Pokhara
Pokhara is a remarkable place of natural beauty. Situated at an altitude of 827m from the sea level and 200km west of Kathmandu valley, the city is known as a center of adventure. The enchanting city with a
population of around 95,000 has several beautiful lakes and offers stunning panaromic views of Himalayan
peaks. The serenity of lakes and the magnificence of the Himalayas rising behind them create an ambience of peace and magic. So today the city has not only become the starting point for most popular trekking and rafting destinations but also a place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.
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 Magars and Gurungs, hardworking farmers and valorous warriors who have earned worldwide fame as Gurkha soldiers. The Thakalis, another important ethnic group here, are known for their entrepreneurship.
The climate of Pokhara is slightly warmer than Kathmandu with daytime temperature hovering around 15 degrees Celsius in winter and 35 degrees in summer. The monsoon season which lasts from mid-June to mid-September is very wet; in fact Pokhara records the
highest rainfall in the country. Best time to visit is between October and April.
The activities of foreign visitors to Pokhara focus around two districts known as Damside and Lakeside (or Pardi and Baidam, in Nepali, respectively). These two areas, with their strips of hotels and restaurants, are a few kilometers south-west of the main Pokhara bazaar.
Phewa Tal (Lake)
Phewa lake, the second largest lake in the kingdom, roughly measuring 1.5 km by 4 km, is the center of all attractions in Pokhara. The enchanting lake is an idyllic playground. Brightly painted wooden boats and sailboats can be rented on reasonable cost around lakeside.
The lake is neither deep (roughly 47 meters at most) nor particulary clean, but the water is warm and swimming is pleasant if you don't think about the probable pollution.
The eastern shoreline of the lake, popularly known as Lakeside or Baidam, consists of seemingly endless strip of lodges, restaurants, bookshops and souvenir shops. 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.
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.
Barahi temple
This is the most important religious monument in Pokhara. Built almost in the middle of Phewa lake, the 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.
World Peace Pagoda
The pagoda is a massive Buddhist stupa and is situated on top of a hill on the southern shore of Phewa lake. Besides being an impressive sight in itself, the shrine is a great vantage point which offers spectacular views of the Annapurna range and Pokhara city. You can get there by crossing the lake by boat and then hiking up the hill.
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.
Devi's Fall
Locally known as Patale Chhango (Hell's Fall), Devi's fall (also known as Devin's or David's) is an awesome waterfall lying about 2 km south-west of Pokhara airport on the highway to Tansen. An interesting modern legend says that a foreigner named David was skinnydipping in the Pardi Khola (river) when the floodgates of the dam were opened, sweeping him into an underground passage beneath the fall, never to be seen again.
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.
Mahendra Gupha
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.
The Old Bazaar
Pokhara's traditional bazaar is colorful and so are its ethnically diverse traders. In its temples and monuments can be seen ties to the Newar architecture of the Kathmandu Valley. Located about 4 km from Lakeside, the market's original charm is alive and well.
Bindbyabasini Temple
Bindhyabasini temple is the center of religious activity in the old bazaar. It is dedicated to goddess Bhagwati, yet another manifestation of shakti. Worshippers flock here to perform sacrifices, and especially on Saturdays the parklike grounds take on a festive fair.
MUSEUMS
Pokhara Museum, located between the airport 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. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10 am to 4 pm. Entrance fee is Rs. 5 and there is an extra Rs. 10 for cameras (Tel: 0612041 3).
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: 061-21102).
Himalayan Vista
The magnificent Annapurna panorama that's visible on the northern skyline of Pokhara is quite incredible. The main peaks are Annapurna I to IV and the beautiful Machhapuchhare (or Fishtail Mountaian, so named after its twin peaks). Besides these, you can also see the Himchuli, Varahashikhar, Gangapurna and other peaks. The
mountains will probably be hidden in the clouds between April and September. A nice evening on the banks of Fewa Lake with the mountain range as the backdrop is what Pokhara is really about!
Nightlife and Entertainment
There is not much of a nightlife in Pokhara other than dining. The town shuts down by about 10:30 in the evening. Until you can hang out some of the bars and pubs that are becoming trendy in the area. Fishtail Lodge puts up an hour long nightly Nepali cultural show with dances and such.
Around Pokhara
Pokhara is the starting and ending point for many of the popular trekking routes in Nepal. Longer treks (one to three week long) such as the Jomsom trek, Annapurna Circuit, and Annapurna Sanctuary begin here. Check a book on Nepal trekking for more details on this. Otherwise, you can also visit this site Pilgrims Book House for information on trekking books of Nepal.
For those with less time, Pokhara also provides shorter (one to seven days) more leisurely treks around the neighboring hills and villages. The popular ones are:
Ghachowk Trek: two days, a circuit through Lhachowk to Ghachowk and down to Batulechaur, north of Pokhara, close up view of Fishtail mountain.
Naudanda Trek: two days, to Naudanda from Suikhet and then back through Kaski, west of Pokhara.
Ghorepani Circuit: five to seven days long, upto the Gurung village of Ghandruk village, great views of the Annapurna range, north-west of Pokhara.
Kahun Danda: day trip, north east of Pokhara, 1560m altitude.
Sarangkot: day trip, great view of the mountain range including Dhaulagiri, north of Fewa Lake, 1592m altitude.
Rupa and Begnas Lakes: day trip, 15km south-east of Pokhara, take a bus there and leisurely walk along the ridge that separates the two twin lakes.
Gorkha District 
Gorkha district, a part of Gandaki zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district, with Gorkha as its district headquarters, covers an area of 3,610 km² and has a population (2001) of 288,134.
The famous Manokamana temple is in the Gorkha district
A 25 kilometer road off the main highway connecting Pokhara and Kathmandu brings you to an ancient Gorkha - the untouched and captivating town of Nepal! Some 300 years ago, Nepal was divided into 50 tiny states, and Gorkha was one of them. King Prithivi Narayan Shah, the founder of `Shah Dynasty' which runs Nepal today, unified Nepal into one kingdom. His Gorkha palace resides on top of a hill at an altitude of 3281 feet (about 1000 meter) The King would watch-over his people as far as his eyes could see from the tallest palace in the very center of Nepal! Gorkha is also the home of Gurkhas - the legendary brave warriors who fought with knives against guns.
Gorkha is a picturesque hill- town that has a rich ancient history of its own. The palace is situated on a small mountain at the height of 3500 feet and offers a magnificent sightseeing of the Himalayan Peaks. King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who unified the Kingdom of Nepal during eighteenth century and got an upper hand over the Ranas, was born here. Actually king Drabya Shah founded this kingdom in the year 1560 and since then, the place has acted as the den for the Shah dynasty. In the war of throne with Ranas, the Gorkhas had the last laugh as the Gorkha soldiers succeeded in conquering the Kathmandu valley. The capital of the Nepal was shifted to Kathmandu since then. But this beautiful township has always remained as the center of attraction for many Nepalese as well as foreign visitors.
Among the sites to visit, Gorkha Durbar tops the list. This historical palace is a one-hour walk from the downtown Gorkha. The palace is strategically located over a fortified hillock. On the southwestern side of palace lies the temple of Goddess Gorakhkali. A cave that claims to shelter the statue of Gorakhnath, the Tantrik sage, adjoins it. The place is picture-perfect to have a view of Mansalu and Himalchuli peaks of Himalayas. Nevertheless, the best place to have a view of the palace and peaks is Upallokot, a viewpoint made on a pedestal over the hill at the height of some 5000 feet.
Places to Visit and Things to do in Gorkha
Gorkha Palace:
Visit the Gorkha palace here to begin your sightseeing of the region.Climb the palace steps from the bottom of the hill, all the way to the top, climbing about one thousand seven hundred steps (1700), in about two hours. That's some hiking to do! If you get tired sit down on a step or think how much easier the trip down will be! You will be glad you got to the top. On a clear sky day, you can view Himalayan range including spectacular view of Manaslu and Himalchuli Mountains, and panoramic views of the valleys.
Also view the palace building, one of Nepal's historical landmark, some buildings have interesting wood carvings portraying various romantic scenes. Also viwe the temple of Goddess Gorakhkali residing on the west side of the palace. To view sunrise from the palace, climb very early in the morning.
King Prithivi's Birthday Celebration
On King Prithivi's birthday, which is a national Nepali holiday known as Prithivi Jayanti , various celebrations are held throughout Nepal, one of which is held in Gorkha bazaar located at the foot of the hill. So if you happen to visit Gorkha on that day, observe that event as well. Prithivi Jayanti is on 27th of January 2005 (1st of Poush 2060, according to Nepalese Annual Calendar).
The King's statues are found in many places in Nepal which many visitors find of interest to observe. Many places are dedicated to his name, for example Prithivi Chok (Cross Road) in Kathmandu, Prithivi Chok in Pokhara, Prithivi Chok in Bharatpur, and the Highway connecting Kathmandu with Pokhara and then to Baglung is called Prithvi Highway. Photos and Portraits of the King have his right-hand's first finger pointing up, signifying that Nepal is one kingdom (or in Nepali, the meaning is `We all come together as one'). His statues have that characteristic.
Dashain Jamara Procession
During Nepal's popular festival Dashain, Jamaras are brought from the Gorkha palace to the modern Narayan Hiti Palace in Kathmandu. The King Prithivi Narayan Shah had moved the capital of Nepal from Gorkha to Kathmandu, and he is the founder of the Shah dynasty. Jamaras from Gorkha are used by the Royal family as a blessing from the King and above! On the Dashain Fulpati Day, there is a Royal Army parade, Fulpati procession to Gorkha Durbar and other activities of religious and cultural interests which visitors may find interesting to observe.
Popular Trekking from Gorkha
If you seek to trek from Gorkha, there is no where a better place to taste some of Nepal's hillside experience than from Gorkha. You can chose to trek from Gorkha to Kathmandu or Gorkha to Pokhara, However, the most popular trekking from Gorkha is from Gorkha to Pokhara, which is of 10 days. First day, arrive at Gorkha Bazaar, complete sightseeing of the Gorkha palace, then from the second day onwards start trekking from Gorkha - Luitel - Hirmantar - Tarughat - Besisahar - Ghattekhola - Gharpokhari - Rupatal - then arrive Pokhara on the 10th day, then extend a few days of trekking or sigtseeing in and around Pokhara.
It was said, that if anyone was seeking justice, no ruler was as fair and just as the King of Gorkha. The Gorkha kingdom was established in the year 1560, by the legendary King Drabya Shah. From the year 1604 to 1641, the Shah dynasty would become famous and rule over Gorkha. Today, the reminders of this era stand proudly in the form of the Gorkha Royal Palace, the Gorkha Bazaar and Gorkha Durbar.
The Gorkha Royal Palace was the birthplace of Prithvi Naraya, who was born in the central palace named Dhuni Pari. Prithvi Narayan Shah is known for gathering his Gorkha soldiers and battling to unify all of Nepal by taking control of the Kathmandu. After his amazing victory, in the 18th century, Kathmandu became the capital of Nepal.
To tell someone that the Gorkha Palace is located in the east side of the Gorkha Durbar would be deceiving. Most visitors are more than awestruck when they look up at the palace on the hill and the approximately one thousand seven hundred steps that lies between them and palace. The climb to the Gorkha Palace might be challenging, but the view is rewarding and the way down is a lot easier. Most of the palace remains the same as in the days of Ram Shah, but kings and rulers that followed did make a few minor changes during their reigns. Restoration work to this beautiful sight in Nepal has kept the palace in excellent condition, and although it is not always open to visitors, especially not the second floor, much can be seen through the latticed windows. The architectural style of the palace is known as Newari-style, and when peering through the windows visitors will be able to see the throne of Prithvi Narayan. Also visible is the “eternal flame” that has been burning for many years, as it was lit straight after the uniting of Nepal, at the hands of Prithvi Narayan. The detailed woodwork and spectacular carvings make the Gorkha Palace a treasured piece of history and a popular sight in Nepal.
On clear days or early mornings, the view from the palace is just short of a visual miracle of nature. The panoramic views of the rolling green landscapes, snow capped Himalayas and the town below is spectacular. From this vantage point visitors will be able to see the Goddess Gorakhkali Temple, the Himalchuli Mountain, Manaslu Mountain, Annapurna and Ganesh. It is a view and a moment in time that visitors are unlikely to forget.
Gorakhnath Cave :
Ten meters below the palace's southern side, is the sacred cave temple of Gorkhanath. The cave is is carved out of the solid rock and is among the most important religious sites for mainstream Brahmins and Chhetris of Nepal. Gorkha is also an alternate starting point for a few trekking routes in the region. Gorkha-Trisuli is an easy three day walk along unspoiled Nepali country side. One can also walk a long day's walk to Besishahar, which is the usual starting point for Annapurna and Manang area treks. One can also walk through Besishahar area to Pokhara in a four days.
Upallokot :
It is situated at a 20 minutes walking distance from Gorkha palace.There is a viewing platform at an altitude of 1520 meters in Upallokot from where the spectacular view of Gorkha palace and the sliver shining snow-fed peaks can be enjoyed.
Manakamana :
On a beautiful ridge south-east of the township of Gorkha lies the holy temple of Manakamana, the holy goddess of aspirations. It is a famous pilgrimage site for Hindus. Manakamana is 4 hour's walk uphill from Anbu Khaireni on Kathmandu-Pokhara Highway.
The new democratic constitution of the kingdom was promulgated on November 9, 1990. Nepal is one of the founder members of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SAARC of which the third summit was held in Kathmandu in November 1987.
LAPRAK (The Snowland Gurung village)
"LAPRAK" village is the most wonderful, heavenly and exciting, remote area of the Gorkha district. It’s a thick houses inhabited by Gurung’s .The laprak village is 125 km northwest of Kathmandu and 65 km northwest of Gorkha headquarters .
The Gurung village is situated in the hills at an altitude of 2,300 m above the sea level .The climate is little warm and cool during the march to September and start the winter season like very cold and snow falling during the October to January end of the month .
The laprak gurung village is own their Gurung languages and culture, traditional and the houses is made by whole stone and the roof tops is covered by wood. The villagers are mainly source of independent with their agriculture and farming the land field. There are all locally produced many food items such as grain, vegetable, potato, milk, maize, barley, wheat, millet, bean others things also in this village.
The young generation youth’s are to be recruitment, regiment on soldier like uk, Singapore police, Indian army, Nepalese army also and some body has to established the trekking agency’s here in Kathmandu .
In the same time the first person of the gurung caste from western Nepal Mt Everest: late Iman Singh Gurung including 8 youth’s of they buried in the avalanche in the kangaroo himal, which add laprakies.
There is to established one higher secondary school and health post in Laprak by France peoples welfare and to facility telephone, electricity etc. The life style of the lapraki gurung village truly meditative an
meditative an exotic, strange living ethnic tradition handed down since ages.
The social life is replete, completely with interesting risible of life cycle, birth wedding, death etc. There is to live inhabit and existence only gurung peoples and kamis in Laprak. They are celebrates many festival like Buddha Jayanti, Ghatu dance ,Lhosar, tihar, Dashain, Maghesakkranti, chewarar, Ahaun, Rodhi etc as the whole gurung castes are all Buddhist religious .
The visitors to Lapraki gurung village are welcomed and respectful with offering of garlands and tika while music and dance are performed and traditional farewell songs for the guests. The people of Laprakies keep goats and sheep and use wool from these animals to make attractive products .The make cloths and bags from nettle fiber and scrafs, towels and shawls from the wool of angora Rabbits and to make of different products from the bomboo.
The lapraki gurung village is major tourist area of the Manaslu Region. There is surrounding, satellite by green forest and National flower, blossom of a plant like rhododendron and other ever green shrub also… An easy walk above the village is a view point at “Gurung Hill” pusudanda at 3000m this is the highest point south of he Gorkha .We can see many view and panorama ,magic ,mysterious and spectacular ,sunrise at the morning and many Himalayas range like Manaslu (8163m) Bouddha himal (6672m) Himalchuli (7893m) Rupina pass (4643m) Shringi Himal (7187m) ,Ganesh Himal (7429m)and Langtang Himalayas range ,Lamjung himal, Annapurna Himalayas range etc. And many visitors tourist’s are to goes from this laprak village way around the Manaslu, Larkye La pass (5213m) high altitude and the ending point place is Besishar then afterwards to goes by bus Besishar to kahtmandu . So this is a must wonderful and majestic, exicting the picture square hill town place of western part Nepal .It’s a really Spiritualism dreamland and Snowland, heaveanly of laprak Gurung village and most important Rural Tourism Sector of this Manaslu Region.
We must to be Indispensable Advertises and Publicity on different place and country about the Tourism Sector .It’s my own attitude ,advice ,counsel Dear all Guests and Visitor’s .I hopefully feeling of expectation and optimistic it’s to be great development for the Tourism Sector Our Nepal .
How to reach Gorkha?
Gorkha, located midway between Kathmandu and Pokhara, can be reached from either cities by taxi or public bus. For accommodation and dining, there are hotels, guest houses and restaurants located in Gorkha to satisfy your preferences. Transporation Cost should not cost you $2 to $3 by bus, about $20 by Taxi from Pokhara, and about $30 by Taxi from Kathmandu, and accomodation is relatively inexpensive here.
