my next stop

Nepal

Pokhara (Phewa Lake)

Lakeside town under the Annapurnas, with paragliding, rowing boats and cafes

LakesMountainsBackpacker

Best time to visit Pokhara (Phewa Lake)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: March and October to December
  • Shoulder: January to February, April to May and September, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: June to August

Planning a specific month? MarchOctoberNovemberDecember

Pokhara (Phewa Lake) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Clear Machhapuchhre views most mornings and dry paragliding days; nights get cold, and the street festival fills Lakeside in late Dec.

Summer March to May Prime time

Mar brings rhododendrons and good flying weather; by Apr and May haze often hides the peaks and the humidity builds.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Pokhara is one of the wettest places in Nepal: heavy daily rain, cloud on the peaks and paragliding mostly stops in Jul and Aug.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Peak season: the sharp Annapurna skyline over the lake, prime paragliding from Sarangkot and treks setting off every morning.

What Pokhara (Phewa Lake) is actually like

Lakeside strip of cafes, bakeries and live music bars; trekkers, paragliders and Indian families row boats at sunset.

Things to do in Pokhara

The local places worth your time in and around Pokhara, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Tal Barahi Temple

    Temple · 1 km out

    Two-tiered pagoda on an island in Phewa, reached by a short rowing boat ride from Lakeside; busiest on Saturdays.

  • Sarangkot

    Viewpoint · 4 km out

    Ridge village for sunrise over Annapurna and Machhapuchhre, and the launch site for tandem paragliding flights.

  • World Peace Pagoda

    Shrine · 1 km out

    White Japanese-built stupa on the ridge across the lake; take a boat over and climb about 45 min through forest.

  • Davis Falls

    Waterfall · 3 km out

    Patale Chhango, where the Pardi Khola plunges into an underground tunnel; loudest after the rains, small entry fee.

  • Gupteshwar Mahadev Cave

    Cave · 3 km out

    Cave shrine across the road from Davis Falls, with a Shiva lingam and a passage that ends behind the falling water.

  • International Mountain Museum

    Museum · 4 km out

    Big museum on Himalayan peaks, famous climbers and mountain peoples, in a hall facing the Annapurnas; 2 h is enough.

  • Begnas Lake

    Lake · 14 km out

    Quieter second lake east of the city, with rowing boats, fish lunches and terraced paddy around the shore.

  • Mahendra Cave

    Cave · 7 km out

    Limestone cave with stalactites and a lit walkway, next door to the Bat Cave in Batulechaur; 30 min by taxi.

Getting to Pokhara (Phewa Lake)

Fly Kathmandu to Pokhara in about 25 min or take a 7 h tourist bus; from the Sunauli border it is about 8 h by road.

Practical ways in: flightroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
3 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Made for solo travellers
Altitude
795 m
Country
Nepal
Coordinates
28.2117, 83.9488

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Pokhara (Phewa Lake)?

March and October to December is peak season in Pokhara (Phewa Lake). January to February, April to May and September is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to August. Peak season: the sharp Annapurna skyline over the lake, prime paragliding from Sarangkot and treks setting off every morning.

How many days do you need in Pokhara (Phewa Lake)?

3 days is the usual stay. Lakeside strip of cafes, bakeries and live music bars; trekkers, paragliders and Indian families row boats at sunset.

How do you get to Pokhara (Phewa Lake)?

Fly Kathmandu to Pokhara in about 25 min or take a 7 h tourist bus; from the Sunauli border it is about 8 h by road. Practical ways in: flight and road.

Is Pokhara (Phewa Lake) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Made for solo travellers.

Is there a festival in Pokhara (Phewa Lake)?

Pokhara Street Festival (Dec). Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Pokhara?

Tal Barahi Temple, Sarangkot, World Peace Pagoda, Davis Falls, Gupteshwar Mahadev Cave and International Mountain Museum, and more. Two-tiered pagoda on an island in Phewa, reached by a short rowing boat ride from Lakeside; busiest on Saturdays.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Nepal

All 24 destinations in Nepal