Six months back, I met my college friends at a small reunion. There, we decided that we will plan a trip to an interesting spot for a mini vacation. As usual, we were on the discussion stage but with many twists and turns, we were able to make it up. We all took holidays from our respective jobs and decided to go to Pokhara, Nepal for 3 days. After Kathmandu, Pokhara—also known as the “Tourist Capital of Nepal”—is the biggest city in this Himalayan nation. It is one of the highest cities in the world, at over 900 meters, and serves as the beginning point for several well-known treks all over the world. The town’s most prominent feature is its Lakeside, a boating paradise surrounded by small boutiques, picture-perfect cafés, restaurants, and pubs. Our journey began at Delhi International Airport for Pokhara. We were a group of five friends waiting to reach Pokhara to see the best of the city.
How to reach there:
Although Pokhara has its domestic airport, you must fly directly there from Kathmandu International Airport. There are flights from several Indian towns to the international airport in Kathmandu. As an alternative, you can travel directly to Pokhara by bus from Gorakhpur.
The ideal time to visit Pokhara
The greatest time to visit Pokhara is from September to November, which is also the busiest travel period. The coldest months in Pokhara are from December through February. Due to Pokhara’s proximity to the Himalayas, winter lasts until March. In the busiest months, visitors go hiking and trekking. In addition, during the winter and spring (April–May), there are adventure sports including bungee jumping, zip lining, and paragliding. The city looks stunning and is warmer at this time of year.
All about My trip:
Day 1:
We reached Pokhara around 11 AM. We had booked a tour package so the hotel was also covered in it. We checked in at our hotel, had some rest, and then decided to start our journey. In our to-do list, our first motive was to visit temples. Near the location where the Seti River emerges from underground, there is a cave temple called Gopteshwar Mahadev Mandir dedicated to Lord Shiva. The 3-kilometer-long cave’s self-emerging Shiva Lingam was discovered there in the sixteenth century. We visited this temple and prayed for ourselves while worshiping the Lord. In addition to the sacred temple, we checked out the lengthy, deep, and gloomy cave. It offers a fantastic opportunity to discover the natural beauties in their purest form.
Next, we decided to visit NepalShree Bindhyabasini Temple. In Pokhara, a small hill is home to the historic Bindhyabasini Temple. Goddess Durga, an embodiment of Devi Parvati, is the subject of this shrine. According to legend, King Siddhi Narayan Shah purchased the idol from Bindhyachal in India. After worshiping and spending enough time here, we had evening snacks from a nearby cafe. For Dinner, we decided to go back to our hotel and try dishes from an in-house restaurant.
Day 2nd:
It was our second day in Pokhara, Nepal. We had our breakfast and then we headed straight to explore Bat Cave. Okay, we knew this is going to be fun and will stretch more time so we were ready for it. The Chamero Gufa or Bat cave in Pokhara is ideal for those seeking a higher level of adventure. It is 4 km away from the city center. The cave’s dark, gloomy, and humid chambers are home to hundreds of bats, as the name of the place suggests. The vast majority of these are Horseshoe Bats, which can be found hanging upside down on the freezing cavern ceilings. There were lots of tourists there, and each of us had to pay 150 rupees to enter the cave. We came out from here at 12:30 PM, had our lunch, gossiped some more, looked at our already-taken photos, and spent a great time.
Next, we decided to go to Mahendra cave. If you are a devout Hindu, you would not pass up the opportunity to visit Mahendra cave. The cave was named after Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and has a statue of Lord Shiva, attracting nearly tens of thousands of people each year. We covered this place entirely, it was quite peaceful to be here. However, because the cave closes at 4 PM, we had to leave this location. Nevertheless, we found the ambiance quite pleasing. Moving forward, if you are thinking about what we did next, then you are right. We visited Devi’s fall in 30 minutes by road. Devi’s Fall in Pokhara is a spectacular waterfall that creates a 500-foot-long underground tunnel as it falls. The Phewa Lake Dam feeds the waterfall that is surrounded by lush flora. This location captivated us all, and we had a great time there. We also tried some local food at this place along with clicking dozens of photos.
Day 3rd:
Today in the evening, we had our flight but before that, we had ample amount of time to check out something worthy. So after breakfast, we headed to the International Mountain Museum. Yes, we were in no mood to stop exploring various places. The International Mountain Museum carries photographs of the mountains and various tales. This location is perfect for individuals who love museums, history, and learning about the local culture. We got to learn various information on the history of the Himalayan mountains and the people that were living there back then.
After thoroughly exploring the museum, we decided to have our lunch at a neighboring restaurant. The food quality and quantity were adequate, and it was delicious too. We returned to the hotel after lunch, but deep down, I knew I didn’t want to leave the city. Sadly, we had no other options because we had our flight today. After reaching the hotel, we packed our belongings and headed to the airport. Our journey was over, but the memories we made will last a lifetime.
Bottom Lines:
Before moving out of Pokhara, Nepal, I promised myself to return once again to experience more the city has to offer. Trust me, this place has so many emotions and I can’t wait to visit here again.
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