Places to visit in Pokhara, with the time from Lakeside
40 sights by area, with the drive from Lakeside.
Pokhara is a valley of lakes, caves and viewpoints under the Annapurnas. Here are 40 places worth your time, grouped by area, with the drive from Lakeside so you can see what fits in a day: Sarangkot for the sunrise, the World Peace Pagoda, Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Cave, the Old Bazaar and Bindhyabasini temple, the caves north of town, and Begnas and Rupa lakes.
Lakeside and Phewa Lake
The lake shore where most hotels are: boats, the island temple, cafes and evening walks.
Phewa Lake and Tal Barahi temple
The island temple of the goddess Barahi; locals come with offerings, and the views are from the water.
The south: falls, caves and the Peace Pagoda
The ridge across the lake and the Pardi side of town.
Damside and the Phewa dam
The dam at the foot of Phewa Lake, with the Pagoda hill above and the lake laid out behind you; a 15-minute stop on the road south.
Gupteshwor Cave
A cave temple to Shiva; the inner passage ends under Davis Falls.
Davis Falls
The Pardi river drops into a sinkhole; loudest after the monsoon.
Tashiling Tibetan settlement
The southern Tibetan settlement next to Davis Falls: a small gompa and craft stalls.
International Mountain Museum
The story of the Himalaya and the people who climb it: gear from the first ascents, culture, geology.
World Peace Pagoda
The white stupa above the lake, with Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre across the valley.
Nirmal Pokhari village
A village hill south of the lake where all three lakes and the whole valley are in view.
Pumdi Bhumdi village
Village lanes on the Peace Pagoda ridge, with a local family for lunch.
Pumdikot Shiva statue
The 51-foot Shiva above the lake, with the Peace Pagoda below and the Annapurnas behind.
Old Pokhara
The Old Bazaar, the oldest temples and the museums.
Bindhyabasini temple
Pokhara's oldest temple, on a hill in the Old Bazaar; mornings are busiest with worshippers.
Pokhara Regional Museum
The Gurung, Thakali and Tharu peoples of western Nepal in costumes, tools and photos.
Gurkha Memorial Museum
Two hundred years of Gurkha soldiers, told through uniforms, medals and photographs.
Annapurna Natural History Museum
Butterflies, birds and the wildlife of the Annapurna region, on the campus.
Bhadrakali temple
A hilltop temple above the Seti with views over the city.
Seti River gorge
The milky Seti disappears into a gorge only a few metres wide under the city.
North of town: caves and villages
Limestone caves and the villages of Batulechaur and Lamachaur.
Matepani Gumba
A Buddhist monastery on a wooded hill, with murals and a view of the valley.
Mahendra Cave
Stalactites and a Shiva shrine in a limestone cave north of town.
Bat Cave
A short crawl into a cave roof full of horseshoe bats; bring a torch.
Gharmi Danda viewpoint, Lamachaur
A short climb above Lamachaur: the whole valley and the Annapurnas, with hardly anyone there.
Armala and Bhalam villages
Rice terraces and village lanes on the northern edge of the valley, Machhapuchhre straight ahead on a clear morning.
Kahun Danda viewpoint
A quieter sunrise hill east of town: Machhapuchhre close, Manaslu far to the east, the valley waking up.
Ghachok Gurung village
A Gurung village north of town where the Mardi Khola comes out of the hills: a picnic by the river under Machhapuchhre.
Sarangkot and the northern ridge
The famous sunrise viewpoint and the ridges above it.
Annapurna Cable Car (Sedi)
Ten minutes up from Sedi to the Sarangkot ridge, the lake shrinking below you.
Methlang hill and village
Farms and a small Gurung village on a rock hill, with Machhapuchhre straight ahead.
Sarangkot viewpoint
From the tower, first light moves along Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre while Phewa Lake is still dark below.
Kaskikot hilltop
The old Kaski fort and temple on the ridge above Sarangkot, with wide mountain views.
Naudanda viewpoint
A roadside ridge with Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre in one line.
Begnas, Rupa and the eastern lakes
Quieter lakes, forest and rice terraces about 35 minutes east.
Dipang and the small lakes of Lekhnath
A small reed-fringed lake east of town, boats paddled by local families: quiet water, ducks, the Begnas hills around.
Pachbhaiya Zoological Park
A small zoo and wildlife rescue centre near Begnas: leopard, deer, birds.
Begnas Lake
The calmer lake: forest on one side, rice terraces on the other, and fishermen in dugout boats.
Thulakot viewpoint
The Begnas side of the valley: two lakes, rice terraces and the eastern Annapurnas.
Rupa Lake
The third lake, shallow and full of birds, with almost no visitors.
Rupakot viewpoint
The ridge above Rupa Lake: both lakes below and Annapurna to Manaslu behind.
The west: valleys, villages and trailheads
Pame, the Tibetan settlement of Tashi Palkhel and the start of the treks.
Pame valley
Flat lanes through rice fields at the quiet end of the lake.
Tashi Palkhel Tibetan settlement
The monastery, the carpet looms and the handicraft stalls of the Tibetan community in the north of town.
Astam village
Terraces, a working farm and a village that looks straight at Annapurna South.
Australian Camp (from Kande)
Up from Kande to a meadow facing Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre, down through Dhampus.
Dhampus village
A Gurung village of stone houses on a ridge, with the Annapurnas filling the north.
Lwang Ghalel tea village
A Gurung village with its own organic tea garden, two hours from town.
See them on a sightseeing tour
| Trip | Carup to 4 people | SUV / jeepup to 6 people | Tourist van10 to 15 people | Mini bus20 to 30 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pokhara half-day city tour3 hours | NPR 3,600 | NPR 4,800 | NPR 6,000 | NPR 8,400 |
| Pokhara full-day city tour6 hours | NPR 5,400 | NPR 7,200 | NPR 9,000 | NPR 15,600 |
| Sarangkot, Pumdikot, Stupa & ValleyFull day | NPR 9,600 | NPR 13,200 | NPR 15,600 | NPR 26,400 |
| Pumdikot, Stupa, Devi's Fall & Gupteshwor CaveSightseeing | NPR 4,800 | NPR 7,200 | NPR 9,000 | NPR 16,800 |
| Begnas LakeLake excursion | NPR 3,600 | NPR 4,800 | NPR 6,000 | NPR 10,800 |
Guide prices in Nepali rupees, per vehicle with a driver, VAT excluded. We confirm the final price in writing before you book. All 36 routes and prices
Or follow one of our day-by-day itineraries, or choose from 50 things to do in Pokhara.
Further out: day trips and overnights
- Bandipur: A Newar hill town of old brick houses, about 2.5 to 3 hours east. Car and jeep prices
- Ghandruk: The Gurung village facing Annapurna South, about 3 hours by jeep. Car and jeep prices
- Kusma: Nepal’s long suspension bridges over the Kali Gandaki, and the cliff bungee. Car and jeep prices
- Chitwan: Jungle safari and rhinos, about 4 to 5 hours south. Car and jeep prices
- Lumbini: The birthplace of the Buddha, about 6 to 7 hours south. Car and jeep prices
Questions people ask
What are the main tourist places in Pokhara?
Phewa Lake and Tal Barahi temple, Sarangkot (sunrise), the World Peace Pagoda, Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Cave, the International Mountain Museum, Bindhyabasini temple and the Old Bazaar, Mahendra Cave and Bat Cave, and Begnas and Rupa lakes.
Which places can we visit near Lakeside?
Phewa Lake, Tal Barahi temple and the lakeside walk are at Lakeside itself. Damside is about 10 minutes away, Gupteshwor Cave and Davis Falls about 18, the Mountain Museum about 18 and the Peace Pagoda about 24 minutes by car.
Can we see Pokhara in one day?
Yes: Sarangkot sunrise, Gupteshwor Cave and Davis Falls, the Peace Pagoda and a boat on Phewa. See the 1-day itinerary.
What is there to do in Pokhara in the evening?
A sunset boat on Phewa, the lakeside walk and its cafes, a cultural dance show with dinner, and in late December the Pokhara Street Festival. See things to do.
How far is Sarangkot from Lakeside?
About 37 minutes by car up to the viewpoint; for the sunrise you leave Lakeside around 5 in the morning in October.