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Pokhara, an enchanting citynestled in the tranquil valley(827m), is the starting point for

many of Nepal’s most populartrekking and rafting destinations. Theserenity of Phewa Lake and themagnificence of the fish-tail summit ofMachhapuchhre rising behind it createan ambience of peace and magic. Thevalley surrounding Pokhara is hometo thick forests, gushing rivers, clearlakes and the world famous views ofthe Himalaya. If Kathmandu is thecultural hub of Nepal, then Pokharais the center of adventure. Pokhara isthe starting point for classic trekkingroutes like the Jomsom trail and thethree-week Annapurna Circuit. Fornontrekkers the valley offers mountainviews and glimpses of rural Nepalilife going far beyond those of theKathmandu Valley.The tourist area of Lakeside, stretchedout along the southeast shore of thevalley’s largest lake, is centeredaround sun, fun, music and meal.Lakeside has its own charm,especially in the evening, when theshops are lit up. For everyone,Pokhara is a wonderfully relaxingplace.Situated 200 km west of Kathmandu,Pokhara is connected by air as wellas by road from Kathmandu andBhairawa, a border town nearLumbini, Buddhha's birthplace.

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�������Pokhara lies in the central partof Nepal. This is one of themajor towns of Nepal that

provides a real escape and a perfectgetaway from the chaotic life of thecity. It is situated 200 kms west ofKathmandu, the capital of Nepal.Exploration of this lovely place ismade easier by its accessiblelocation. The first airport linkingPokhara with Kathmandu was builtin 1951 long before it was connectedby motorable road. It was only in1968 when the first motorable roadconnected it with Kathmandu.Calm and reposed in the lap ofmajestic Annapurna Himalayanrange, the valley stands on anelevation of about 827 meters abovesea level.

Exploration of thislovely place is

made easier by itsaccessible location.

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Before the unification of Nepalthere were 24 smallprincipalities in west Nepal.

Kaski was one of them. The ruins ofold palace of the rulers of Kaski canstill be seen in Kaskikot nearNaudanda.Kulmandan Shah was one of therulers who established his Kingdomin west Nepal. His descendantDrabya Shah was first to establishGorkha, source of the legendaryGorkha warriors.Pokhara is part of a once vibranttrade route extending between Indiaand Tibet. To this day, mule trainscan be seen camped on the outskirtsof the town, bringing goods to tradefrom remote regions of the Himalaya.This is the land of the Magars andGurungs, hardworking farmers andvalorous warriors who have earnedworldwide fame as Gurkha soldiers.

Pokhara was partof the then

principality ofKaski.

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Pokhara offers a wide variety ofplaces to stay and for all kindsof budgets. There are roughly

four accommodation areas aroundthe bus park and bazaar, by the air-port, Damside (Pardi) and lakeside(Baidam).For further information onaccommodation, please checkNepal Tourism Board's website:www.welcomenepal.com

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������ Pokhara is located roughly 200km west of Kathmandu. Thejourney between these two

famed cities is certainly part of thePokhara experience. Flying over thesnow capped Himalaya to the northand the green Mahabharat range tothe south is thrilling, while theoverland journey past sparse ruralsettlements nestled along the Trishuliriver provides a view of life particularto Nepal’s middle hills. There aredaily flight and bus services betweenKathmandu and Pokhara.

200 kms west ofKathmandu, capitalof Nepal. Explora-tion of this lovely

place is madeeasier by its acces-

sible location.

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Pokhara experiences a tropicalmild temperature with not socold winter and a hot summer.

Inspite of its intimacy with overlookingAnnapurna massif, the valley is notat all affected by the latter’s impact.The reason is its low altitude of only827 meters. During summers, heatand humidity dominate the valleywhile winter offers quite a pleasantweather, especially from Oct-Dec.When the heat of the summer sweepsin, the clouds rise covering themajestic Annapurna massif. Hence,in summers, it is highly recommendedfor the visitors to wake up early sothat they can enjoy a perfectuninterrupted view of the Himalaya.Monsoon in Pokhara begins fromearly-June to September though rainmay occur as pre-monsoon showerin the starting of May and even in

Since Pokharagets the heaviest

rainfall in Nepal, itproduces a varietyof sub-tropical flora

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the middle of April. The pre-monsoonrain is highly desired as it helps incooling the weather from the heat.During winters, when it’s slightlyraining and thundering in the valley,it indicates that, it could be snowingat some higher altitude.The maximum temperature in andaround the valley goes up to 30-32degree Celsius in summers and aminimum of 6-degree Celsius inwinters. Almost in all the seasons,days remain usually warm andpleasant except for some days inmonsoon and winter.Since Pokhara gets the heaviestrainfall in Nepal, it produces avariety of sub-tropical flora: floweringcacti, poinsettias, citrus, banana andorange trees, green leafy vegetablesand huge pipal and banyan tree.

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Nepal has a population of 21million out of which 125thousand people are

concentrated in the valley ofPokhara. The valley blends in itselfdifferent races and caste such asBrahmins, Chettris, Gurungs,Newars, Magars, Thakalis,Manangis, Tibetans, etc.

Brahmins and Chettris make upa vast majority of the population ofthe Pokhara valley accounting foraround 40% of the total populationof the town. These people speakNepali as their first language. Manyof them are serving as governmentofficials, while others arebusinessmen, agriculturists,administrators and landowners. Thisgroup is believed to be the firstsettlers in the valley, so they havevast area of land under theirpossession.

Gurungs constitute yet anothergroup settled in the valley. Theirancestry stretches back to Tibet whenthey migrated to Nepal some 3,000years ago. Both the Tibetans and theGurungs practice the same religion-Buddhism though their ways ofpreaching differs a bit from oneanother. They are also influenced byHinduism to some extent. Theirphysical structure bears resemblance

to Tibetans or Magars as they are ofthe Mongoloid race. Gurungs residein the Annapurna region (Ghandruk,Sikles, Dhampus). A walk through thevillages will expose you to their richculture as well as their daily chores.They are known for their bravery andfaithfulness. Therefore, they excel inserving as army and militarypersonnel in Gorkha regiments inIndia, the UK as well as in the Nepalarmy.

Newars, the early settlers of thevalley are the original inhabitants ofKathmandu valley. On an invitationfrom the king of Kaski some hundredyears ago, they came to the Pokharavalley and occupied the old bazaaror Bagar.

The valley blendsin itself different races

and caste such asBrahmins, Chettris,Gurungs, Newars,Magars, Thakalis,

Manangis, Tibetans,etc.

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Thakalis are originally fromThakkola valley. They are businesspeople and thus, a large number oftheir population has settled in thecommercial areas, where they findbusiness opportunities. These peopleare well known for their variousbusiness establishments such as hotels,restaurants and so on.

Manangis are traders popularlyknown for their entrepreneurship.They hail from Manang region, northof Annapurna. Their business hascome a long way from trading thelocal goods to the importing offoreign watches, electronic goods,clothing and the like (which are inhigh demand).

Tibetans constitute a minor stratumof Pokhara’s population.

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Phewa LakePhewa Lake is the most famous lakeof the Pokhara Valley. It covers anarea of 4.4 sq. km. It’s average depthis 8.6 meters and its maximum depthis 19 meters. A stream called HarpanKhola enters the Lake from thewestern end. There is a forested hillon the southern side of the Lake, whichincludes recently constructed PeaceStupa. The temple of goddess Barahiis situated in the middle of the lake.Large number of hotels andrestaurants are located along itsnortheastern shore. Boating andfishing are the major attractions ofPhewa Lake. There are 22 nativespecies of fish in the lake. One of thedelicacies served in severalrestaurants in the town of Pokhara isthe local fish from the lake.

Mountain ViewsClearly the most stunning ofPokhara’s sights is the spectacularpanorama of the Annapurna rangewhich forms its backdrop. Stretchingfrom east to west, the Annapurnamassif includes Annpaurna I to IV andAnnapurna south. Although thehighest among then is Annapurna I(8,091 m), it is Machhapuchhre whichdominates all others in thisneighborhood. Boastfully leviant inthe skyline, the fish tailed pinnacle isthe archtypical snow capped, needlepointed mountain.

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Barahi TempleThe Barahi Temple is the mostimportant monument in Pokhara. Builtalmost in the center of Phewa lake,this two storied pagoda is dedicatedto the boar manifestation of Ajima,the proctectress deity representing thefemale force Shakti

Seti GandakiAnother of Pokhara’s natural wondersthat unfailingly interest visitors is theSeti Gandaki rever. Flowing rightthough the city, the boisterous riverruns completely underground atplaces. Amazingly, at certain pointsthe river appears hardly two meterswide. But its depth is quite beyondimagination over 20 meters!Mahendra Pul, a small bridge near

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The lakes offer theperfect nature

retreat because oftheir relative

seclusion.

the old Mission Hospital, provides aperfect view of the river’s dreadfulrush and the deep gorge made byits powerful flow.

World Peace PagodaThis pagoda is situated on the top ofa hill on the southern shore of PhewaLake. It has four images of Buddhafacing in four directions. The pagodais an impressive sight and its hilltoplocation commands great view. It isa great vantage point which offersspectacular views of the Annapurnarange and Pokhara city.

Begnas Lake and Rupa LakeBegnas Lake is situated in the easternpart of Pokhara valley, at a distanceof 15 km from Pokhara. Tourists canrelax in the lodges and resort situatedalong the lakeside. Yet anotherpopular lake of Pokhara is the RupaLake. It is separated from Begnas

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Lake by a ridge known asPachabhaiya. The lakes offer theperfect nature retreat because of theirrelative seclusion and opportunitiesfor boating and fishing. There arebuses running from city centre ofPokhara to Begnas and Rupa Lakes.

Buddhist MonasteryThis famous Buddhist Monastery issituated on the eastern part ofPokhara, on a hillock, and one getsgood view of the city from here. It was built by the Buddhists fromManang in 1960’s. Manang is oneof the regions situated in the easternpart of Annapurna Circuit trek.Images of Buddha andPadmasambhava are its majorattractions. And besides this, manymonks reside here.

The hill-toplocation of the

pagodacommands a greatview of Pokhara.

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Devi’s FallDevi’s Fall also known as PataleChango is an awesome waterfalllying 2 km southwest of Pokhara.During summer and rainy season, thewaterfall takes its real form, withgushing water splashing and makingits way through the rocks.

Gupteshwor CaveJust opposite of Devi’s fall, on theother side of the road, there isGupteshwor Cave. This cave ispopular for the different natural formsmade from limestone deposits.Photography is strictly prohibitedinside the cave.

Mahendra Cave and Minstrel(Gaine) villageThis limestone Cavern is named afterKing Mahendra and is situated inBatulechaur, a village in the northernpart of Pokhara valley. Professionalminstrels known as Gaines live in thisvillage. Most Gaines earn their livingby singing Nepalese folk songs inBatulechaur.

Kahun DandaKahun Danda, situated on the northhill of Pokhara, is a good place toview the spectacular mountainranges. It is a two hour walk fromMahendra Pul, city centre ofPokhara.

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SarangkotThe village of Sarangkot (1590 m)is situated on the top of a hillock justnorth of Phewa Lake. One gets to seebeautiful views of sunrise and sunsetfrom Sarangkot as the sun splasheshues of red on the Himalayan range.On a clear day, the panoramicranges of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri,Machhapuchhre and Ganesh Himalcan be observed from here.

One gets to seebeautiful views ofsunrise and sunset

from Sarangkot as thesun splashes hues of

red on the Himalayanrange.

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Naudanda KaskikotNaudanda is situated west ofPokhara, high up on the ridge northof Phewa Lake. From Naudanda youcan start walking towards Sarangkotthrough Kaskikot. In Kaskikot, you willfind ruins of the fort of Kaski kings.From Sarangkot, you can walk downto Bindebashini temple and then driveback by local buses or taxi to yourhotel. This normally takes about 2 hrs.

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Naudanda issituated west of

Pokhara, high upon the ridge north

of Phewa Lake.

Bindebashini TempleThis is one of the oldest temples inPokhara. Legend says that whenPokhara was a part of KaskiKingdom, the main deity of thetemple, Goddess Durga, was broughtfrom India. Apart from the peace andtranquility that can be felt in thisregion, the premises of the templeoffers a good view of the Himalayaon a clear day. The temple is in thearea of the bazaar, hence, a journeyof the old bazaar can be combinedwith a visit to the temple.

Ramkrishna ToleThis area, in the old city of Pokhara,comprises of century old Newarhouses. It is being preserved as themonument area.

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Phumdi BhumdiIt is 7 km drive towards south ofPokhara to Khaire Khola and one hasto climb to Phumdi Bhumdi top fromthere. It will take about an hour toreach to the top. Once you reachthere, you can enjoy the wonderfulviews of the Himalayan Peaks.

Tibetan Refugee CampOn your visit to Gupteshwor Cave,just a few walks ahead towards theleft leads you to the Tashiling TibetanRefugee Camp. This is a must visit,specially for those who loveinteracting with Tibetans and want toknow more about their culture,language and religion. This campalso has a Tibetan BuddhistMonastery.

Apart from thepeace and

tranquility that canbe felt in this region,the premises of the

temple offers a goodview of the Himalaya

on a clear day.

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Annapurna Museum:Coming back from the Seti gorge,just a few minutes away, onewill come across the gate of PrithviNarayan Campus. The AnnapurnaRegional museum is located insidethis campus. The museum seemssmall from outside but journey insidetakes you to the display of a largecollection of butterflies, moths andinsects. Also exhibited are cementmodels of Nepal's wildlife. TheAnnapurna conservation Areaproject also has some interestingexhibits on the environmentalproblems of the Annapurna region.The museum is open daily from 9a.m.-5 p.m. but remains closed forlunch between 1 p.m. –2pm.

Pokhara Regional Museum:Though small, the museum displaysa variety of goods that captures theculture and custom of different tribesand races of Nepal. The museumremains closed on Saturdays andis open from 9 am – 5 p.m.

Mountaineering Museum:A Mountaineering Museum is underconstruction and this museum aimsat providing detail informationabout mountaineering activities inNepal.

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Moter Biking:Exploring the valley on a mobike istruly an adventure packed with thrilland excitement. You can meet thelocals and venture into all the placesin the Valley. Your requirement, thus,is a good bike and a very good map.

Mountain Flight:Mountain flight is ideal for thosewho’ve limited time and cannot affordto go for trekking. Mountain flightoffers spectacular views of theHimalaya. There are various flightcarriers that operate mountain flightduring October-May.

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Mountain flightoffers spectacular

views of theHimalaya.

Boating:Pokhara’s Phewa Lake is the mostpopular destination for travelerswanting to indulge in recreationalboating. It is the second largest lakein the Kingdom and measures roughly1.5 by 4 km. Its eastern shore, alsoknown as Lakeside or Baidam, is thecenter of tourist activity in Pokhara.Begnas and Rupa Tal are located 15km out of Pokhara at the end of aroad that turns off the Kathmanduhighway. Both these lakes offer somesplendid boating opportunities.Renting a boat for a couple of hoursand heading out to the middle or theother side of the lake bordering theforested hill, and taking a swim, canbe the highlight of a warm day. Thewater is cleaner out far from thebuffalo and washing on the edge.Boats can also be had for the wholeday, or on an hourly basis. You caneither row around yourself or hire aboatman, the former being definitelya better option.At Phewa, tourists have a choice ofpedal-driven boats, rowboats andsailboats. There is also a choicebetween fiber body sailboats andwooden ones.The best time for boating is in thewinter months between October andFebruary, when the skies are clearand the mountains cast their shadowson the lake’s tranquil waters.

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Para Gliding:Paragliding in Nepal can be a trulywonderful and fulfilling experiencefor the adventure seeking. Experienceunparalleled scenic grandeur as youshare airspace with Himalayan griffinvultures, eagles, kites and float overvillages, monasteries, temples, lakesand jungle, with a fantastic view ofthe majestic Himalaya.There are various deals for theparagliding enthusiast as well asthose checking this sport out for thefirst time. There is a three-dayintroductory course for beginners, aswell as tandem flights (where you flywith an instructor) for theinexperienced or less brave. At 6000ft you sit back in your own seat asyour qualified pilot takes you on anunforgettable journey. The take-offpoint for these flights is Sarangkot,which also offers prime views ofPhewa Tal and the mountains atsunrise and sunset (provided the skiesare clear) and the landing is by thelake.Alternatively, experienced gliders canstrike a package deal, which includesbeing picked up at Kathmanduairport on arrival and spending anight in the capital before headingfor Pokhara. At Pokhara, after a fewintroductory flights, you could takeoff on a six-day para-trek to theincredibly beautiful West.

Experienceunparalleled scenicgrandeur as you

share airspace withHimalayan griffinvultures, eagles,

kites and float overvillages,

monasteries,temples, lakes and

jungle, with afantastic view of themajestic Himalaya.

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Ultralight Aircraft:The choice of the Pokhara Valley forultra-light aircraft is appropriatechiefly because of the proximity of themountains, and the scenic lakes. Forthose who wished they could fly likebirds when growing up, this flight is amust. Leave your woes behind onearth, soar to heights, bathe in theclouds, reach out for the mountainsand kiss the azure sky as you fly acrossit. It might be lonely at the top, but

Ultra-lights can takeoff and land in afield or on a dirt

road, and in areaswhere other planes

fear to tread.

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the spectacular view from up highcertainly makes it all worth it.The company operates flights fromthe Pokhara airport beginningSeptember through June. The flightstake place from sunrise to 11 a.m.and from 3 p.m. to sunset every dayduring these months.Ultra-lights can take off and land ina field or on a dirt road, and in areaswhere other planes fear to tread. Theaircraft seats two, a passenger andthe pilot. It can fly for hours andascend the altitude of 5000 meters.Its aerodynamic quality allows it toperform long flight even with theengine shut off. It is flown by pilotswith over 6,000 flights to his or hercredit.

Fishing:Those who wish to stay by the lakecan even try his/her luck for thebiggest catch. You can hire fishingrods from the shops in the lakeside.

Golfing:Golfing is a newly introduced conceptin Pokhara. There are two world classgolf courses in Pokhara.

Pony Riding:Pony riding is a major touristattraction in this town. There areoperators organizing these rides inthe valley and the surrounding hills.

People enjoyboating, ponyriding, cycling,

fishing, shoppingand walking around

in Pokhara.

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Rafting:Several operators in Pokhara offerrafting trips along major rivers in thevicinity of the valley. The mostpopular rafting trip is along TrishuliRiver, which flows along theKathmandu-Pokhara highway.Similarly, this adventure can beenjoyed at Kali Gandaki River.

Short Hikes:Though Pokhara is a perfectrelaxation point for the trekkers, someindividuals still yearn to explorePokhara beyond that. The sightseeingtour will take about 3-4 hours butyou can extend the hours by havingan extended visit to some placesaround Pokhara Valley in terms of asimple visit or a short hike.

Mountain Biking:Mountain biking is recommended if youwish to explore urban centers of Nepalas well as countryside in the outskirts.Imagine, if you will, a ride through lushgreen rice fields, through hamlets, upand down the hillside, along the riverbank, around temples, past the street-roaming cattle, along the suspensionbridge, along the highway. Mountainbikes are available for rent by the dayor longer in many of the bicycle rentaloutlets in and around the city. If youwish to be enlightened about the culture,rhythm of village life, cool spots to visit,guided trips should be undertaken.

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Mountain bikes areavailable for rent

by the day orlonger in many ofthe bicycle rental

outlets in andaround the city

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Ghandruk:The village of Ghandruk is situatedtowards the northwest of Pokhara. Itis at an altitude of 2012 metersabove sea level and is inhabited byGurungs. Till the later half of 20th

century, the inhabitants of this villagewere heavily dependent uponemployment in the British army.The village has now been declaredheadquarters of AnnapurnaConservation Project as it is situatedalong the popular AnnapurnaSanctuary Trekking Area. The villageoffers excellent views of AnnapurnaSouth, Machhapuchhre andHimalachuli peaks. It is accessibleafter a five hours trek from Birethanti,which lies along Pokhara-Baglungroad.

Sirubari:Sirubari is a Gurung village situatedsouth of Pokhara at an altitude of1700 meters. It is an hour away frommain trekking trials and offersexcellent views of the HimalayanPeaks, including the Annapurna,Dhaulagiri and Manaslu. One of theinteresting aspects of visiting Sirubariis the opportunity to stay in the housesof the villagers as ‘Paying Guests’.Sirubari has established itself as themodel village and won PATA-GoldAward 2001 in the Heritage &Culture - Heritage category.

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Pun Hill:Pun Hill, situated at an altitude of3100 meters, is one of the mostpopular places along the Annapurnatrekking area. It can also be reachedin a two-day trek from Birethanti. Thevillage of Ghorepani is just below Punhill and is inhabited by Magars, anethnic group that has served asGorkha soldiers in British and Indianarmy for a long period.

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Pokhara is a gateway to one ofthe most famous trekking areasin the world known as the

Annapurna Region. The treks lastingfrom one day to three weeks arepossible in the area. Some of thewell-known treks are as follows:

Pokhara-Dhampus-Pokhara(two days):This trek to the scenic Gurung villageof Dhampus mesmerizes the touristsbecause of the spectacular view ofthe Himalayan ranges includig theAnapurna and Machhapuchharerange.

Pokhara-Birethanti (newbridge)-Ghandruk-Pokhara:This trek starts from Birethanti on thePokhara-Baglung road and continues

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to Ghandruk, a village beautifulvillage and one can witness excellentviews of Annapurna’s South peakfrom the village. This village is alsothe headquarter of AnnapurnaConservation Area Project(ACAP).

P o k h a r a - B i r e t h a n t i -Ghandruk-Tadopani-Pun Hill-Ulleri-Pokhara(five days):This trek also provides a marvelousview of the Himalayan ranges.

Jomsom-Muktinath TrekJomsom is the only place along theAnnapurna Circuit, which is connected

Muktinath is apilgrimage centre for

Buddhists andHindus.

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by air with Pokhara and Kathmandu.It is also the district headquarters ofMustang, which includes part of thelegendary Mustang and the MuktinathRegion. If you are heading in thesouthern direction on the AnnapurnaCircuit you must get your permitstamped here.Trekking to Muktinath begins fromJomsom. If you have time, it’s worthmaking the side trip to the village ofKagbeni, a Tibetan influencedsettlement close to Lo Monthang, thecapital of what used to be the oldprincipality of Mustang. From here,the trail climbs steeply to rejoin theregular trial before Khingar isreached. A further climb brings youto Ranipauwa, the accommodationarea of Muktinath, at 3710m.Muktinath is a pilgrimage centre forBuddhists and Hindus. The shrinesinclude a Buddhist Gompa and theVishnu temple of Jwala Mai. An oldtemple nearby shelter spring and naturalgas jets, which provide Muktinath withthe famous eternal flame.From Muktinath you can retrace yoursteps to Pokhara or simply to Jomsomand catch a flight from there.

Annapurna CircuitThe Annapurna Circuit is the mostpopular 300-kilometer trek in Nepal,around the Annapurna mountainrange in the Himalaya. This trek

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reaches an altitude of 5,300 metreson the Thorung La pass. Thepanoramic magnificence of mountainranges that can be viewed from hereinclude Annapurna (8,091m), thespectacular ice pyramid Dhaulagiri(8,167m) and Machhapuchhare(6,993m) considered to be one of themost beautiful mountains in the world.This trek follows ancient paths usedas trade routes between Nepal andTibet. These paths have longfacilitated the flow of culture andreligion. Even today, TibetanMahayana Buddhism, Hinduism andthe pre-Buddhist Bon-Po religioncoexists and interpenetrates oneanother in this region.The unusually wide range of climaticzones in this small area provides anopportunity to watch different floraand fauna, at the same time, thediverse lifestyle of people residing inthis region.

Annapurna Base CampThis 13-day trek around thespectacular Annapurna region bringsyou through scenic villages, rich oak,pine and rhododendron forest, rightinto the magical Annapurna BaseCamp. Here, you will beoverwhelmed by the close-up viewsof the giant snow peaks - AnnapurnaI (8019m), Annapurna III (7555m)Gangapurna (7454m) and

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Machhapuchhare (6999m). Thistrekking is strongly recommended forexcellent mountain vistas.The central region of AnnapurnaBase Camp boasts some of the mostbri l l iant sunsets in Nepal. Asummation of five climatic andvegetation zones along with avariety of ethnic groups has foundtheir niche in this diverse terrain.This area offers several choices oftreks; from visiting the hospitablevillage of Gandrung to viewing theexquisite vistas at Gorepaani.Besides this, it could also be trekkingthrough forests and terraces ofGanapokhara and Lamjung ormaking a pilgrimage to Muktinath,the holy city of both Buddhist andHindu faiths.

Dhaulagiri TrekA trek around Dhaulagiri (8,167m), the 7th highest peak in theworld, is considered “A pioneeringtrek around the awesomeDhaulagiri massif!”. I t ’s ademanding and remote wildernesstrek that completes a challengingcircuit around the Massif.Start your trek from Baglung acrossthe Kali Gandaki valley, crossingtwo high passes called French Pass(5,360 m) and Dhampus Pass(5,182 m), then down to Jomsomto finish.

Pokhara offerspossibilities for small

walks along thevalley, especiallyduring the winter

season.

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Pokhara offers possibilities forsmall walks along the valley,especially during the winter

season. Most popular walk is fromlakeside to the village of Pamey onthe western end of the Phewa Lake.It is also enjoyable to take a boatupto Pamey and walk back.

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Annapurna ConservationArea Project (ACAP) wasestablished in 1986. ACAP

is a non-profit, non-governmentalorganization funded by various trustsand is a part of King MahendraTrust for Nature Conservation. Itwas set up with the aim of protectingthe environment of the areaencompassing the Annapurnaregion. ACAP's primary objective isto improve local standards of living,protect the environment and dealingwith more sensitive forms of tourism.ACAP works on a number of projectsincluding forestry nurseries,introduction of woodsavingtechnologies and banning firealtogether. Annapurna conservationarea is a popular trekking region,especially for individual trekkers.

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Entry fee structure for AnnapurnaConservation Area1. SAARC country visitors

NCRs. 200/-2. Other country visitors

NCRs. 2,000/-� This entry fee structure applies only for

permits issued from the designated EntryPermit counters. An equal extra fee willbe levied for permits issued from the fieldCheck Posts.

� Permit is not required for children underthe age of 10 years.

Designated Entry Permit Counters:� Sanchaya Kosh Building Basement,

Thamel, Kathmandu� Opposite Grindlays Bank, Lakeside,

PokharaOpening Hours:Except on weekends and public holidays, thecounters are open Sunday through Friday atthe following times:� 9 am – 4:30 pm (mid Feb to mid Nov)� 9 am – 3:30 pm (mid Nov to mid Feb)

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Pokhara is one of the mosthappening incentive traveldestinations in the world – a

heady mixture of unique cultureproudly preserved, mind bogglingadventure and remarkable naturalbeauty. A place where you canrevitalize your mind, body and soulamidst scenery that is simply a knockout.Pokhara offers world–class conventionfacilities, exciting adventure products,special opportunities for sight-seeing,dining, accommodation, andshopping and much more.A perfect incentive inspires any oneto push a little harder, move a little

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faster and reach a little higher.Pokhara is the perfect place to rewardyour employees with a greatincentive.Pokhara boasts a comprehensivetourism infrastructure offering thevisitor a fine choice of hotels, fromsuper deluxe properties to budgetpriced guest houses. Restaurants, too,abound and besides those servingtypical Nepali dishes, there are othersoffering a variety of cuisine from theEast and the West.The hotels in Pokhara offer world-class conference facilities. Theseconvention centers and exhibitionhalls offer visitors and delegatesinternational class amenities.

The enchantingcityscapes and

beautiful mountainlandscape of Pokharaensure that you have

the opportunity tomix business with lots

of pleasure.

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Saturday is the official holidayin Nepal and so it impliesto Pokhara as well. Friday is a

half-holiday for some organizationssuch as schools and post offices.

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Agriculture is still the backboneof Nepal with 90% ofpopulation involved in it.

Tourism is yet another industry, whichboosts up the economy of Nepal andPokhara, in particular. This is due tothe massive inflow of tourists fromdifferent ends of world to experienceits beauty. Tourism has led toestablishment of different range ofhotels, restaurants, travel agencies,souvenir shops, bookshops and othergeneral stores, which instead haveprovided employment to hundreds ofpeople in the town. Nepal as a wholehas annual average Per CapitaIncome of US$250. Besides earningfrom the export of carpets and readymade garments, manufacturingcarpets, garments and papergenerate income for the locals.People in the villages are mainlyfarmers.

�������� Everyone here speaks andunderstands Nepali. BesidesNepali, people settled in the

commercial areas in Pokhara canspeak or understand both English andHindi.

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The Pokhara Immigration Office(Tel: 21167) is situated on theroad going to Lakeside from

Shahid Chowk (locals pronounce itas Sai Chowk), a junction with acouple of roads diverting from it. Theimmigration office stands on the rightside of the road that leads to thestarting point of Lakeside.It is 1 km away from the airport and½ km from the tourist bus stand. Soif you are free of heavy luggage, youcan take a walk to the office. It’s about2 ½ km from the Lakeside. It remainsclosed on Saturdays.

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Nepal Rastra Bank, CentralBank of Nepal, has grantedofficial authorization to

many foreign exchange counters inand around Lakeside.The other bigger banks to encash orexchange your money are NepalGrindlays Bank (Tel: 20102) andNabil Bank (32268,69) in Lakeside.Besides these banks, there are manyauthorized foreign exchangecounters. There are severalrestaurants, hotels and travelagencies who are authorized too, toprocess foreign exchange.US dollar is the most acceptablemode of currency. Most travel andtrekking agencies, hotels, restaurants,shops price their product either inNepali currency or in US dollars.

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One can easily get allleading national and international newspapers and

magazines in any bookshop inPokhara. The Rising Nepal and TheKathmandu Post are major dailiesEnglish newspapers of Nepal.Like Kathmandu, Pokhara too has arich collection of books, available invarious bookshops. Books on travel,cooking, yoga and meditation, andguidebooks, novels, comics areavailable in the town. Besides these,there are language books, maps,and postcards, to let your dearonesknow where you are and how youare doing. Books are priced atmoderate rates according to theirquality and quantity.

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�����������You can enjoy the facilities of

e-mail and Internet in Pokhara.There are various cybercafes

in and around Lakeside. If you find asignboard reading “e-mail andInternet facility available here” thenjust hop in and connect to the world.Most cybercafes also have the ISTD(International Standard Trunk Dialing)and STD facility.

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������������The main post office of Pokhara

is situated in the downtown ofPokhara, locally known as

“Mahendrapool” (about 3 kms fromLakeside). If you don’t feel like goingupto Mahendrapool, you can easilybuy a stamp from any bookshop. Theonly thing that you have to do is paya few rupees extra on each stampand they will post it for you.

��������The seasons here are divided as

spring i.e. from March-May,summer from June- August,

autumn from September-Novemberand winter from December-February.One can bring light cotton clothesduring spring and summer, since it’sthe month of maximum heat andmonsoon showers. A rainwear is amust, but you can always buy onehere incase you forget. During,autumn and winter it is advisable tocarry along warm thick clothes, be ita woolen or a down jacket. Even inwinters a rainwear is a must butexpect to have a warm sunny day inwinter.

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Tourist Map of PokharaMAHENDRA CAVE

LAMACHUR

BATULE CHAURGANDAKI B.

SCHOOL

ENGINEERING

CAMPUS

SETI RIVERBRITISH GORKHA

DEEP

SIMPANI

PENSION CAMP

SINGH PUL RHALAM KHOLA

TO BAGLUNG

TO SARANGKOT BAGBAZAR

NAYATOL

1.

PN CAMPUS& MUSEUM

BAGAR

TO RYALECHAURBINDHYABASINI

TEMPLE

BHAIRAB

MOHARIYA TOL

KASAI TOL

DAMAI TOL

BHIMSEN TOL

TERSAPATI

RAM KRISHNA TOL

GAIRA PATAN

TO KAHUNDANDA

GANESH TOL

OLD BAZARAREA

CHIPLE DHUNGA

MAHENDRA PUL

RAMGHAT

NAYA BAZARMALE PATAN

BAUDHAMONASTERY

KUNDAHARHOSPITAL AREA

BAGALE TOL

NEWROADSIMAL CHAUR

CAMPING SITE

BULAD KHOLA

BAIDAM

PHEWA LAKE

BARAHI

TEMPLELAKE.SIDEAREA

SIRJANACHOWK

MUSEUMMEDICAL CAMPUS

PRITHWI CHOWKPEACE GROVE BHADRAKALI

TEMPLE

SCHOOL KUNDDAHARA

INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

TO KATHMANDU

STADIUM

AMAR SINGH CHOWK

BUS STOPTOURISM OFFICEFIKE KHOLA

RATAN CHOWK

PARDIIMMIGRATION

OFFICE

CAMPSITE AREAAirport

SETI RIVER S.CHILDREN

VILLAGEINDIAN

PENSION

CAMP

MUSTANG CHOW

PATALE

CHHANGO

(FALL)TO BHAIRAHAWA

TIBETAN R.

CAMP

TO NUWAKOT

EYE HOSPITAL GREENPASTURE

FORESTRYCAMPUS PROPOSED

NEW AIRPORT

TUTUNGA

VIEWPOINT

DHUNGE

SANGU

FUSRE KHOLA

O. S.