Devi’s Falls marks the point where the Pardi Khola stream disappears underground and leaves no clue of its existence. During monsoon, the splashes of water hit against the boulders create a terrific site. This is also the best time to see the real beauty of Devi’s Falls.
Visit To The Bat Cave
This is a small cave in Pokhara which is crowded by local tourists all year round. This is one of the most interesting places to visit in Pokhara. The cave is named as the Bat Cave as you can see hundreds of Bats in the cave. As you enter the cave, you need to look up and you will be shocked to see a huge black patch of bats all over the ceiling of the cave. The most interesting part of this cave is its exit point. To get out of the cave, you need to climb up a narrow hole using all your four limbs. Since the rocks in the cave are all slippery, it is recommended to use proper footwear.
Visit To The International Mountain Museum
This huge museum in Pokhara is dedicated to the mountaineers who have conquered their trek to the Everest. Inside the mountain you get to feel the life and culture of people in the mountains. Inside the museum, you can see original gear from many of the first Himalayan ascents, as well as displays on the history, culture, geology, and flora and fauna of the Himalaya.
Established in the year 1995 by Nepal Mountaineering Association, this museum has succeeded in maintaining a record and documentation of the history, evolution, development and the legendary achievements in mountaineering. The museum highlights commendable accomplishments of famous mountaineers in the majestic Himalayas and around the world. This should definitely be in your list of places to visit in Pokhara.
Visit Bindhyabasini Temple
Located about 20 minutes from Lakeside, Bindhyabasini temple is the one of the oldest temple in Nepal. The white pagoda-styled building of the Hindu Bindabasini Temple quietly sits at some 3000 feet above sea level along the renowned Annapurna and Machhpuchhare mountain ranges. Since its establishment, Goddess Bhagwati has been an object of worship here on a daily basis. Large numbers of believers come to offer sacrifices at Binhyabasini Mandir mostly during Dashain festival.
Visit Mahendra Cave
Mahendra Cave is a cave located in Btulechaur, Pokhara is a large limestone cave. It is a rare example of a cave system in Nepal containing stalagmites and stalactites. The Mahendra cave is named after the late king Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. The cave attracts thousands of local as well as foreign tourists every year. Inside the cave you can find a statue of Hindu lord Shiva. The cave can be accessed by visitors from the Pokhara Airport within 30 minutes by taxi, one hour by public buses and two hours by foot
Sarangkot View Point
Sarangkot hill in Pokhara is very popular for viewing sunrise and sunset. From Sarangkot view point, you can enjoy view of the beautiful Pokhara Valley and the magnificent view of the mountains such as Annapurna Massif, Fishtail Mountain, Dhaulagiri range, and Manaslu. You can reach Sarangkot hill easily by 45 minutes by a car ride to the top from Pokhara and then 45 minutes hike up to the main view point. The sarangkot view point is considered to be one of the best places to visit in Pokhara.
Heli Tour To The Annapurna Base Camp
If you are not interested in trekking and want to enjoy the beautiful Annapurna Base Camp, Heli tour to the Annapurna Base Camp will be the best option for you. Through this tour, you’ll fly over different forest, villages, rivers, cultivated terrains enjoying the spectacular panoramic view of mountains like Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchre, Himchuli and Myriads.
Apart from this, there are hundreds of other things to do in Pokhara. Depending on your time availability, you can plan for what activities you might want to go for or the places you want to visit in Pokhara.
High Camp Adventure based in Kathmandu has been offering variety of services to make your trip to Nepal and beyond exciting and memorable. While traveling from Kathmandu to Pokhara, you can contact High Camp Adventure to get details on places to visit in Pokhara. We have variety of packages that includes things to do in Pokhara. These packages can be customized according to your choice and time availability. So, whether you are interested in trekking, climbing, expeditions, bungy jumping, river rafting, jungle safaris, or prefer sightseeing and cultural/historical tours, we can help you plan the perfect holiday. In order to make your stay hassle free, we are also able to assist with accommodation and transportation reservations.
You can check Pokhara Valley Tour Package which will take you to a customized Pokhara Tour.