|
Clearly the
most stunning of Pokhara's
sights is the spectacular
panorama of the Annapurna range
which forms its backdrop.
Stretching from east to west,
the Annapurna massif includes
Annapurna I to IV and Annapurna
South. Although the highest
among them is Annapurna I (8,091
m), it is Machhapuchhre which
dominates all others in this
neighborhood. Boastfully
levitating in the skyline, the
fish-tailed pinnacle is the
archetypal snow-capped,
needle-pointed mountain. If you
want to see the mountains from
close up, Everest Air offers a
mountain flight from Pokhara
that takes you on an aerial
sightseeing tour of the western
Himalaya.
Phewa
Lake
Phewa Lake, the second largest
lake in the Kingdom, is the
center of all attraction in
Pokhara. It is the largest and
most enchanting of the three
lakes that add to the
resplendence of Pokhara. Here,
one can sail or row a hired boat
across to the water or visit the
island temple in its middle. The
eastern shore, popularly known
as lakeside or Baidam, is the
favorite home base for
travellers and is where most of
the hotels, restaurants and
handicraft shops are located.
Barahi
Temple
The Barahi temple is the most
important monument in Pokhara,
Built almost in the center of
Phewa Lake, this two-storied
pagoda is dedicated to the boar
manifestation of Ajima, the
protectress deity representing
the female force Shakti.
Devotees can be seen, especially
on Saturdays, carrying male
animals and fowl across the lake
to be sacrificed to the deity.
Seti
Gandaki
Another of Pokhara's natural
wonders that unfailingly
interests visitors is the Seti
Gan- daki river. Flowing right
through the city, the boisterous
river runs completely
underground at places.
Amazingly, at certain points the
river appears hardly two meters
wide. But its depth is quite
beyond imagination - over 20
meters! Mahendra Pul, a small
bridge near the old Mission
Hospital, provides a perfect
view of the rivers's dreadful
rush and the deep gorge made by
its powerful flow.
Devi's
Fall
Locally known as the Patale
Chhango (Hell's Fall). Devi's
Fall (also known as Devin's and
David's) is a lovely waterfall
lying about two km south-west of
the Pokhara airport on the
Siddhartha Highway. Legend has
it that a trekker (Devin,
David..) was washed away by the
Pardi Khola and mysteriously dis
appeared down into an
underground passage beneath the
fall.
Mahendra Cave
Another of nature's wonders in
Pokhara is the Mahendra Gupha.
This large limestone cave is
locally known as the House of
Bats, an apt name for it. A
two-hour walk to the north of
Pokhara, it is best to bring
your own torch to see the
stalactites and stalagmites, as
well as the local winged
residents.
The
Old Bazaar
Pokhara's traditional bazaar is
colorful and so are its
ethnically diverse traders.
Located about four km from
Lakeside, the market's original
charm is alive and well. This
area strewn with shops selling
commodities from edibles and
cloth to cosmetics and gold is a
pleasant and shady spot to
stroll around.
The old bazaar is also home to
one of Pokhara' s most important
shrines. Locally called the
Bindhyabasini Mandir, this white
dome-like structure dominates a
spacious stone-paved courtyard
built atop a shady hillock. It
is dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati,
yet another manifestation of
Shakti. The park-like grounds
offer a fine picnic area, and on
Saturdays and Tuesdays when
devotees flock there to offer
sacrifices, it takes on a
festive local flavor.
Surrounding Areas
Pokhara is the starting and/or
finishing point for some of the
most popular treks including the
Annapurna Circuit and the Jomsom
Trek. It also offers a number of
short treks for those who cannot
opt for long, challenging ones.
The most popular destination
among them is Sarailgkot (1592
m), a former Kaski fort lying
atop a hill to the west of
Pokhara. The panoramic view of
the Himalaya seen from this
point is superb. Kahundanda,
Naudanda, Ghandrung, Ghorepani,
and Ghalchok are other favorite
destinations around Pokhara.
The
Pokhara Museum
The Pokhara Museum, located
between the bus stop and
Mahendra Pul, reflects the
ethnic mosaic of western Nepal.
The lifestyles and history of
ethnic groups such as the Gurung,
Thakali and the Tharu are
attractively displayed through
models, photographs and arti-
facts. One major attraction is a
display highlighting the
newly-discovered remains of an
8000-year-old settlement in
Mustang. Open daily, except
Tuesdays and holidays, from 10
am to 5 pm.
The
Annapurna Regional Museum
Also known as the Natural
History Museum, is another
interesting visit in Pokhara.
Run by the Annapuma Conservation
Area Project (ACAP), the museum
has an exceptional collection of
butterflies, insects, birds and
models of wildlife found in the
area. It is located at Prithvi
Narayan Campus east of the old
bazaar. It is open daily except
Saturdays and holidays from 9 am
to 5 pm.
|
