Sunday, September 26, 2010

How to reach Base Camp Resort



Let us pick you up at airport or the bus stop by car. It is 5 minutes drive from airport and walking distance to the tourist bus stop in Pokhara. Just come by the lakeside, find us and be our guest.

How to reach Pokhara



Pokhara, 200 km west of Kathmandu, can be reached either with flight (30 minutes) or 5 hours car/bus ride from Kathmandu. The flight to Pokhara itself is a semi-mountain flight and a wonderful bird's view of central Nepal. The enjoyable drive on the bank of river passes through small towns and village is fantastic to observe the life in Nepal.

Moonlight Hotel Resort , pokhara





Moonlight Resort is located at the eastern shore of the Phewa Lake in Pokhara, popularly known as LAKESIDE. The Resort is right in the midst of the Lakeside, the favourite home base of travelers and is the most famous tourist district of Nepal. The entrance of the resort faces the lake and is on the main lake road. The resorts location has been its asset and all guests are satisfied with the proximity to the lake side and other sight seeing destinations of Pokhara.

Pokhara View Garden



Situated on the banks of Lake Phewa Tal and underneath the fish tailed summit of Machhapuchhre, Pokhara View Garden Hotel is located on Peace Street, a serene, residential area. This region is notable for being a starting point for trekking and rafting expeditions. Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu is approximately 210 kilometers southeast. The four story property features panoramic views of the Himalaya Mountains. When guests are not out on expeditions, they will find an array of services offered at Pokhara View Garden Hotel. Complimentary amenities include airport transportation (from nearby Pokhara Airport) and wireless Internet access. An on site restaurant serves authentic Nepalese, Indian and Chinese cuisine. The hotel also features 24 hour room service. Guestrooms are brightly decorated with Pokhareli furnishings. Typical offerings include balconies, cable television and complimentary high speed Internet. Amid the scenic splendor of Nepal, Pokhara View Garden Hotel delivers amenable facilities in a tranquil environment. Please Note: The hotel provides complimentary airport transport. Guests are requested to contact the hotel in advance to aprise flight.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Must visit place in Pokhara





Sara - by the Fewa lake. And now... As I sit by the lake, the soft breeze touches me, ripples form in the lake that I sit close to. Some customers talk about waste of time and I'm all ears because the term 'samay' in Nepali means 'time'. Every time they say "Samay", the conversation brings me back from my reverie because I want to know if they feel the same way about the place - if they are talking about the place I've fallen in love with. Strange but I find Samay so personal. The time I've spent here happens.

Pokhara, Nepal - The Himalayan Beauty


















Our trip to Pokhara, Nepal's second city, began bright and early at the domestic flight terminal of Kathmandu Airport. It was the domain of smaller turboprop aircraft, owned by private airlines with names such as Sita Air, Agni Airlines, Buddha Air, and the gloriously-named Yeti Airlines. Our flight was with Buddha Air and as we sat in the tiny departure lounge, we came across The Family.

The Family was from the USA. Dad looked the typical mountaineering type, the sort of man who'd been to Nepal many time in the past. His wife looked the part too, kitted out in all the latest gear. But it was their two children who caught our attention first - a girl aged about twelve and a boy of around eight. Outwardly they seemed normal enough and we probably wouldn't have even noticed them had I not overheard the girl suddenly order her brother to chase him around the terminal. I raised my eyebrows at Angela. Surely by eleven, most girls would have grown out of chase games, but not so this individual, she was loving it, but it was about to get even worse. Upon their return they asked their parents if they

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Boats on the lakecould play the Spelling Game. Beside me, Angela put down her guidebook. What normal children would actually ask their parents to play a game based on a spelling test? These two it seemed. Mum smiled and asked the boy to spell to 'processed'. He thought for a moment before spelling it out correctly. Dad then asked him to put it into a sentence. There was a brief pause before he spoke. “The man at the airport processed our visas!” Next to him, his sister raised a hand and demanded her own spelling.

Two seats away from this family bliss, I leaned close to Angela. “How do you spell: I am an annoying little bastard? which made Angela laugh but wasn't really fair to the family. After all, the four of them were clearly happy and there was no denying that the children were intelligent, even if they did seem to lack certain social skills.

Our flight to Pokhora was a quick one, lasting only thirty minutes, but it did offer an impressive view of the Himalayas along the way. We were soon on the ground, walking into the tiny terminal building on a warm and sunny morning. Collecting

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A myriad of hotel signsour luggage was an interesting experience. There were no mechanical carousels in use; instead a couple of men dragged a cart directly from the aircraft and began unloading suitcases onto a shelf.

The New Pokhara Lodge was located in an area known as Lakeside, due to its proximity to Phwaw Tal, the picturesque lake that Pokhara had grown around. Our room was a bargain at only $23 per night - and that was for a deluxe room - and it even had a rooftop terrace offering a magnificent view of the Himalayas. We soon got chatting to the owners. “First you should visit the World Peace Pagoda,” said the man who cooked our breakfast. “I will get you a driver and he will take you and show you around. Afterwards, he will take you to Gupteshwar Mahadev Cave, and then to the Devi's Fall.”

The drive up to the World Peace Pagoda was a hair-raising experience. Angela and I sat in the back of a tiny taxi and began a manic climb up a cobbled pot-holed track interspersed with hairpin bends that overlooked sheer drops into the valley below. Our driver seemed to know what he was doing

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Street Scene, Pokharathough, and deftly maneuvered his vehicle around women carrying bundles of sticks, as well as other vehicles coming in the other direction. “I can't believe we're climbing a mountain in a car,” said Angela. I laughed because I could already read the headlines: British Tourists killed in Mountain Plummet.

The white pagoda was perched above the lake and the views were breathtaking. Pokhara could be seen below and the Himalayas provided the perfect backdrop. As promised, our taxi driver led us on a short hike to the pagoda but then waited patiently as we wandered around.

The way back down was just as hair-raising. If the car's brakes had failed we'd have gone over the edge to certain doom, and the lack of seatbelts wouldn't have mattered a jot. Ten minutes later we were back down and dropped off near the cave. Inside was dark and damp and there wasn't that much to see. Angela told me that she wasn't impressed, and if truth be told, neither was I. We climbed back out and crossed a road to reach Devi's Falls, named after a Swiss woman who had been washed away by the falls. “As waterfalls go,” I

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This was the view from our guesthouse!said to Angela as we peered down below at the rather weak display of falling water, “this is rubbish.”

Back at the hotel we both agreed that despite the rather boring cave and lacklustre waterfall, Pokhara was beautiful. The fresh mountain air was in direct contrast to the smog of Kathmandu. Everywhere we looked was just gorgeous. And the people were so friendly too. Nearly everybody we had passed had greeted us with the word 'Namaste', the universal greeting in Nepal.

The next day we were up at the ungodly hour of 5am to catch a ride to Sarankot. The taxi driver was the same man as the previous day. It was dark outside and because of the total lack of street lighting, our driver was constantly beeping to warn other road users (cyclists, pedestrians, and cows) that we were coming their way. Eventually we left the road and headed upwards on a track that only 4-wheeled drives should have been allowed on. As we weaved our way up the mountain I could smell the taxi's clutch burning in agony.

Eventually we parked and the driver told us that a guide would take us the rest of

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A woman sitting on board her boatthe way. The guide turned out to be a young Nepalese man who was studying management at university. “But I am a guide every morning to earn extra money.” It was still dark when we set off on the trek to the top, but sunrise was only fifty minutes away. The guide set off up some steep stone steps at a hefty pace and we followed on after him. We soon arrived at a viewing platform which had some comfy-looking chairs set out. Beyond them, in the distance, the shadows of the Himalayas could just about be made out.

“You have a choice,” said the guide. “We can stay here for the sunrise, or we can climb to the very top and watch it from there. There is no real difference in the view but perhaps you want a good hike?”

I looked at the chairs and could see myself sitting in one of them quite nicely, thank you very much, perhaps drinking a cup of tea to remove the chill from my bones, but Angela had other ideas. “We'd like to go the top please!”

Within minutes I was panting and wheezing like an old man.

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Angela at the World Peace PagodaAngela was fairing much better but compared to the guide, we were both amateurs. The pace he was setting was hellish, and for me in particular, it seemed like too much. At one point I actually thought I might die or at the very least throw up. Every now and again we would stop (to allow me to catch up) but with the clock ticking away there was not much time for dallying.

Along the steep upwards trail we went, passing local people setting up stalls or else carrying bundles of straw up the path. Old women were gathered around water pipes, collecting it into large jugs, and with all thoughts of comfy chairs gone, my delirious mind turned to helicopters and Medivac personal. And though my lungs were burning and my heart was racing, we still managed to pass other climbers, such was the pace we were being pushed at. And miraculously, only twenty minutes later, we finally reached the top and it was only then that I experienced what Sir Edmund Hillary must have felt when he'd scaled Everest. All I needed was a flag and an oxygen mask.

While my body stopped palpitating, we joined

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View of Pokhara from the World Peace Pagodathe other twenty or so people who'd also made it to the top. “When the sun rises, the peaks will turn pink,” informed our guide. “You will take many good photos.” We found a good vantage point and waited.

“It's stunning,” said Angela as the range of mountains began to catch the first rays of sunlight. Three peaks were visible, the highest of which was Dhaulagiri, at over 26000ft tall, but the most impressive was the spiky triangular peak of Machhapuchhare, coming in at just under 23000ft. This mountain was also known as Fishtail Mountain because of the way it resembled the dorsal fin of a fish. We spent a good while taking photos and just admiring the view.

On the way down I began to realise just how much of a weakling I had been. Old women were walking up the trail carrying large bundles that were supported by bands around their foreheads. Children ran up, laughing and giggling and calling out Namaste. Half way down we passed a small crowd that had gathered around what looked like a magazine shoot. Two Indian models, a man and a woman, were striking up poses against the backdrop of

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A comedy shot taken by accidentthe mountains. Even though it was still early in the morning and the temperatures still low, they posed like true professionals even though they must have been freezing.

For the remainder of the morning Angela and I hired a rowing boat and we powered ourselves around the gorgeous lake. “It's so peaceful,” commented Angela. “And just look at the view.” We spotted a small island in the middle of the lake and after some furious rowing we eventually reached it. My exercise quota for the month had already been exceeded in just one day, and when we parked our vessel I was well and truly knackered.

The island contained a Buddhist shrine and we would have had a look around had we been able to moor our boat. We waited around in case anyone would offer to do this for us, but with no one forthcoming we pushed back into the lake, fearing the boat would drift away without someone waiting near it.

“Right,” announced Angela when we'd parked our ship, “I'm going for my massage at Seeing Hands.” Seeing Hands was an establishment staffed my blind masseurs. It was a charitable organisation that helped support Nepalese

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A cow beside the lakeblind people. An hour later I met up with Angela and asked her how it had been. She told me it had been fantastic. “The woman was only twenty but so strong. She really worked on my knots. I'd go back there again for sure.”

The rest of the afternoon was taken up by shopping along the Lakeside strip. Shoe shiners plied their trade as did barbers who worked in tiny open-fronted stores. Whenever I passed one, the patron would always say the same thing, in a most polite voice. “Hello Sir! Namaste! You need a shave?”

There were also a few beggars about and one couple caught our eye. They appeared to be a husband and wife in their seventies. The man was clearly blind and was being led along the street by his wife who held one end of a short stick while the man grasped the other. At every bar or restaurant they would stop and beg for a few rupees. They were often disappointed and so off they would shuffle towards the next group of tourists.

Sadly for Angela and I, the next day, December 1st was our final day in Pokhara. The

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A small statue near the cavejourney to the airport from our hotel took only ten minutes and we were soon aboard our Buddha Air flight back to Kathmandu. It was amazing to think that only a year previously, neither of us had even heard of Pokhara.

Strengths:
-The breathtaking scenery
-The friendly people
-The gorgeous lake
-Bargains in the shops
-Watching the sunrise over the Himalayas

Weaknesses:
-Not much!

Jangchub Choeling Monastery - Pokhara










History : Origins

In 1963, HH the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa asked Lama Dupsing Rinpoche to leave Kathmandu for Pokhara in order to meet the spiritual needs of the Tibetan and Nepalese population there. At first, a small monastery was established for performing Buddhist services and ceremonies. Over time, as the number of devotees grew, parents began to ask Lama Dupsing Rinpoche to ordain their sons as monks. Before long, there were 35 monks at the monastery.


Jangchub Choeling MonasteryIn 1967, HH the 14th Dalai Lama named the monastery "Jangchub Choeling Monastery" and officially recognised the monastic community under the guidance of Lama Dupsing Rinpoche. Three years later, Lama Dupsing Rinpoche, aware of the need for expansion, moved the monastery to its present location. He planned to erect a larger building and improve the facilities. Sadly, he passed away in 1976 without being able to fulfil his dreams and left the newly inaugurated monastery without a leader or a certain future.

A Fresh Start

In 1978, HH the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa appointed Shangpa Rinpoche, then 23 years old, as Chief Abbot of the monastery. A few years later, H.E. Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche requested Shangpa Rinpoche to be the resident Rinpoche for Singapore for the benefit of the Buddhists there. Since then Shangpa Rinpoche started to travel to Singapore and to many Karma Kagyud Centres in South East Asia.

In Singapore, Shangpa Rinpoche quickly established the Karma Kagyud Buddist Centre and initiated the purchase of permanent premises for regular teachings and ceremonies. Rinpoche also travels regularly to Karma Kagyud centres throughout South East and East Asia. His disciples in the region generously contributed towards the maintenance of both the centres in Singapore and Pokhara.


Jangchub Choeling MonasteryOver the last 20 years, Shangpa Rinpoche has continually expanded and improved the facilities at the monastery. In 1991 the present shrine hall was built and H.E Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche inaugurated the monastery. Yet, a place for prayer is not enough for a monk to develop a complete understanding of the Buddhist faith. Thus donations were sought to establish a Buddhist educational institute, and in December 1996, the Vikrama Shila Buddhist Institute was completed. The next project is the construction of new and larger dormitory rooms for the increasing monk population, the building was completed on January 1998.

Jangchub Choeling Monastery Buildings : The Shrine Hall

The architecture of the shrine hall is true to traditional Tibetan design, although it is entirely constructed with modern building materials. Inside the main hall there is a 7-foot copper and gold plated statue of Buddha.

On the far back wall, on either side of Buddha, are 1000 small Buddha figures representing the 1000 Buddhas believed to exist in this 'Fortunate Era'. The wall paintings, by the Tibetan artist Mr. Dhawa, portray the life of Buddha from birth to Nirvana, or Great Enlightenment. On the walls to the right and left of the entranceway, are images of the six Ornaments and the two Supreme Ones who beautified Buddha's teachings and made them accessible to all through their commentaries. On the walls facing the Buddha figures are portraits of the 16 Arhats who upheld Buddha's teachings after he passed away.
The second floor of the shrine hall is reserved as the residence and meeting place of the Chief Abbot Shangpa Rinpoche. The third story is home to a chapel for the Lineage Masters. Thus clay figures and images of the Lineage Masters of the Kagyudpa Traditions decorate the inside of the chapel. The chapel also holds 102 volumes of the Kagyur (Buddha's word) and 215 volumes of the Tengyur (commentary by the Indian Buddhist Masters).


New image of Jangchub Choeling
Monastery - (44kb)
















Address
Jangchub Choeling Monastery,
P.O. Box No. 56,
Pokhara /
Nepal

Telephone
977-61-621 287 or 977-61-524 728

E-mail
rinpoche@fewamail.com.np

Friday, September 24, 2010

Base Camp Resort Pokhara






Built in a fabulous design to match the surrounding grandeur, the Base Camp Resort is located at the scenic Phewa Lake Side of Pokhara. It offers neat, clean accomodations with all modern facilities.

LOCATION :
Lake side.
pokhara.
ACCOMMODATION :
30 Rooms.

FACILITIES & SERVICES :
T.V, Minibar, IDD, Hair Dryer, Safe Deposit box, Laundry, Doctor on call and Business Centre.

DINING :
Restaurant & Bar serving Continental, Chinese, Indian, Italian and Nepali cuisine.

ADDRESS :
P.O. Box: 182
Lake Side, Pokhara, Nepal

At pokhara a Shangri-La Village







The Western Himalayas belong to the Shangri-La Village, Pokhara. The Annapurnas, Machhapuchare, Dhaulagiri all gaze down at the cuddle of ethnic buildings that reflect the timeless villages of Nepal. Every room has a view and for every guest at the Shangri~La Village, the Himalayas become upclose and personal.

LOCATION :
1 km from Devis Falls, 2 km from Phewa Lake & 3 km from Annapurna Mountain Range

ACCOMMODATION :
65 Rooms and 2 suites.

FACILITIES & SERVICES :
Multi-Channel TV, Swimming, International Dial Phones & Fax, E-Mail, Internet & Computer Services, Room Service and Laundry Service.

DINING :
Off the Lobby, full of charm is The Caravanserai - a restaurant for all day dining, where surprises in international cuisine await

ADDRESS :
P.O. Box: 333
Gharipatan, Pokhara, Nepal

At pokhara a Barahi Hotel
















Right next to Fewa Lake, the Barahi Hotel enjoys a peaceful position within Pokhara, a short walk from the Barahi Temple. Guests staying at the Barahi Hotel are in a prime position for enjoying Fewa Lake – the hotel so named after the temple where locals worship the deity Ajima. One of the hotel’s best features is its colorful garden and laidback pool area, where guests can enjoy afternoon tea and evening drinks or cool off after a hot day exploring Pokhara’s scenic spots. Rooms are clean and comfortable – some with balconies and views of the Annapurna mountain range, while rooftop terraces offer an excellent place to view –and photograph – Macchapucchre ‘Fishtail’ Mountain. A nightly folk music show accompanying dinner in the garden offers a unique glimpse into Nepali culture.

at pokhara Trek O' Tel Hotel


Positioned in Pokhara’s Lake-side area, Trek O’Tel offers modern accommodation a few minutes’ walk from Fewa Lake and the main tourist strip. In a quiet spot at the south end of the main Lake-side street, this relatively new hotel offers guests proximity to shops and bars, at a distance where peace and solitude can still be experienced. A two-minute walk will have guests at the edge of Fewa Lake, while the buzz of the main shopping area is just a little bit further, with plenty of food options around, including a couple of bakeries. Meals at the hotel are a splendid affair – the garden cafe offering expansive views of the Annapurna mountain range and Fewa Lake. The hotel is unique in the sense that where most hotel rooms are rectangular in shape, the rooms here are octagonal

Origin of Pokhara

The development of Pokhara valley and the origin of Annapurna range including the majestic peak Macchapuchhre is ascribed to Geological faulting in the 'Tertiary Period! (between 65‑25 million years ago from now). The convergence of Indian peninsula with Tibetan plate resulted into upsurge of Himalayas from the Tethys sea. After the upsurge of Annapurna range, due to the action of climatic components, glaciers started eroding mountains. The eroded materials ‑ limestone, gneiss and quartzite ‑were transported downwards depositing larger and coarser debris first and smaller as well as smoother debris later. Therefore the northern region of Pokhara has thicker layer of coarser and larger boulders but this thickness decreases southward and smoothness and size reduction occurs gradually. In this way, the tectonic valley was developed due to the hauling of debris as moraine and subsequent deposition as lake deposit.

Getting Inside Pokhara

Pokhara, now‑a‑days, is linked to the major cities of Nepal by air and road transportation. Aeroplanes of different airlines fly several times a day from Kathmandu to Pokhara and many times a week from other major cities of the country. All the cities of Nepal where motoring has been possible so far, are linked to Pokhara by roads and regular bus services are available.

Pokhara is the only city in Nepal which is famous for the Himalayan Peaks and the Annapurna Himalayan Range. Some of the Famous Mountains that can be seen from Pokhara are Mt. Machhapuchree, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Annapurna, Mt. Hinchuli etc. it is the only City in Nepal that consist of seven beautiful lakes. Some of the famous lakes are Fewa Lake, Begnas Lake and Rupa Lake. It is the only City in Nepal that has excellent and breath taking caves. There are more then 5 caves within this city. Some of the most popular caves are Mahendra cave, Bat cave, Kali khola cave, Shiva cave etc.

Pokhara is the only City that has several rivers flowing within itself. Some of the major rivers that flow within this beautiful city are Seti, Yamdi, Mardi, Kali Khola, Madi etc. This City must be God's idea of heaven. Pokhara is so rich in Natural vegetation and excellent climatic conditions. It is neither too hot nor too cold. It seems to be a paradise.

This breath taking view is from Sarangkot. This hill is famous for the panoramic view of the annapurna himalayan range. Pokhara is beautiful but it still depends upon how we take and feel it, but to be sure Pokhara is god's gift and is rich in natural beauty in all the ways. Sarangkot is also famous for paragliding purposes. It has the bird's eye view of the seti river, fewa lake, and the valley itself. This hill station is a 10 minute uphill drive from Aarchalbot. This route is also one of the short day trek route within the Pokhara Valley. Tourist also hires horses for a trip uphill to the station. Local peoples have kept powerful binoculars for the viewing purpose of the valley and the mountains.

Pokhara is famous for mountains. The most beautiful and demanding mountain is Mount Fishtail. As shown in the snap, this mountain has a peak that looks like a fish tail. In nepali this mountain is called Machhapuchre himal which means Mount Fishtail. Seeing the beauty of this mountain, tourist says that this mountain has been crafted by god for the Pokhreli people.

This snap also features Mount Fishtail. This snap is taken from the Fishtail base camp during the sunset period. Fishtail base camp is three days trek from the pokhara valley. we walk through dense forest, gurung villages and beautiful hills to reach this place. This base camp has about 5 hotels under the supervision of ACAP (Annapurna conservation area project)

This snap features the fewa lake view and domestic animals like horses and buffaloes grazing within the green fields. The hill has a concrete built hotel and graveled road (at present the road is pitched) to the village pame. This lake is famous for boating and fishing purpose.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

at pokhara Matepani Gumba (Buddhist Monastery)

There is a splendid Buddhist Monastry on the top of the small forested hill above Matepani east of Mahendra pool. It overlooks a large section of the Pokhara city and once there on find oneself lost in time amid the chanting Ramas, there colossal guardian images of the Buddha accompanying two other gurus and a prayer house with exquisitely carved columns and friezes.

at pokhara Annapurna Museum

also known as the Natural History Museum, is located at Prithvi Narayan Campus east of the old bazaar. Managed by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), the museum has an exceptional collection of butterflies, insects, birds, and models of wildlife as well as samples of various precious and semi-precious stones and volcanic rocks. Open daily, except Saturdays and holidays, from 9 am to 4 pm. Entrance is free (Tel: 061-521102 061-521102 , 528202).

at pokahra Begnas lake and Rupa lake





The lakes are located about 15km from Pokhara at the end of a road that turns north from the highway to Kathmandu. Divided by the forested hillock called Panchabhaiya Danda, the lakes offer the perfect nature retreat because of their relative seclusion. Splendid boating and fishing can be done here.

at pokhara Gupteswar Gupha

Gupteswar Gupha, a sacred cave, lies 2 km from Pokhara airport on the Siddhartha Highway leading southwest from the city. The entrance is right across from Devi's Fall and the cave is almost 3 km long. It has some big hall-size rooms and some passages where you have to crawl on all fours. This cave holds special value for Hindus since a phallic symbol of Lord Shiva is preserved here in the condition it was discovered. An entrance fee of Rs. 5 is charged and taking pictures inside the cave is prohibited.

at pokhara Seti Gandaki

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 river's dreadful rush and the deep gorge made by its powerful flow.

situated of pokhara

Pokhara is situated at about 827 meter from sea level. The magnificent city is located about 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu and can be reached both by aircraft as well as bus. The journey duration is 35 minutes and 5 hours respectively. As far as adventure trips are concerned, Pokhara is the next destination after Kathmandu. Pokhara is often called the enchanting Himalayan valley with a heart of major actions and adventures.

Surrounded by beautiful snow-caped mountains with a magnificent lake of crystal-clear pure Himalayan water; the Pokhra is a dream come true. An all-year round pleasing weather and friendly inhabitants will greet you with smile and leave you with the most unforgettable moments in your life. So pack up your bag, load your camera, and get ready for Pokhara experience!

Among the attractions, nothing is as majestic as the Fewa (or Phewa) Lake. The lake is 1.5-kilometer long and second largest in Nepal. Fewa Lake offers an excellent view of the mountains and their reflections in the water. This picturesque place is a hot favorite among the honeymoon couple. There are as many as 8 different lakes in Pokhra and apart from Fewa Lake, Begnas and Rupa Lakes are the most serene. Both these lakes are located about 15 km from Pokhara and are ideal places for relaxation, boating and fishing.

Another spectacular sight in Pokhara is the sight of Annapurna range. This magnificent range stretching from west to east and looks beautiful in the glittering sunlight. Apart from that Seti Gandaki and Seti Gorge are other two important places to visit in Pokhara. The Seti Gandaki flows right through the city at places it runs completely underground. The best view of the river can be seen from the top of the Seti Gorge. Then you have Mahendra cave that is located about 10km north from downtown Pokhara. It is a natural site located across the Seti River.

Pokhara is also known for its Newari and Tibetan artifacts. No trip to Pokhara can be complete without buying Newari handicrafts items. Don't forget to buy Tibetan carpet as well. The Newars have heavily contributed to the culture of Pokhra and that can be witnessed in its magnificent cuisines. Newari food is a must eat in Pokhra.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

pokhara pokhara Hotel Lake Palace Location

Hotel Lake Palace is located in the heart of popular Fewa Lake side. We are only 7 minutes away from Pokhara airport & tourist bus terminal. Located peaceful are of Lake Side with easy access to all popular tourist attractions

For further information & reservation, please contact:
Hotel Lake Palace (P.) Ltd.
P.O. Box 248 Lakeside, Baidam, Pokhara, Nepal.
Tel: 00977-061-21027, 31776, 31864
Fax: 00977-61-31776, 21027
E-mail: hotel@lakepalace.wlink.com.np
Website: www.hotel-lakepalace.com

pokhara Hotel Lake Palace

Hotel Lake Palace (P) Ltd. is newly opened modernly designed stone house located in peace and quite area at center part of the Lakeside and offers 24 international standard rooms equipped with centralized A/C and non A/C, Cable TV, Telephone, Mini bar, bath tub and attached bath to provide a high standard comfort and luxury.
Each room has got private balcony. Most of our rooms offer uninterrupted view of Phewa Lake and snow-capped mountains.

At Hotel Lake Palace (P) Ltd, you will find a team of dedicated young people who are highly motivated and committed to a high degree of professionalism, personalized service and homely atmosphere and willingness to assists our guests is all.

Pokhara information

If Kathmandu is the cultural hub of Nepal, Pokhara is its centre of adventure. An enchanting city nestled in a tranquil valley, it is the starting point for many of Nepal's most popular trekking and rafting destinations. The atmosphere on the shore of Phewa Lake is one of excited vitality as hipster backpackers crowd the many bars and restaurants exchanging recommendations on guest houses and viewpoints, both by the lake and above the clouds.

Pokhara is a place remarkable natural beauty. The serenity of Phewa lake and the magnificence of the fish-tailed summit of Machhapuchchre (6,977m) rising behind its create an elevation lower than Kathmandu, it has a much more tropical feel to it, a fact well appreciated by the beautiful diversity of flowers which prosper in its environs. Indeed, the valley surrounding Pokhara is home to thick forests, gushing rivers, emerald lakes, and of course, the world famous views of the Himalayas.

Moreover, Pokhara is part of a once vibrant trade route extending between India and Tibet. To this day, mule trains can be seen camped on the outskirts of the town, bringing goods to trade from remote regions of the Himalaya. This is the land of the Magars and Gurungs, hardworking farmers and world-renowned brave-Gurkha soldiers. The Thakalis, another important ethnic group here, are known for their entrepreneur.

Places of interest in Pokhara:
Fewa Lake
Barahi Temple
Sarankot ( 1,592m)
Seti Gandaki
Devi's Fall
Mahendra Cave
The Old Bazaar
Museums

How to reach Pokhara
Pokhara, 200 km west of Kathmandu, can be reached either with flight (30 minutes) or 5 hours car/bus ride from Kathmandu. The flight to Pokhara itself is a semi-mountain flight and a wonderful bird's view of central Nepal. The enjoyable drive on the bank of river passes through small towns and village is fantastic to observe the life in Nepal.

How to reach Base Camp Resort
Let us pick you up at airport or the bus stop by car. It is 5 minutes drive from airport and walking distance to the tourist bus stop in Pokhara. Just come by the lakeside, find us and be our guest.

pokhara flying sites




The main area for flying in Nepal is the Annapurna region, more specifically the Pokhara valley. This lakeside town is Nepal's second city, nestled at the foot of the Annapurna Himal, the views commanded from here of 3 of the worlds 8000m peaks, are unsurpassed. At an altitude of 800m ASL the sub-tropical climate means that, year round, it is short and T-shirt weather. The micro-climate of the valley makes it an ideal area for flying, with far more constant conditions than the Kathmandu valley 150km east.

There are several sites around Phewa Taal (the lake) but the most accessible is Sarangkot (1500m ASL). A view point 700m above Pokhara, it is unique in that it has a road running to the top. A short walk brings you to the only purpose built take off in the country. Cut out of the slope is a 45m by 45m clearing. With regular cycles providing easy reverse launches, you could not ask for a more picturesque site. With the lake 2000ft below, the mountains behind, and the unlimited potential for XC and out and returns, this has quickly become the main site for the area, and many pilots have based themselves in Pokhara for the season, flying from this mountain alone.

There are an abundance of other sites around the valley with names such as Dhikie Danda, Galem, Sirkot, Tansen, Bandipur all can be connected by air from Sarangkot.

This is a spectacular site, with everything that makes flying in Nepal so awesome. A sheer jungle covered mountain over 2700m. Home to an abundance of wildlife and waterfalls. You can cruise along, scaring troops of monkeys screaming at you from their tree only inches from your wing tip, or ride the face and fly through the spray of a 300ft waterfall. It is also the start for the best XC flights in the area.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Paragliding in Pokhara




Visitors to Pokhara can enjoy a bird's-eye-view of its splendid Himalayan scenery and experience the thrill of flying in a micro-light aircraft. The exciting sport of motor gliding is now available in Pokhara to complement its natural beauty. The Russian-made delta-wing powered gliders can carry two persons. They have a maximum speed of 130 km per hour and can reach heights of 5,000 m. Flights are conducted by experienced Pilots.

Paragliding in Nepal : Paragliding is a relatively new adventure sport in Nepal, and little information is available in tourist guidebooks. Paragliding in this Himalayan country can be a truly wonderful and fulfilling experience for the adventure seekers. You can experience unparalleled scenic grandeur as your share airspace with Himalayan griffin vultures, eagles, kites, while floating over villages, monasteries, temples, lakes, and jungles, with a fantastic views of the majestic Himalayas.

Gliding is a weather dependent sport and the flying season in Nepal commences from November through February, the best months being November and December. By virtue of its latitude and monsoon climate, the tree line in Nepal is at an incredible 3900m above sea level. With conditions milder than summer alpine, these are excellent and constant atmospherics. The topography and climate of Nepal also make it an ideal destination for all levels of pilots - subtropical conditions provide plenty of thermals and combined with the long valleys common in Nepal, they produce perfect "cloud streets" ideal for Para gliders, inviting them to fly along this "sky highway. The local microclimate, controlled by the numerous lakes in the valley, is unique, which makes it even better for the glider.

pokhara Aircraft and its safety

These aircrafts are manufactured in Russia and are completed with the Rotax 582 engines. The operational speed ranges from 50 km/h to 130 km/h. These are two-seater plane which carries once pilot one passenger each in every flight. These aricrafts can fly for four hours and reach the height of 5000 meter and fly 300 km at a stretch. Its high aerodynamic qualities. Allow this delta wing aircraft to perform long flights with engine turned off. It’s uniquely designed and is filled with a ballistic parachute system, which will enable the aircraft to land safely during emergencies.

Insurance Policy: Our Flights are controlled by Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and insure the Passenger, Aircraft, Pilot and the third party. Which means the insurance policy is as good as in any other domestic flights.

Operation Time: We operate our flights at Pokhara Airport from September till June from sunrise to 11pm and 3:30 pm to sunset. But if the weather permits we can fly throughout the day as well.

mustang to pokhara trekking

Mustang, a land where the soul of man is still considered to be as real as the feet he walks on: a land said to be "barren as a dead deer" but where beauty and happiness abound in spite of hardship, was a part of the Tibetan Kingdom of Gungthang until 1830's. The wall city of Lo Monthang, unofficial capital of Mustang still remains a kingdom within a kingdom. The early history to Lo Monthang is embellished in myth and legend rather than the recorded fact. Mustang has maintained its status as a separate principality until 1951. The king of Lo Monthang still retains his title and he has been given the honorary rank of Colonel in the Nepal army.

pokhara Lakes

Northside View of Lake Fewa

Northside View of Lake Fewa
Fewa Lake, the most famous lake in the Pokhara valley (other significant lakes being Begnas and Rupa) is home to over 22 native species of fish. In the center of Fewa Lake, there is what seems to be a floating temple (Barahi) which is actually an island and is the most important temple in Pokhara. Built near the center of the lake, this pagoda was constructed and dedicated to the boar manifestation of Ajima, the deity representing the female force Shakti. Barahi temple is easily accessed by renting a shuttle boat. When you are on the little island, you can buy some food to feed the large fish that swim around the temple. You are not allowed to fish from the temple as it is sacred and so are the fish that happen to be feeding there. During Dashain (a major holiday and festival) there is a grand celebration at the temple.

Although you are not permitted to fish from the Barahi Temple, Fewa Lake is an ideal spot to indulge in some recreational boating or fishing. (For information on Himalayan River fishing click here.) You can rent a boat for a couple hours (or all day if preferred) and if fishing is on your list of things to do, you can also find fishing gear for hire. There is always the option to row yourself or hire a boatman to do the tiring work for you while you relax on the lake and enjoy the views. What is more exciting is you have an option of different boats to hire: rowboats, kayaks, sailboats, and even pedal-driven ones for those looking for a little exercise on the lake.

Besides Fewa Lake, Begnas and Rupa lakes are known to be peaceful, less populated destinations for the traveler looking to do a little boating as well as fishing. Other minor lakes of the area are the Dipang, Maidi, Khaste, Neurani, and Gunde.

pokhara Outdoor Activities

Pokhara is the launching point for the most popular trekking destinations in Nepal like the Annapurna Circuit, Jomsom- Muktinath, Annapurna Base Camp, and Dhaulaguiri treks. There are different ways to start either of these treks, for those who cannot get enough trekking in their lives, they start trekking from Pokhara. There are also mountain flights to Jomsom, where you can personalize your distance to trek to any of these destinations (For tips for picking out a trek see our Choosing a trek page). There are also buses and taxis that can take you to different towns close by if you do not wish to hike directly from Pokhara and regular Pokhara-Kathmandu route buses leave daily.


Ultralight Flight Pokhara, Nepal

Ultralight Flight Pokhara, Nepal
Our sister-company, Avia Club Nepal, provides unique views of Pokhara city, valley, as well as Fewa Lake, and Himalayan mountains via ultra-light flight-- a truly one of a kind experience. They fly you as close as safety allows with the feeling that you could practically wipe the snow off of Mt. Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Mountain)with your hand.

If river rafting or kayaking is your cup of tea, there are many rivers within a short driving distance from Pokhara. The Kali Gandaki, Seti and the Trishuli Rivers are the most popular and convenient rafting or kayaking launch sites to get to from the lakeside town. All easily accessed by bus or taxi and a respectable travel service should provide the transportation for you.

There is always the option to rent and explore the valley and surrounding mountains via mountain bike. This form of travel in Nepal has become ever more popular especially on Nepal's non-paved paths. There are places to rent bikes along lakeside drive as well as maps so you know where you are biking.

Eleven of the worlds 15 families of butterflies, call Nepal home and 523 species of birds. Many of these can be seen in the Pokhara Valley.

Heritage Sites Of Pokhara

Fewa Lake, Barahi temple, World Peace Stupa, Devi's Fall, Gupteswor Cave, Mahendra Cave, Bindabasini Temple, Bhadrakali Temple, Old Bazaar, Tibetan Refugee Camp, Buddhist Monastery, Seti River, Begnas and Rupa Lakes, Pokhara Regional Museum, Annapurna Museum, Gorkha Memorial Museum, International Mountain Museum are some of Pokhara's Heritage Sites

Lake View Resort, Pokhara, Nepal

Come experience Lake View Resort located at the shores of Phewa Lake, and at the heart of tourist hub Lakeside. The hotel offers superior service, spectacular view, fine dining, traditional dance show and large open space.


One of the oldest hotels in Pokhara, Lake view resort offers economy, deluxe and luxurious bedrooms with private balconies to enjoy the open view of the Spectacular Himalayas and the lake Fewa. The resort boasts more than 100,000 square feet of open space dotted with tropical trees such as Camphor, Gulmohar, Lychee and Simal. The centre of the resort is occupied by two large green Lawns contrasting with rows of multi colored exotic flowers. For your extra pleasure, we are making available private huts and bungalows very soon.

Enjoy the Traditional Nepalese Dance Show staged at Lake View every evening. Regarded as the best show in town, our show features genuine ethnic dances such as Nepali wedding dance, Sherpa dance and Tamang Selo. The artists play traditional instruments only for the delights of the audience. The show is a courtesy of the hotel.
The all “wood and straw” restaurant serves Continental, Nepalese, Chinese and Indian dishes. The wide range of sitting areas has full view of the mountains and the lake. The circular open bar offers long list of wine and liquors, and mixes most of the popular cocktails at your demand.

Come stay at Lake View Resort, and experience our excellent service for yourself.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

pokhara World Peace Pagoda





It can be seen on the top of a hill on the southern shore of Phewa Lake. It has four images of Buddha facing in four directions. The dome shaped pagoda is an impressive sight and its hilltop location commands a great view. It is a great vantage point which offers spectacular views of the Annapurna.

Introduction to city Pokhara - In Nepal





The biggest tourist destination in Nepal after Kathmandu, Pokhara is a subtropical valley surrounded by lofty Himalayan peaks. The name Pokhara has been derived from pokhri, a word in Nepali signifying pond. In earlier times the place was a big lake. Today in addition to the town, there are three major lakes namely, Phewa, Rupa, and Begnas here. Due to its nearness to the Himalayan peaks, Pokhara is home to some of the most beautiful vistas in the world. The abrupt changes in the altitude makes the place even more exciting.

Pokhara does not have a long history. It was founded in the 16th century by Gurungs. The construction of two national highways in 1970’s marked the phase of modern development here and in no time it became a well-known hippie hideout. Today, Pokhara is the centre of river rafting industry and starting point of some of the most exciting treks besides being an important administrative and commercial centre in Nepal. The town landscape has changed a lot in the last few decades and a concrete jungle has came up to satisfy needs of ever increasing number of visitors. But Pokhara has still maintained its small town image that is best experienced during the off season.