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MASA
Central Lakeside, Pokhara
asia

PokharaTravel Guide

Nepal4 stories

Nepal's lakeside adventure capital sits beneath the Annapurna range, trading Kathmandu's dust for mountain reflections, paragliders and trailheads.

Is Pokhara right for you?

When to come

October to November and March to April

Around 31°C by day in June, 20°C in January — recorded at the local weather station.

What it costs

Cheap by regional standards — eating, sleeping and moving around all cost little.

What we've planned, and who for

We have a full day here planned hour by hour. Longer stays are covered by subject rather than by route.

Pokhara is inKind to a budgetSnow and mountains
When to go
January: around 20 degrees by day, 7 at night, 22 millimetres of rain, dry.
February: around 23 degrees by day, 10 at night, 35 millimetres of rain, some rain.
March: around 27 degrees by day, 13 at night, 64 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
April: around 30 degrees by day, 16 at night, 142 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
May: around 30 degrees by day, 19 at night, 355 millimetres of rain, very wet.
June: around 31 degrees by day, 21 at night, 648 millimetres of rain, very wet.
July: around 30 degrees by day, 22 at night, 941 millimetres of rain, very wet.
August: around 31 degrees by day, 22 at night, 839 millimetres of rain, very wet.
September: around 30 degrees by day, 21 at night, 635 millimetres of rain, very wet.
October: around 28 degrees by day, 17 at night, 159 millimetres of rain, very wet. We recommend this month.
November: around 24 degrees by day, 12 at night, 17 millimetres of rain, dry. We recommend this month.
December: around 21 degrees by day, 8 at night, 12 millimetres of rain, dry.
Cold to hot, by dayDry to wetWhen we would go

October to November and March to April

Average daily highs, recorded at Pokhara Airport (domestic), 827 m, 1991-2020 normals.

Where this comes from

World Meteorological Organization; Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (via Wikipedia 'Pokhara')

Budget level

Budget

Typical cost profile for visitors

Combine it with
  • Kathmandu140 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in March, April, October

  • Varanasi, India340 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in March, October, November

  • Agra, India600 km

    half a day's travel · both good in March, October, November · a different price level (mixed)

  • Delhi, India660 km

    a full travel day · both good in March, October, November · a different price level (mixed)

Plan itWhere to stay in Pokharaad · Booking.comTours and tickets
On the map

Finding Pokhara

Open in Google Maps Larger map
The stories

Reading Pokhara

The two-tiered pagoda of Tal Barahi temple on its island in Phewa Lake, its carved eaves and red-and-white shrine walls close up, with brass guardian lions at the steps and the wooded far shore beyond the water
01
The List

Pokhara for Culture Lovers: 8 Places That Tell Its Story

Beyond the paragliders and the trekking shops, Pokhara holds museums, temples and settlements that explain the Annapurna region’s peoples. Eight cultural stops, ranked.

Nepal · 2 min
The Lakeside strip in Pokhara after dark, a row of open-fronted restaurants glowing with string lights and green signboards along an unlit road, one figure crossing between the tables
02
Itineraries

Sarangkot Sunrise to Lakeside Midnight: One Full Day in Pokhara

A single day in Nepal’s lake city, from a pre-dawn ridge drive with the Annapurnas turning gold to a slow evening on the Phewa waterfront.

Nepal · 2 min
A quiet stretch of lake water at Pokhara framed by overhanging green branches, a single small boat far out on the surface and sunbeams breaking through cloud over the hills opposite
03
Stays

Where to Stay in Pokhara: The Areas to Book, and the Ones to Skip

Lakeside is not one neighbourhood but several, and the difference between its north and south ends is the difference between birdsong and a nightly covers band. A frank guide.

Nepal · 2 min
Strings of colourful prayer flags fluttering before the snow-capped fishtail summit of Machhapuchhre in the Annapurna range
04
The List

Pokhara, Ranked: The Experiences You Cannot Miss

Lake, pagoda, sunrise, sky — Pokhara compresses the Himalaya into one easygoing lakeside town. Here are its essential experiences, in order.

Nepal · 2 min
In pictures

Pokhara, framed

The white dome of the World Peace Pagoda above Pokhara, its gilded Buddha niche and pinnacle catching low warm light at the top of a broad flight of steps.
Photo: Prasesh Shiwakoti (Lomash) / Unsplash
The counter of a small Nepali eatery, its handwritten board listing momo, thukpa, chow mein and samosa with rupee prices, and a customer waiting to order.
Photo: Dipesh Manandhar / Unsplash
Begnas Lake, Pokhara
Photo: Anushka Sharma / Unsplash
Begnas Lake, Pokhara
Photo: Kumud Nakarmi / Unsplash
Our picks

What we'd do in Pokhara

See and do

Where to stay

Before you go

Practical essentials for Nepal

Money

Nepalese rupee (NPR)

Language

Nepali; English is widely used in Kathmandu, Pokhara and the trekking trade.

Power

Type C/D/M, 230V 50Hz

Getting around

Domestic flights and long-distance buses link Kathmandu and Pokhara; in town it is taxis, ride-hailing apps and hired cars, and there is no metro or transit card.

Tipping

Customary in tourism — about 10% in restaurants without a service charge, and a set tip for trekking guides and porters at the end of the trip.

Tap water

Tap water is not safe to drink — use bottled, boiled or properly filtered water.

Driving

Left-hand side; the 1968 International Driving Permit is required alongside your national licence, and the 1949 version is no longer accepted.

Emergency

100 police, 102 ambulance, 101 fire (112 from a mobile)

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

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