If Kathmandu is the cultural hub of Nepal, Pokhara is its center of adventure. An enchanting city nestled in a tranquil valley, it is the starting point for many of Nepal's most popular trekking and rafting destinations. The atmosphere on the shore of Phewa Lake is one of excited vitality as hipster backpackers crowd the many bars and restaurants exchanging recommendations on guest houses and viewpoints, both by the lake and above the clouds.

Pokhara is a place of remarkable natural beauty. The serenity of Phewa Lake and the magnificence of the fishtailed summit of Machhapuchhre (6,977 m) rising behind it create an ambience of peace and magic. At an elevation lower than Kathmandu, it has a much more tropical feel to it, a fact well appreciated by the beautiful diversity of flowers which prosper in its environs. Indeed, the valley surrounding Pokhara is home to thick forests, gushing rivers, emerald lakes, and of course, the world famous views of the Himalaya.

The powerful rule of the old kings of Kathmandu, the Lichhavis and the Mallas, held sway over this valley for some time. As these dynasties fell prey to their own troubles, Pokhara Valley and the surrounding hills disintegrated into small kingdoms, frequently at war with each other. These were called the Chaubise Rajya or the Twenty-four Kingdoms. It was among these that Kulmandan Shah established his kingdom. His descendant Drabya Shah was the first to establish Gorkha, home of the legendary Gurkha warriors.

Finally, Pokhara is part of a once vibrant trade route extending between India and Tibet. To this day, mule trains can be seen camped on the outskirts of the town, bringing goods to trade from remote regions of the Himalaya. This is the land of the Magars and Gurungs, hardworking farmers and valorous warriors who have earned world-wide fame as Gurkha soldiers. The Thakalis, another important ethnic group here, are known for their entrepreneurship.

Mountain Views
Clearly the most stunning of Pokhara's sights is the spectacular panorama of the Annapurna range which forms its backdrop. Stretching from east to west, the Annapurna massif includes Annapurna 1 to IV and Annapurna South. Although the highest among them is Annapurna 1 (8,091 m), it is Machhapuchhre which dominates all others in this neighbourhood. Boastfully levitating in the skyline, the fish-tailed pinnacle is the archetypal snow-capped, needle-pointed mountain. If you want to see the mountains from close up, Everest Air offers a mountain flight from Pokhara that takes you on an aerial sightseeing tour of the western Himalaya.

Phewa Lake
Phewa Lake, the second largest lake in the Kingdom, is the center of all attraction in Pokhara. It is the largest and most enchanting of the three lakes that add to the resplendence of Pokhara. Here, one can sail or row a hired boat across to the water or visit the island temple in its middle. The eastern shore, popularly known as lakeside or Baidam, is the favorite home base for travellers and is where most of the hotels, restaurants and handicraft shops are located.

Barahi Temple
The Barahi temple is the most important monument in Pokhara. Built almost in the center of Phewa Lake, this two-storyed pagoda is dedicated to the boar manifestation of' Ajima, the protesters deity representing- the female force Shakti. Devotees can be seen, especially on Saturdays, carrying male animals and fowl across the lake to be sacrificed to the deity.

Seti Gandaki
Another of Pokhara's natural wonders that unfailingly interests visitors is the Seti Gandaki river. Flowing right through the city, the boisterous river runs completely underground at places. Amazingly, at certain points the river appears hardly two meters wide. But its depth is quite beyond imagination over 20 meters! Mahendra Pul, a small bridge near the old Mission Hospital, provides a perfect view of the river's dreadful rush and the deep gorge made by its powerful flow.

Devi's Fall
Locally known as the Patale Chhango (Hell's Fall). Devi's Fall (also known as Devin's and David's) is a lovely waterfall lying about two km south-west of the Pokhara airport on the Siddhartha Highway. Legend has it that a trekker (Devin, David..) was washed away by the Pardi Khola and mysteriously disappeared down into an underground passage beneath the fall.

Mahendra Cave
Another of nature's wonders in Pokhara is the Mahendra Gupha. This large limestone cave is locally known as the House of Bats, an apt name for it. A two-hour walk to the north of Pokhara, it is best to bring your own torch to see the stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the local winged residents.

The Old Bazaar
Pokhara's traditional bazaar is colorful and so are its ethnically diverse traders. In its temples and monuments can be seen ties to the Newar architecture of the Kathmandu Valley. Located about four km from Lakeside, the market's original charm is alive and well. This area strewn with shops selling commodities ranging from edibles and cloth to cosmetics and gold is a pleasant and shady spot to stroll around.The old bazaar is also home to one of Pokhara's most important shrines'. Locally called the Bindhyabasini Mandir, this white dome-like structure dominates a spacious stone-paved courtyard built atop a shady hillock. It is dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati, yet another manifestation of Shakti. The park-like grounds offer a fine picnic area, and on Saturdays and Tuesdays when devotees flock there to offer sacrifices, it takes on a festive local flavour.

Museums
The Pokhara Museum, located between the bus stop and Mahendra Pul, reflects the ethnic mosaic of western Nepal. The lifestyles and history of ethnic groups such as Gurungs, Thakalis and Tharus are attractively displayed through models, photographs and artefacts. One major attraction is a display highlighting the newly-discovered remains of an 8000-year-old settlement in Mustang. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10 am to 5 pm. Entrance fee is Rs.10 (tel: 20413).
The Annapurna Regional Museum, also known as the Natural History Museum, is another interesting visit in Pokhara. Run by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), the museum has an exceptional collection of butterflies, insects, birds and models of wildlife found in the area. Located at Prithvi Narayan Campus east of the old bazaar, it is open daily except Saturdays and holidays from 9 am to 5 pm. Entrance is free (tel: 21102).

Surrounding Areas
Pokhara is the starting and/or finishing point for some of the most popular treks including the Annapurna Circuit and the Jomsom Trek. It also offers a number of short treks for those who cannot opt for long, challenging ones. The most popular destination among them is Sarangkot (1592 m), a former Kaski fort lying atop a hill to the west of Pokhara. The panoramic view of the Himalaya seen from this point is superb. Kahundanda, Naudanda, Ghandrung, Ghorepani, and Ghalchok are other favorite destinations around Pokhara.

Access :
Pokhara is located roughly 200 km west of Kathmandu. The journey between these two famed cities is certainly part of the Pokhara experience. Flying over the snow-capped Himalaya to the north and the green Mahabharat range to the south is thrilling, while the overland journey past sparse rural settlements nestled along the Trisuli river provides a view of life particular to Nepal's middle hills. There are daily flights and bus services between Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Accomodation :
Pokhara offers a wide array of hotel facilities from five star class luxury resorts to budget class guest houses.
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Seeking thrills in the lake city: Pokhara City
Nestled in the lap of the Macchapuchhre mountain, the lake city of Pokhara has long lured visitors with its rolling vistas and majestic panoramas. However, with the city fast becoming a hub for adventure sports in Nepal, thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies are thronging the city. Pokhara offers many unique adventure sports that are unavailable elsewhere in the country. While white water rafting, canyoning, mountain biking and rock climbing are staples of the extreme sports industry, they are available in pockets throughout the country. Pokhara offers an eclectic mix of zip lines, paraglides and hotair balloons. Just a few weeks ago, a 1,850 metre long zip flyer also started operations in Pokhara and after a successful skydive from 14,000 feet by two Nepalis and four foreigners two years ago, skydiving plans are also in the works. With its inspiring sights and heart-stopping adventure sports, Pokhara is the place for beauty and thrills, said Chairman of Pokhara Tourism Council, Tikaram Sapkota.

ZIP FLYER
Started with an investment of Rs 130 million by the Golchha Organisation and the Mangal Group, this latest addition to Pokhara’s selection of adventure sports is a 1,850m long zipline with a vertical drop of 2,000m. The ride begins at the top of Sarangkot hill (5032ft), with participants reaching up to 140km an hour, and ends near the Yamdi river. Two people can slide down at one time, in separate trolleys, suspended from two cables. “There are many short zip flyers in Europe. However, this is one of the longest, fastest and tallest in the world,” claimed Director of High Ground Adventures, Sharad Golchha, while assuring that the zip flyers are extremely safe as they make use of the latest technology. Domestic visitors will need to spend Rs 3,890 for a ride while the rate for foreign tourists is Rs 5,890.

PARAGLIDING
It is said that those visiting Pokhara should never wrap up their journey without paragliding. The sport began commercial operations after Nepal’s first paragliding competition organised by the Pokhara-based regional chapter of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) and Sunrise Paragliding in 1999. General Secretary of Nepal Air Sports Association (NAA) Shovit Baniya said more than 72,000 people paraglide yearly from Sarangkot, which operates only eight months a year, excepting May, June, July and August. There are two kinds of paragliding: one which carries only a pilot while the other carries both a pilot and a passenger. Pilots from Italy, the UK, India, Sweden, Australia, Canada, Scotland, Germany, France and Switzerland visit the city for paragliding. Out of 19 paragliding companies in Pokhara, 16 are currently operating flights while three others are in the process of acquiring licences. There are 100 Nepali pilots operating the gliders. Foreigners are charged Rs 7,600 for a half-hour flight while Nepalis are charged Rs 5,000 for the same.

ULTRALIGHT FLYING
Brought to the lake city by Avia Club Nepal, ultralight flying, which carries only a pilot and a passenger, is the first of its kind in South Asia. The flight will take in the majestic vistas of Dhaulagiri and Manaslu from the air. So far, around 26,000 people have flown in the ultralight, which began operations in 1997, according to the managing director of the Avia Club, Prabin Gauchan. Twenty-five ultralight flights are operated on a daily basis. Of the flyers, 99 percent are foreigners, said Gauchan. The fly rate is 75 euro for a 15 minute flight, 125 euro for 30 minutes and 198 euro for an hour. Two Nepalis and four foreign pilots operate the ultralights.

HOT AIR BALLOONING
Tara Air, Yeti Air and Alpine Consult have jointly conducted test flights of hot air balloons. Three to five people can fly at a time for an hour-and-a-half up to 6,000 feet. West of the Phewa lake and the International Mountain Museum have been selected as flight points. Currently, only foreigners can go up in these balloons but the authorities concerned said they plan to expand the sport soon to a wider target group.

RAFTING
After the government decision to allow rafting in the Upper Seti river, many thrill seekers have been attracted to this envigorating sport in Pokhara. Around 12 km of the Seti, from Dobilla to Simpani, is said to be appropriate for rafting. However, the river is considered quite dangerous and is only safe for rafting from September 15 to October 15. “The Upper Seti is rocky, rough and risky. But when it comes to rafting, the riskier the ride, the more pleasure it provides,” said Pokhara Tourism Council Chairman Tikaram Sapkota.

MOUNTAIN BIKING
A two-hour bicycle ride will take you from Pumdi to Pame along the Phewa Lake, along with a ride to Damside through Sarankot, Pame and Begnas Lake. While foreign tourists can be spotted riding bicycles in Lakeside, locals too have taken to cycling, launching a cycling campaign and forming the Kaski District Cycling Association. More than 300 members are associated with the local City Pokhara Club so far, said secretary of the club, Prakash Brajacharya. Santosh Rai, a professional mountain biker, said a group of around eight people go for a race outside Pokhara every week. The National Friendship Cycle Competition was also organised in Pokhara just a month ago to promote cycling among locals. Seven companies run mountain bike shops.

ROCK CLIMBING
Pokhara is home to a 22-metre artificial rock mountain built especially for rock climbing. This major attraction, the Maurice Herzog Climbing Wall, is housed at the International Mountain Museum and was built at the proposal of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) with aid from the French embassy. Empowering Women of Nepal (EWN), an NGO, has been providing rock climbing training in Sarangkot VDC, where women compose the majority of those undergoing the training. So far, 195 women have undergone rock climbing training, said EWN. “Rock climbing started with an aim to encourage women in mountaineering,” said founding chairperson of EWN, Lakki Karki.

source: The Kathmandu Post,30 Oct 2012