Pokhara and the Annapurna Range
Pokhara lies along the shores of the crystal clear Phewa Lake and provides magnificent views of the Annapurna region. It is the hub for the famous Annapurna Circuit, and the start point for dozens more treks through the Annapurna Range. For non-trekkers, there’s plenty here to keep you busy, including numerous museums, fascinating caves, waterfalls and Tibetan villages brimming with culture.
Pokhara is a trekker’s paradise and offers scores of treks, starting from just one day in length. The treks almost always offer spectacular views of some of the world’s most beautiful mountains, including Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchare, Nilgiri and Manaslu amongst others, as well as beautiful gurung villages and paddyfields.
Phewa Tal is the second-largest lake in Nepal. On calm days, the mountains of the Annapurna Range are perfectly reflected in the placid waters. Away from the shore, the water is clean and deep and the dense forest along the south side of the lake provides shelter for brilliant white egrets.
The International Mountain Museum is devoted to the mountains of Nepal and the mountaineers who climbed them. Inside, you can see original gear from many of the first Himalayan ascents, as well as displays on the history, culture, geology and flora and fauna of the Himalayas.
From the village of Sarangkot, you can see a panoramic sweep of the nearby Himalayan peaks. From the epic-looking Dhaulagiri (8167m) in the west, to the perfect pyramid of Machhapuchhare (6997m) and rounded peak of Annapurna II (7937m) in the east. Each dawn and dusk, the sun bathes the peaks in brilliant shades of orange.