Pokhara
A lake town at about 800 metres, where peaks above 6,000 metres rise within thirty kilometres and Machhapuchhre's fishtail summit is often mirrored in Phewa.
- Arrival
- Pokhara International · PKR
- From Kathmandu
- About 143 km in a straight line
- Private jets
- Charters at PKR; entry via KTM
- Best time
- March to April · October to November
The city
Snow peaks above a valley of lakes.
The Annapurna range is the town's backdrop, and nothing blocks the view of summits above 6,000 metres. Phewa is one of three main lakes in a cluster of nine, with Rupa and Begnas; the temple of Tal Barahi stands out in the lake, and paragliders circle above it with the Annapurnas behind.
The Nepal Tourism Board names spring and autumn. October and November bring the clearest skies, after the monsoon has washed the air, and Dashain and Tihar fill the autumn calendar; spring is the season of rhododendrons. June to August are drenched, and in January the afternoons stay near 17 °C.
- Sarangkot A ridge above the lake where the first light strikes the Annapurnas before it reaches the valley.
- World Peace Pagoda A white stupa on the hill across Phewa, looking back over the water to the town and the range.
- Davis Falls and Gupteshwar A stream that vanishes underground, and the cave shrine beneath the road where it resurfaces.
Arriving
A new runway in the lake valley.
Pokhara International opened on 1 January 2023, about 3 km east of the old airfield, with a 2,500 m runway at some 800 m above sea level. The old strip still serves the short-take-off flights to Jomsom.
- Delhi 1 h 15
- Mumbai 2 h 20
- Singapore 5 h 05
- Riyadh 5 h 05
- Lisbon 11 h 05 long-range jet
When to go
March to April, and October to November.
Milder than the plains, with afternoons from 17 °C in January to 29 °C in May and June. The monsoon peaks in July at almost 480 mm, then eases sharply: November sees barely 12 mm. Spring warms quickly, with highs of 25 to 28 °C in March and April.
- 17° J 22
- 19° F 31
- 25° M 53
- 28° A 91
- 29° M 194
- 29° J 342
- 28° J 479
- 28° A 405
- 27° S 275
- 25° O 89
- 22° N 12
- 18° D 19
Where to stay
The five-star address in town.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
Elsewhere in Nepal
More reasons to come.
- Kathmandu Durbar Square, the stupa of Boudhanath, and the old royal cities of the valley.
- Bhaktapur A royal city of pagodas and potters, twenty minutes from Kathmandu.
- Jomsom The arid valley of the Kali Gandaki, reached by a mountain airstrip.
- Lukla The sloping airstrip where the Everest trek begins.
- Chitwan Rhinos and tigers in the forests of the Terai.
Flying to Pokhara?
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A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.