Phewa Tal (Lake):

Phewa Lake, the second largest lake in the kingdom, roughly measuring 1.5 km by 4 km, is the center of attraction in Pokhara. Phewa Tal is surrounded by a combination of monkey-filled forests and the high white peaks. Brightly painted wooden boats and sailboats can be hired for boating. One of the fascinating parts of lakeside is the splendid view of the mountains, especially when the still water reflects the peaks, creating a double image.

Mahendra Gupha (cave)

Mahendra Gufa, locally called Chamero Odhaar ("House of Bats"), is the large limestone cave. Shepherd boys are said to have discovered it around 1950. A two hour walk to the north of Pokhara, it is best to bring your own torch to see the stalactites and stalagmites, although most of them have been carted out by souvenir hunters.

Rara Lake Trekking

Trekking from Jumla to Rara Lake in the mid western region of Nepal is known as Rara Lake trekking in Nepal. Trekking in Rara Lake provides excellent exploration opportunities to Napal’s finest Rara National park and famous Rara Lake situated at an altitude of 2,990 meter. Considered to be off the beaten path Rara lake treks Nepal is a non technical journey and is suitable for average trekkers. Rara trekking area is an adequate habitat for rare and endangered wildlife. Popular for unique communial hospitality, Rara trekking Nepal offers Rara Nepal treks and Rara treks Nepal itineraries. Camping arrangements are appropriate for Rara lake trek programme

Jomsom & Muktinath Trek Information

The Jomsom trek is probably the single most popular trek in Nepal. The diverse landscapes and cultures to be found along the trek route give a marvelous insight into the way of life of rural Nepalese people. The main feature of trek is the walk through the George craved by the kali Gandaki River, which carries water from the Tibetan plateau to eventually join the Ganges in India.

Normally trekkers continue on above Jomsom to Muktinath, the famous pilgrimage site for both Buddhists and Hindus. To Hindus, Muktinath is sacred as the place of salvation. They believe that to wash in the waters here guarantees salvation after death. The Hindu god, Brahma, is thought to have lit the eternal flames that still burn at Muktinath. To the Buddhists it is a place that the great sage guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) meditated at, and to all, it is the source of fossilized ammonites, known locally as shaligrams, which are found all along the upper reaches of kali Gandaki. The people of this part of Nepal are a mixture of Gurung and Magar in the lower stretches of the kali Gandaki, Thakali people around Jomsom and people with obvious Tibetan roots, the Lopa, around Muktinath and up into mustang. Their customs and dress are all quite distinct and this trek gives a chance to see those differences. The religions seen range from Hinduism in the lower parts to the Tibetan style Buddhism as you travel further north. Should you be in Muktinath In early September you will be able to see one of Nepal unique festivals, the annual horse races known as Yartung. This is a week of some serious horse racing, Tibetan style, and some equally serious merrymaking.

Most of the route for the Jomsom trek has been described as part of the Annapurna circuit and Annapurna foothills treks. The normal standing point is Naya Pul on the Pokhara to Baglung road and fro there, via Ghorepani and Tatopani, into the gorge of kali Gandaki.

Between Tatopani and Lete khola the scenery changes dramatically. Pine forests crowd in on the trial and the villages take on a quite different appearance. The layout of the villages and the design of the houses are both quite unique to this area. They are designed to protect their inhabitants from the strong winds that blow up the valley everyday from late morning onwards. These winds are caused by differences in atmospheric pressure between the Tibetan plateau and the lower reaches of the valley. The best example of this unique architecture is to be found at the village of Marpha which is a two hour walk below Jomsom. The stone flagged streets with an efficient underground drainage system and the flat roofed houses all with a central courtyard make an attractive spot to spend an extra rest day. Sample the apple products from the prolific orchards that have been set up in the valley.

Jomsom is best known for its airport that offers a quick entry or exit to the valley with regular daily flights from Pokhara. Remember that the winds that blow up the valley normally mean that no flights can arrive or depart from Jomsom after 11 am. Jomsom can also be considered as a place to use as a base for exploring the upper part of the kali Gandaki. There are numerous accommodation options including a new high-class resort complex.

An alternative to Jomsom as a final base for the trek is the village of Kagbeni; a further two hours up the valley. Kagbeni is much less commercialized than Jomsom and certainly much quieter. This is as far as trekkers are allowed to go towards upper Mustang without having a special trek permit and an accompanying environmental officer. For details see the upper mustang treks description. From Kagbeni to Muktinath takes three to four and trekkers can choose to do this as a day trip or to stay at one of the many teahouses available at Muktinath.

International Airport Vital for Pokhara

For three decades the people of Pokhara in Nepal have been asking for an international airport, but it has yet to be built.

Politicians campaigning for positions of power, such as parliamentary seats and posts within NGOs, have been promoting an international airport in order to win votes, but they have not been following through.

There are 47 airports in Nepal but only one, Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, is international. Nepal has no alternative international airport and generally Indian airports are being used in cases of emergency landings.

Considering an alternative international airport, the Nepalese government acquired 3106 ropanis (1 ropani = 5476 sq. feet) of land in BS 2032 in Pokhara sub metropolitan, and provided compensation to the farmers. However, the farmers are still using that land for paddy farming due to the government's passiveness. Yet, the Pokharali people are still optimistic about the international airport.



Paddy farming at proposed international airport in Pokhara.

©2006 Rup Narayan Dhakal


There is only one local airport in Pokhara, an internationally renowned tourist destination and second largest town of Nepal. According to Mr. Devendra KC, chief of Pokhara Airport, the airport feels congested due to the pressure of the high number of passengers and an increment in the number of flights.

Between 300,000 and 400,000 foreign tourists come to Nepal each year and more than 20 percent visit Pokhara. There is also a huge number of internal passengers who come and go to Pokhara by air. Though they use twin otter planes now, if there is an international airport they can have the opportunity of traveling in high capacity planes at lower prices. More than 100,000 passengers land in Pokhara Airport and the same number of passengers take off from there annually.

According to Ananda Raj Mulmi, former President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), German and Japanese teams of experts have already recommended Pokhara as a suitable place for an international airport.

Though there is already acquired land in Pokhara, the government is now trying to extend the Gautam Buddha Airport in Lumbini as an international airport and has already allocated the budget to give compensation to the land owners. But the culture, tourism and civil aviation minister Pradeep Gyaneli said that the government was committed to building an international airport in Pokhara.

"The only problem is funds," he said in a recent program held in Pokhara, we are going to negotiate with Indian companies to raise funds for the airport.

According to him the government needs an alternative airport and Pokhara will be given higher priority for that.

Mr. Ganga Dhar Parajuli, vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists and an inhabitant of Pokhara, said that the government had withdrawn the 50 millions rupees though it had allocated that fund for the basic development of proposed international airport in Pokhara. "That was very bad decision of the government," Mr. Parajuli said.

Since the government has not got enough funds for an international airport it has to depend upon foreign aid. A former member of the Nepal Tourism Board, Mr. Bishow Shanker Palikhe said that a Japanese bank and some other companies were ready to build an airport in Pokhara but that the government has failed to follow the issue.

The government and even the Pokharali people are still unclear about the airport and whether it will be a SARC base regional international airport or a fully international airport. Most people are agreed for a SARC level international airport in Pokhara.

POKHARA SUB-METROPOLITAN CITY INTRODUCTION

Pokhara is a remarkable place for natural beauty at an altitude of 827 meter from the sea level and 200 km west of Kathmandu. This city is ever known as a real paradise in Earth. The valley is filled with swift flowing river and dotted with clear gleaming lakes. It is blessed with the back drop is the most dramatic sceneries in world. A 140 km of panoramic Himalayan ranges seem close enough to be touched. The serenity from the nature can not only be touched but also can be felt. The magnifiacation of the Himalayas rising behind the lake create an ambience of peace and magic, popular for water rafting, Kayaking and trekking Expeditions. Following the unification of Nepal in 1769, it took a shape of permanent bazaar (small town). Newar migrants from Kathmandu Valley established business and introduced new architecture design of the city. It grew as a catering place to caravan traders with limited infrastructure facilities located at the break of bulk point along the trans-Himalayan trade routes.

Designation of Pokhara as the administrative headquarter of district west No. 3 in Rana regime supported to flourish the pokhara bazaar. The political chance of 1951 further accelerated the development process. The introduction of airplane 1952 and Gypsy 1957 increased the linkage with Kathmandu, the capital city, and surroundings. In 1958, it was formally declared as a municipality and resumed into Town Panchayat in 1965. Establishment of Indian Pension paying camp in 1960 and the British Pension paying camp in 1966 attracted in-migrants in Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City. Hydro-power generation by Phewa dam provided electricity for the first time, Construction of two High ways viz. The Sunauli-Pokhara Highway (1969) and the Pritivi Highway 1972 linked with the terai plain and Kathmandu. Progress functional establishments and growth as a center of trekking tourists contributed to its development. Designation of Pokhara as the headquarters of the Western Development Region of Nepal in 1972 contributed to upgrade Pokhara Municipality in the present status of Sub Metropolitan City in 1996.

The highest governing body of municipality is Municipality Council. The Municipal Council of Pokhara Sub Metropolitan City consists of 112 members including the Hon. Mayor, Hon. Deputy Mayor, elected ward chairmen and members of 18 wards, nominated members and municipal secretary. The municipal board consists of Hon. Mayor, Hon. Deputy Mayor, 18 elected ward chairmen and 2 nominated members.
Likewise, ward chairman and four members are elected in each ward.

Convocation of Pokhara University

Convocation of PU brought thousands of youth in to Pokhara. They had a hard time finding rooms in Lakeside. This episode of moods covers the moods of students attending the convocation of PU and like usual we are trying to make an ordinary people a celebrity.

Note: If anybody wants to remove the pictures from the moods please sent the pictures as an ecard to info@thikthak.com, with a reason for the removal of the pictures. At the end, we just want to say that Moods is just a way to show the lifestyle of the Pokhareli.