POKHARA

situated at the lap of the panoramic Annapurna Hinalayas, Pokhara is about 827masl and 198km west from Katmandu, an 8 hr terrifying but scenic bus ride along the narrow supposedly 2-way road along the cliff edge or 40min by plane.. Pokhara is the next destination after Katmandu for many adventure and pleasure trips. It is a city close to 200,000 inhabitants. Pokhara is located northwestern corner of the Pokhara Valley which is the widening of the Seti Gandaki valley. Surrounded by beautiful snow capped mountains, with a magnificent lake of crystal clear pure Himalayan water, all year round pleasing weather. At present the Khas, Gurung and Magars form the dominant community.Places of interest to visit in Pokhara are usually the Phewa Lake, Devis Fall , Mahendra Cave, Seti Gandaki/Gorge and Annapurna Range.

Phewa Lake 1.5 km long offers an excellent view of the mountains.Most of the hotels and guesthouses are located along this lake. The reflection of the sunlight from the Fish-Tail or Machapuchare is always a breathtaking site.

Pokhara is the "gateway" to most treks in Annapurna. This is one little town I will want to revisit, away from the hustle & bustle polluted city of Katmandu.

pic taken at sunset, while waiting for the best cheese pizza in the world !

if you cant reach the Everest Base Camp, dun worry. There's always the Pizza Base Camp !

at Phewa Lake

taking pictures at sunset over Phewa Lake

at Gauri Shankar, very quaint cosy little boutique guesthouse...highly recommended, at US8 - 15. Due to its popularity among their regular guests, it is advisable to book online in advance before you arrive in Pokhara.

Definitely in our agenda next trip....

at the rooftop of Gauri Shankar.

Streets of Pokhara.

Shop-till-u-drop...we have walked up & down this same one & only street at least 10 times within a day !

If you ask me, i'd say do all your shopping in Pokhara. You can get almost everything you want especially the handicrafts, Nepalese cotton clothings and supposedly "yak" wool here at even a cheaper price than Katmandu city. And to me, it is a much calmer and stressless ambience to shop here as compared to the City. Definitely no cars honking !

And if you shopping for "happy pants" and dont know where to find them , come to us...we are the experts !

One fine evening after the trek, Tuts & letch were strolling down street of Pokhara, when suddenly spotted some tired looking diners at a cafe....and Guess Wot !?...its our "Super Women" & their team from the Annapurna Base Camp trek.......screaming ourselves crazy to see each other after 10 days apart in the mountains....and so relief and overwhelmed to see each other alive !!! It was a very happy reunion indeed and definitely a noisy one too !

CHEERS !! ... We all survived !

Cafes & Restaurants are abundance along Lake Phewa. It is so much easier to look for Italian food than local Nepali food. Prices are very reasonable and coffee is everywhere. We had great lasagna and pizza at Moondance Cafe finished with Cuppacino and hot apple crumble and ice cream !! For the local Newari most popular "dall baht" ( someone pls correct my spelling here ), you can find "Takali Kitchen" in usually narrow alleyways leading to a eating place, usually quite bare in decor or design but the food is surprisingly very tasty. For a person who dont take much rice at home, I simply love the white "Bismati" rice ! Its so so so fluffy and tasty even as it is.