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Vashi2Panvel.com: Navi Mumbai: Sept 1: Pokhara is Nepal’s second-most widely visited destination after Kathmandu. You may think that’s a perfect reason to give the town a miss; but despite the crowds in the peak season, Pokhara should retain its place on your itinerary. Besides the glorious views of Machhapuchhare and the still waters of Phewa Lake, Pokhara is also the ideal starting point for a Himalayan trek or a white-water rafting expedition. If that sounds too much like hard work, just lie back and enjoy the crisp clear air of the town itself. The place is so pretty that you don’t really have to work at being romantic.

Eye candy

Phewa Tal/Phewa Lake is the focus of Pokhara, along with Mount Machhapuchhare. While in Pokhara, you will find that you are never too far away from a glimpse of either. Phewa is the second-largest lake in Nepal. The most stunning view from here is the reflection of surrounding mountains in the still waters of the lake. And where there’s a lake, can romance be far behind? Take a walk to the lake in the evening and just sit quietly by the banks, make a wish and throw a coin into the blue waters and watch the Annapurna range bear witness to your idiosyncrasies.

Which brings us to Machhapuchhare or the fishtail mountain, the most prominent Himalayan peak that you can see from Pokhara. The name comes from the mountain's twin peaks, which make the summit appear like a fishtail; but since only one peak is visible from Pokhara, the resemblance will not be so stark. The mountain is sacred to locals and views from the town are most spectacular at sunrise and sunset. You can also catch glimpses of other mountain peaks from Pokhara, particularly the five Annapurna peaks, including Annapurna I to IV and Annapurna South. Sometimes, clouds obscure the mountains to a great extent.

While you’re near the lake, visit the Barahi Temple not just for the temple but for the ride that gets you to it. It’s an island shrine to goddess Barahi on the Phewa lake and you have to take a boat to get there. The double-roofed temple here is modern, the enclosure clean and it makes for a good picnic spot as well, but choose a spot well away from the temple, since animal sacrifices do happen there.

Devi Falls: Waterfalls may not interest you; you’ve seen many in your lifetime. But if you give this one a miss, you just might regret it. The falls don’t fall from a great height and is more of a crashing, noisy, violent, topsy-turvy river that makes its way between huge boulders, sometimes dropping from a height of 15-feet and above. These falls move underground briefly and then come up again. Locals also call it Devis' or David's falls, in memory of a trekker who is said to have vanished into the falls. We suggest you don’t give this a miss.

Pokhara Museum: Come here only if you have nothing else to do. It displays Nepali customs, rites, costumes and crafts and is a musty and rather boring place. But like we said, if you really have nothing to do and want a bit of culture curry, please make yourself at home.

World Peace Pagoda: Is a massive Buddhist pagoda situated on the southern shore of the lake. This makes for a good short trek and you are rewarded with good views of the mountains and of Pokhara. You can do the trek in four hours or set out leisurely after breakfast and be back in your hotel for lunch. The pagoda is around 40m tall, and from here, you get good views of Dhaulagiri to the far left. In the middle you can see the Annapurna massif, including Machhapuchhare and to the right are Manaslu, Himachali and Baudha. A tiny reminder – this is a four-hour trek.

The Royal Palace: Look but don’t come close. The palace of the Ratna Mandir is the winter residence of the royal family, and is off-limits to visitors. But you can catch a glimpse of the palace from the lake. If you see a guide signalling you, he wants you to go away, not come close.

Begnas Lake and Rupa Lake: These are 15 km to the southeast from Pokhara, along a road that turns north from the highway to Kathmandu. Few travellers venture here, so you can be assured of a great deal of privacy. This is a good spot for a picnic lunch and you can try your hand at angling as well. Come here for the solitude, for the absolute peace and quiet.
Mahendra Gufa: This limestone cave is said to have been discovered accidentally in 1950. It is a two-hour walk from Pokhara and you can see stalagmites and stalactites here. Carry a torch along to explore the cave's chalky innards.

Sarangkot: This is at an altitude of 1,592m and makes for a good day trek. You can also choose to start your climb in the evening, stay overnight at Sarangkot, and then walk down the next day. The views of the surrounding peaks are superb, especially at dawn.
Tibetan settlements: There are a number of Tibetan settlements around Pokhara, dating from the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950. These include Tashi Palkhel, Tashiling and Paljorling.


Icing on the cake

1. A long cuddle in a secluded spot by the Phewa lake

2. Tea at sunrise with the Annapurna glistening as a backdrop

3. Light, fragrant, tasty Japanese cuisine at one of the lakeside cafes.

4. A day-out at Begnas lake

Romantic quotient

9/10. Pokhara is exquisitely pretty. In fact it is one of those places which leaves you wondering if you had any complaints at all.

Luckily there isn’t much to do, which means you can enjoy some peace and romance under a rain tree without a niggling thought that you should be doing something.

Need to stay

Two days. One day to see everything there is to see, which means it’ll take all of half a day and so you get a day and a half for R & R.

Money
Don’t worry. Pokhara is for both the well-heeled and the budget traveller. But don’t chose a fleabag, you will most certainly get fleas. And do remember that the Indian rupee is stronger, so have fun when you convert.


Meeta Datta