World Travel Series: Nepal - Pokhara

Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal, located in the Pokhara Valley on the southern foothills of the Himalayas. It is famous for the scenic beauty of Phewa Lake, the Annapurna mountain range, and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Peak). Known as the "Hiking Paradise" and the "Little Switzerland of the East," it is one of Nepal's most popular tourist destinations. Images 1 and 2: Phewa Lake is a famous royal resort in Nepal. On clear days, you can see the reflection of Dhaulagiri Peak, Machhapuchhre (Nepal's sacred mountain, climbing is prohibited), and Annapurna I in the lake. The majestic Annapurna massif forms a natural backdrop for Phewa Lake. Colorful wooden boats are neatly docked along the shore, looking especially beautiful on the green lake surface. Image 3: The World Peace Pagoda in Nepal is a Buddhist memorial located on the ridge south of Phewa Lake in Pokhara. It was funded and built in 2000 by Buddhists from Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. The pagoda is a solid white stupa, 115 feet tall, with a golden top inlaid with Ceylon sapphires. Each of the four sides houses gilded Buddha statues depicting the four stages of Shakyamuni Buddha’s life: birth, enlightenment, first sermon, and nirvana. As a landmark of Pokhara, it is both a Buddhist holy site and a popular viewpoint for watching the sunrise and sunset over the Himalayas and overlooking the entire Phewa Lake. Image 4: Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Peak), with its south and north summits at 6,993 meters and 6,997 meters respectively, is a mysterious peak in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas, located within Nepal. Named for its fish-tail shape, it is considered a sacred mountain by locals, and the government prohibits climbing it, so Machhapuchhre remains an unclimbed peak. Images 5 to 9: The highest peak in Pokhara is Sarangkot, at 1,688 meters. This small hill is located north of Pokhara city and has several viewing platforms. You can start at 5:30 AM, either by booking a car or hiking up the hill, to watch the golden sunrise. P6: Machhapuchhre P8: Annapurna Mountain Range Images 10 and 11: Pokhara Old Town