14 Best Places To Visit in Pokhara

Pokhara isn’t called the ‘City of Lakes’ for nothing. With eight beautiful lakes attracting visitors to experience the calm in the wind, through the water body, Pokhara exceeds your expectations of tranquility. It is also famous for its World Peace Pagoda, dark caves, temples, museums, a spot for morning sunrise, four refugee camps and an incredible waterfall with a backdrop story.

These places give you an incredible eyeshot and a memorable journey. If you don’t have a list already, these are the 14 best places to visit in Pokhara.

1. Phewa Lake
2. Davis Fall
3. Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave
4. Bindhyabasini Temple
5. Seti River Gorge
6. Mahendra Cave
7. Bat Cave
8. Gurkha Memorial Museum
9. International Mountain Museum
10. World Peace Pagoda
11. Sarangkot
12. Tibetan Refugee Camp
13. Begnas Lake
14. Rupa Lake

Phewa Lake

The largest lake of Pokhara, Phewa Lake with Tal Barahi Temple on its middle is on the top of this list. On a clear day the reflection of Mt. Machhapuchhre on the lake looks amazing from the Damsite. It is also the starting point of the hike to Shanti Stupa.

You can go boating on the lake and visit Tal Barahi Temple. There you could take the blessing from Goddess Durga and enjoy the moment of being on a small island in Phewa Lake. So its one of the must visit places in Pokhara.

Davis Fall

You can see the beginning of this waterfall, but you will not be able to see where it ends. That is an interesting thing about Davis Fall as it vanishes into the underground. If the waterfall appears to be strong, then its sound is even stronger. Another key thing about this place is that the waterfall passes through Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave which lies on the other side and is itself an attraction to visit in Pokhara.

Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave   

You’d have to walk down the metal stairs to see the Gupteshwor Mahadev cave. The cave is made out of calcium carbonate deposited through the limestone, with no soil and just rocks. You reach the cave through the tunnel, so there are electric light bulbs on the stairs to reach there. From there you can see the Davis Fall as well.

Bindhyabasini Temple

When you visit Pokhara, it is a must to visit Bindhyabasini Temple, which is the oldest temple in Pokhara city. The temple is a tribute to Goddess Bindhyabasini and holds great significance for the Hindu devotees. It is kept very clean, and is very peaceful. You can see the beautiful Mt. Annapurna and Machhapuchre range surrounding the temple as well. It feels like a moment of spirituality is shared with a moment of tranquility.

Seti River Gorge

You can see the Seti River Gorge from the hill at the K.I. Singh Bridge. The Seti River flows right across Pokhara City and its roaring sound will let you know that you’ve reached the right place. The Seti river cuts through the Mahabharat Range into a gorge which is the Seti River Gorge. So, you can observe the river as it goes narrow around the gorge but becomes deeper as it passes the middle of the town.

Mahendra Cave

Mahendra Cave is the first cave to be discovered in Pokhara. One important thing about this cave is that it has a statue of Lord Shiva, so the cave has great religious significance. The cave is full of rocks here and there that gleam at the contact of light. A cave combined with stones has both an enclosed as well as a beaming feel to it, so it is a greatly famous attraction in Pokhara.

Bat Cave

Bat cave is for those who love adventure. There are thousands of horseshoe bats hanging upside down in this cave. Seeing such a big number of bats next to each other fills excitement, but the exit area is the most exciting part. There is a tiny hole on the top as the exit point, so climbing out of it would be interesting. Going inside a cave full of bats and coming out is both scary and adventurous. Visitors seem to love the thrill of it.

Gurkha Memorial Museum

Gurkha Memorial Museum is a dedication to the Gurkhas who fought the Indian and British Army to protect Nepal. This museum showcases the Gurkha lifestyle through the display of their uniforms, weapons, medals, and other objects. You can observe the depth of Gurkha history not only through the displayed artifacts, but also through the paintings and photographs there.

International Mountain Museum

The International Mountain Museum highlights the history of mountaineering and has an exhibition of the legend of Yeti. This museum focuses on Nepali mountains, and can give you a mountain climbing experience with a mini Mt.Manaslu. On your visit, you also get to see how diverse and large-numbered tribes Nepal has.

World Peace Pagoda

Pokhara is the land of tranquility, where people go for relaxation. And, World Peace Pagoda gives just that. It was created as a symbol of peace. So, once you reach this beautiful white and gold Buddhist stupa, you not just experience calmness, but the view around it is also mesmerizing. This stupa is impressive from up close, so you can observe its surroundings quietly and peacefully.

Sarangkot

Sarangkot is a beautiful village that is most famous for the view of the sunrise. The sun comes out from the night, over the Annapurna range and spreads the morning across the sky. With the morning, it brings the panoramic Himalayan view of Mt. Annapurna, Mt. Manaslu and Mt. Dhaulagiri. Not just the sunrise, but the sunset is also famous in Sarangkot. This makes Sarangkot one of the best places to visit in Pokhara.

I, myself, have experienced the sunrise from Sarangkot which I can never forget. I was astonished as the dawn started to crack and the sky went from dark to light. The beginning of the orange due blending with the darkness and turning it into sky blue made me feel like I saw a painting’s color blend live. And the sky was the canvas. I was hooked and in awe of what the simplest gestures of nature beholds. So do not forget to add a sunrise view from Sarangkot in  your list of things to do in Pokhara.

Tibetan Refugee Camp

What started as a settlement camp for Tibetans refugees has today become a small world of its own. The Tibetans make handmade jewelry, souvenirs, bracelets, carvings, carpets to sustain their living. And these handmade products have gotten incredibly popular as well. All the four camps have a small Buddhist monastery. So, anyone who wants to not only see the Tibetan lifestyle, but also the monk schools, the history and culture of Tibet after China’s takeover of Tibet, this camp will showcase it all.

Begnas Lake

Little less crowded than Phewa Lake, Begnas Lake is the second largest lake in Kaski. This lake is also a great pick for boating, so you will have semi-natural freshwater under your boat, mesmerizing green hills around you, with the clear view of Mt. Annapruna. So, behind the hills, and in the middle of a natural finesse, Begnas Lake will definitely blow your mind away.

Rupa Lake

Rupa Lake is a freshwater lake which also offers soothing natural beauty. Walking around the lake, witnessing the green hills, trying birdwatching, and fishing will be a fascinating experience here. When the sun hits the green hills and generates a shadow, the orange striking the green enhances the colors of nature. On a clear day, the view feels like an ocean, but it is not. Yet, the clouds expanded above our heads with the freshwater on the ground creates an insanely grounding environment to feel at peace.

So, I want to let you know that Pokhara carries nature and peace on its shoulders. With this personally curated list, I am sure Pokhara will be a memorable place. Add these places on your travel list because these are, hands down, the best places to visit in Pokhara.