Pokhara is the city Australians fall in love with in Nepal. While Kathmandu is chaotic, ancient, and overwhelming in the best way, Pokhara is unhurried — a lakeside city of cafes, kayaks, paragliders, and jaw-dropping mountain views spread along the shore of Phewa Lake, with the Annapurna massif rising directly behind it. On a clear morning, you can watch the sun hit Machapuchare (the "Fish Tail" peak) from your guesthouse balcony over a plate of eggs and coffee.
Pokhara is also the gateway to the Annapurna region — most trekkers to Annapurna Base Camp, the Annapurna Circuit, and Poon Hill begin and end here. A day or two on either side of a trek in Pokhara is not a concession to comfort; it is one of the genuine pleasures of a Nepal trip.
This guide covers what to do in Pokhara, where to eat and stay, how to get around, and the Nepali vocabulary that will make every interaction richer. Whether you are here for two days or two weeks, this guide helps you experience Pokhara as more than a tourist.
Getting to Pokhara
From Kathmandu
By plane: The quickest option — 25 minutes on Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, or Nepal Airlines. Book in advance, especially during peak season. Pokhara International Airport (opened 2023) is modern and handles domestic flights efficiently.
By tourist bus: Around 6–7 hours on the Prithvi Highway, which follows the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers through dramatic gorges. Comfortable tourist buses depart Kathmandu's Kantipath bus park early morning. Greenliner and other services offer reclining seats and WiFi for approximately NPR 800–1,200.
By local bus: Cheaper but slower and less comfortable. Takes 7–9 hours. Not recommended for first-time visitors.
Useful phrases: Pokhara jaane bus kati baje chhadchha? — po-KHA-ra JAA-ne BUS KA-ti BA-je CHHAD-chha? — What time does the Pokhara bus leave?
Plane ticket Pokhara ko chaahiyo — PLANE TICK-et po-KHA-ra ko chaa-HI-yo — I need a plane ticket to Pokhara.
Lakeside samma taxi kati parchha? — LAKE-side SAM-ma TAX-i KA-ti PAR-chha? — How much is a taxi to Lakeside?
Orientation: Pokhara's Neighbourhoods
Pokhara is spread along the eastern shore of Phewa Lake. The main areas for travellers:
Lakeside (Baidam): The tourist hub — restaurants, cafes, gear shops, souvenir stalls, and guesthouses. The main drag runs parallel to the lake. This is where most Australian visitors stay.
Damside (Pardi): Quieter, slightly south of Lakeside. Good budget accommodation and a more local feel.
Pokhara Bazaar: The real city, north of Lakeside, where locals live and shop. Worth exploring for its markets, local restaurants, and authentic pace of life.
Lakeside vocabulary: Phewa taal kahaa chha? — PHE-wa TAAL ka-HAA chha? — Where is Phewa Lake?
Lakeside samma kati tadha chha? — LAKE-side SAM-ma KA-ti TA-dha chha? — How far is it to Lakeside?
Yo thau ko naam ke ho? — YO THAU ko NAAM ke HO? — What is the name of this place?
What to Do in Pokhara
1. Boating on Phewa Lake
Phewa Lake is Pokhara's centrepiece — a mirror of aquamarine water reflecting the Annapurnas and Machapuchare on clear days. Wooden rowboats and paddleboats are rented from the Lakeside ghats (lake steps) for NPR 300–600 per hour.
Duna bhaada linna chaahanchhu — DU-na BHAA-da LIN-na chaa-HAN-chhu — I want to rent a boat.
Kati parchha ek ghanta ko? — KA-ti PAR-chha EK GHAN-ta ko? — How much for one hour?
Barahi Mandir samma jaanchhu — ba-RA-hi MAN-dir SAM-ma JAN-chhu — I'm going to the Barahi Temple.
The Tal Barahi Temple, on a small island in the middle of Phewa Lake, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Barahi (a form of Durga). Row out to it, remove your shoes, and enter — the setting is extraordinary. On weekends and religious days, local families fill the island for puja (worship).
2. Paragliding from Sarangkot
Pokhara is one of the world's premier paragliding destinations. The Sarangkot ridge above the city provides consistent thermals and a launch point 1,600m above the lake. Tandem paragliding flights with a licensed pilot last 30–45 minutes and offer views of the Annapurnas, Machapuchare, Dhaulagiri, and the lake below.
Multiple operators in Lakeside offer flights. Prices are generally fixed across licensed operators (approximately NPR 8,000–12,000 for a standard flight). This is one activity where bargaining is inappropriate — licensed, safety-certified operators do not discount their flights.
Paragliding booking garnu chha — PARA-glid-ing BOOK-ing GAR-nu chha — I want to book paragliding.
Kati baje flight chha? — KA-ti BA-je FLIGHT chha? — What time is the flight?
Mausam thik chha? — MAU-sam THEEK chha? — Is the weather okay?
3. Sunrise at Sarangkot
Even without paragliding, the drive or walk to Sarangkot for sunrise is one of Pokhara's iconic experiences. Leave by 5:30am to reach the viewpoint before dawn. On clear days (October–November and March–April are most reliable), the light on the Annapurna range is extraordinary.
Sarangkot jaane taxi chaahiyo, bihaana paanch baje — SA-ran-got JAA-ne TAX-i chaa-HI-yo, bi-HAA-na PAANCH BA-je — I need a taxi to Sarangkot at 5am.
Saama kahaa bata hunchha? — SAA-ma ka-HAA BA-ta HUN-chha? — Where is the sunrise viewpoint?
4. The World Peace Pagoda
A Japanese-built stupa on a ridge south of Phewa Lake, the World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa) offers panoramic views of Pokhara, the lake, and the Annapurnas. Walk up from the southern lakeshore (about 45 minutes), or take a boat across and walk up (shorter but steeper).
Shanti Stupa kati tadha chha? — SHAN-ti STU-pa KA-ti TA-dha chha? — How far is the Peace Pagoda?
Yo temple kati puraaano ho? — YO TEM-ple KA-ti pu-RAA-a-no HO? — How old is this temple?
5. The International Mountain Museum
Often overlooked, this is one of the best museums in Nepal — covering the history of Himalayan exploration, the geology of the mountains, the cultures of Nepal's mountain peoples, and tributes to legendary climbers. Worth two to three hours.
Museum kati baje khulchha? — MU-se-um KA-ti BA-je KHUL-chha? — What time does the museum open?
Ticket kati parchha? — TICK-et KA-ti PAR-chha? — How much is a ticket?
6. Gupteshwor Cave and Davis Falls
A short walk from Lakeside, Davis Falls (Patale Chhango) is a waterfall that plunges into an underground stream and disappears. Directly across the road, Gupteshwor Cave follows the underground stream into a Shiva shrine.
Gupteshwor Mahadev cave kahaa chha? — GUP-tesh-war ma-HA-dev CAVE ka-HAA chha? — Where is the Gupteshwor Cave?
7. Cycling Around the Lake
The road around Phewa Lake is partially paved and offers a scenic half-day ride through lakeside villages, rice paddies, and quiet fishing spots. Bicycles rent for NPR 200–400 per day in Lakeside.
Cycle bhaada linna chaahanchhu — CY-cle BHAA-da LIN-na chaa-HAN-chhu — I want to rent a bicycle.
Cycle ko tyre chaahiyo — CY-cle ko TY-re chaa-HI-yo — The bicycle needs air (tyre inflation).
Where to Eat in Pokhara
Pokhara's restaurant scene is excellent by Nepali standards — a mix of traditional Nepali food, Tibetan influenced dishes, and international options that cater to trekkers recovering from weeks on the trail.
Traditional Nepali Food
Momos: Pokhara's momos are widely considered the best in Nepal. Look for steam momo and jhol momo (in spiced soup broth). The momo competition in Pokhara is fierce and the quality is extraordinary.
Dal bhat: Every local restaurant serves dal bhat — typically NPR 200–400 at a local restaurant, NPR 400–700 at tourist places. Always ask for "thapne" (refillable) portions.
Newari cuisine: Pokhara Bazaar has excellent Newari restaurants serving beaten rice (chiura), roasted soybeans (bhatmaas), buffalo meat dishes, and traditional pickles.
Thakali cuisine: The Thakali people of the Mustang region have a distinctive cuisine — a refined version of dal bhat with multiple curries, pickled vegetables, and buckwheat bread — that is popular throughout Nepal. Several Thakali restaurants operate in Lakeside.
Restaurant phrases:
Momo ek plate diinus — MO-mo EK PLATE di-NUS — One plate of momos please.
Jhol momo diinus — JHOL MO-mo di-NUS — Jhol momo (in broth) please.
Dal bhat diinus — thapne — dal BHAT di-NUS — THAP-ne — Dal bhat please — refillable portions.
Yo ekdam mitho chha! — YO EK-dam MI-tho chha! — This is incredibly delicious!
Piro chhaena bhane ramro — PI-ro CHHAE-na BHA-ne RAM-ro — It's good that it's not too spicy.
Bill diinus — Please bring the bill.
Cafe Culture in Lakeside
Lakeside has a well-developed cafe scene — several excellent coffee roasters, bakeries with freshly-baked bread and croissants, and restaurants with lake views that serve excellent Western breakfasts alongside Nepali options. After weeks on a trekking menu, the return to Pokhara for a proper coffee and eggs is genuinely celebratory.
Kafi ek cup diinus — KAF-i EK CUP di-NUS — One cup of coffee please.
Cappuccino diinus — Cappuccino please.
Masala chiya diinus — ma-SA-la CHI-ya di-NUS — Masala tea please.
Where to Stay in Pokhara
Budget (Under AUD $25/night)
Lakeside is full of excellent budget guesthouses with lake views, private rooms, hot showers, and free WiFi. Families running guesthouses are friendly and often become the highlight of a stay.
Ek kamara chha? Lake dekhinchha? — EK ka-MA-ra chha? LAKE dekh-IN-chha? — Do you have a room? Can you see the lake?
Kati parchha ek raat ko? — How much for one night?
Breakfast included chha? — BREAK-fast in-CLUD-ed chha? — Is breakfast included?
Mid-Range (AUD $30–80/night)
Several well-run hotels in Lakeside offer pool access, rooftop restaurants, and mountain views at mid-range prices. Book ahead for October and April.
Homestay
Staying with a local family in Pokhara or a surrounding village is one of the most memorable experiences available. Several community tourism networks arrange authentic homestays.
Homestay arrange garnu sakchhu? — HOME-stay ar-RANGE GAR-nu SAK-chhu? — Can you arrange a homestay?
Getting Around Pokhara
On foot: Lakeside is completely walkable — most restaurants, gear shops, and lakefront activities are within 20 minutes' walk.
By bicycle: The flat terrain around Phewa Lake makes cycling easy and enjoyable.
By taxi or electric rickshaw: For Sarangkot, the museum, or Pokhara Bazaar.
Taxi / rickshaw phrases:
Sarangkot samma kati parchha? — How much to Sarangkot?
Pokhara Museum samma kati parchha? — How much to the Mountain Museum?
Bistaarai jaanus — bis-TAA-rai JAA-nus — Please drive slowly (the roads around Sarangkot are narrow and winding).
Pokhara Vocabulary Reference
| English | Nepali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Lake | Taal | TAAL |
| Mountain | Pahad / Himal | pa-HAD |
| Boat | Duna / Donga | DU-na |
| Waterfall | Jharna / Jharana | JHAR-na |
| Cave | Gufa | GU-fa |
| Temple | Mandir | MAN-dir |
| Market | Bazaar | ba-ZAAR |
| Restaurant | Bhojanalaya / Restaurant | bho-JAN-a-la-ya |
| Guesthouse | Ghar / Lodge | GHAR |
| Sunrise | Bihani udag | bi-HA-ni U-dag |
| Sunset | Saanjh | SAANJH |
| Clear sky | Saphaa aakash | SA-phaa AA-kash |
| Cloud | Baadal | BAA-dal |
| Rain | Pani | PA-ni |
| Snow | Hiu | HIU |
| Fish tail peak | Machapuchare | ma-cha-pu-CHA-re |
| Annapurna | Annapurna | an-na-PUR-na |
Pokhara to Trek: Final Preparation Phrases
If you are heading out on a trek from Pokhara, these phrases are useful for your final day in town:
Nayapul jaane jeep kati baje chhadchha? — NA-ya-pul JAA-ne JEEP KA-ti BA-je CHHAD-chha? — What time does the jeep to Nayapul leave?
Permit office kahaa chha? — Where is the permit office?
ATM kahaa chha? — Where is the ATM? (Withdraw cash before the trek — ATMs become scarce quickly)
Trekking ko laagi paani ko bottle kahan painchha? — TREK-king ko LAA-gi PAA-ni ko BOT-tle ka-HAN PAI-nchha? — Where can I buy water bottles for trekking?
Mero guide ko naam _____ ho — ME-ro GUIDE ko NAAM _____ HO — My guide's name is _____.
Prepare Your Nepali Before You Go
Pokhara is welcoming and English-friendly — but the moments that stay with you from a Pokhara visit almost always involve a real exchange with a local in Nepali. The momo vendor who teaches you to say "jhol" properly. The guesthouse owner who explains the names of the peaks over morning tea. The boatman who tells you the Barahi Temple story in a mix of Nepali and gestures.
Start building that vocabulary now at bolnepali.com.
BolNepali helps Australians make the most of Nepal travel with structured language learning, cultural guides, and vocabulary for every situation — from Pokhara cafes to Himalayan tea houses.