Gandaki Province · Nepal
Where to stay in Pokhara
Pokhara is a city in Gandaki Province, Nepal, home to about 354,000 people.
- Best months
- March, April, October and November
- Nearest airport
- PKR1 km · Pokhara Domestic Airport
- Currency
- NPRNepalese rupee
- Time zone
- Asia/Kathmandu
- Language
- Nepali
About
About Pokhara
Pokhara is a metropolitan city located in central Nepal, which serves as the capital of Gandaki Province. Named the country's "capital of tourism" it is the second largest city after Kathmandu, with 600,051 inhabitants living in 120,594 households as of 2021 census.
Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Pokhara
See
- Phewa/Fewa Lake (Phewa/Fewa Tal)
- Begnas Lake (Begnas Tal)
- Rupa Lake (Rupa Tal)
- Dipang Lake (Dipang Tal)
- Devi's Falls (Patale Chhango)
- World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa)
- Sarangkot
- Kahun Dharahara
- Dhiki Danda
- Mahendra Cave
- Bat Cave
- Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave
Do
- Paragliding
- Parahawking/Vulture Restaurant
- Hearts and Tears Motorcycle Club: Motorbike Tours & Lessons
- Purna Yoga Retreat Centre
- Begnas Lake Resort
- Garden Yiga Chozin Buddhist Meditation Centre
- Purna Yoga & Treks
- Sadhana Yoga
- Calmness Day Spa
- Nextdoor Spa
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Pokhara to stay in
Virtually all tourist accommodations are in Lakeside and Damside, near Phewa Lake. In addition, there are around 12 guesthouses uphill in Sarangkot which offer better views and less air pollution, but are much more expensive for both accommodation and food. Note that these hotels are not accessible by car - they are a 20-minute walk uphill on gravel from the taxi stand in Sarangkot (Rs500 for a taxi, less for a microbus). Work-aways and farm stays are common, many will ask for money to cover volunteers food. It is possible to find medium or long-term accomndation in Pokhara. Best by far is to ask locally.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Pokhara
140 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata; the 40 best known are shown, by the number of Wikipedia editions that cover them. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Mon Village | 12.5 km | |
| Atithi Resort & Spa | 1.9 km | |
| Bar Peepal Resort | 2.2 km | |
| Begnas Coffee House | 12.7 km | |
| Begnas Lake Front Guest House | 13.9 km | |
| Blue Planet Lodge | 2.5 km | |
| Bodhi Suites Boutique Hotel and Spa | 2.5 km | |
| Butterfly Lodge | 2.6 km | |
| Cherry Garden | 2.4 km | |
| Da Yatra Courtyard Hotel & Resort | 2.6 km | |
| Dahlia Boutique Hotel | 2.0 km | |
| Dinesh House | 12.9 km | |
| Fairmount Hotel | 2.1 km | |
| Fish Tail Lodge | 2.3 km | |
| Fishtail Lodge | 1969 | 2.6 km |
| Gantavya Resort | 2.8 km | |
| Glacier Hotel and Spa | 2.4 km | |
| Golden Lake | 3.0 km | |
| Green Park | 2.7 km | |
| Green Peace Lodge | 2.9 km | |
| Green Tara Hotel | 2.6 km | |
| Harry Guest House & Restaurant | 2.2 km | |
| Harvest Moon Guest House | 2.4 km | |
| Heritage Hotel Suites and Spa | 2.7 km | |
| Hotel Adam | 2.8 km | |
| Hotel Asia | 2.0 km | |
| Hotel Balcony | 2.0 km | |
| Hotel Barahi | 1992 | 2.6 km |
| Hotel Bishram | 2.6 km | |
| Hotel Blossom | 2.6 km | |
| Hotel Blue Magnet | 2.4 km | |
| Hotel Butter Cup | 2.2 km | |
| Hotel City Inn | 2.4 km | |
| Hotel Crown Himalayas | 2.2 km | |
| Hotel Dandelion | 2.5 km | |
| Hotel Deep Oasis | 2.8 km | |
| Hotel Eagle Zone | 2.6 km | |
| Hotel Fewa Dream | 2.9 km | |
| Hotel Fewa Holiday Inn | 2.2 km | |
| Hotel Fishtail Villa | 2.6 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Pokhara
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Pokhara are March, April, October and November. June is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C; July is the wettest, with about 379 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Pokhara: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Pokhara Domestic Airport (PKR), about 1.1 km from the city centre in a straight line; Pokhara International Airport (PHH, 4 km) and Gautam Buddha International Airport (BWA, 97 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Tourist buses (Rs700-800, 6-7 hr) and crowded local buses/microbuses (Rs400-600, 6-7 hr) travel the 200-km journey between Kathmandu and Pokhara almost every 15 minutes from 07:30 until late afternoon. Night buses are available, but the ride is painful. Greenline operates a convenient bus every morning between the popular tourist areas of Thamel in Kathmandu and Lakeside in Pokhara (US$20, lunch included). Swift operates comfortable tourist buses for US$15 per ride. The bus runs twice daily, leaving in the morning and in the evening.
Getting around
Pokhara is a mid-sized city and can be traversed on cycle or car or bike. Walking is necessary to get to places where vehicles or bicycles can't reach. Buses and minivans operate on most of the popular routes. These are crowded and uncomfortable but the fare is cheap and student discounts may be offered. Fare is Rs20–40 per way (as of March 2023). Comfortable taxis are available to be hired. You may also use InDrive app to hail a taxi or motorbike. Bicycles can be hired in a lot of shops in Lakeside (Rs300-2,000/day).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
PKR · Pokhara Domestic Airport
PHH · Pokhara International Airport
BWA · Gautam Buddha International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Pokhara
Eat
The cheapest (and often the best) food is found at the street stalls, selling momos/dumplings, samosas or fried noodles. Early in the morning, children walk the streets with trays of pastries; chocolate croissants, cinnamon rolls and other cakes. The bazaar across from the old bus station has basic Nepali dishes from Rs60, and a nice atmosphere amongst the bustle of vendors.
Drink
Try the local beer (Gurkha/Everest), and if you are brave the home brew which comes in several forms "Chang": A rice or millet beer that's slightly sour and earthy. "roxi" a stronger fermentation of Chang, And "three panni roxi": very strong and tastes awful.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Pokhara: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Pokhara?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Pokhara are March, April, October and November. June is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C; July is the wettest, with about 379 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Pokhara?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Pokhara Domestic Airport (PKR), about 1.1 km from the city centre in a straight line; Pokhara International Airport (PHH, 4 km) and Gautam Buddha International Airport (BWA, 97 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Pokhara?
Nepalese rupee (NPR).
Nearby
Destinations near Pokhara
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.