A city aligned with the sapphire blue Phewa lake, and residing under the majestic Annapurna Mountain Range, Pokhara is a plate of just the right ingredients for your next travel plan. Named after its jewel ‘pokhari’, it is home to all the glory of a perfect weekend trip one can imagine. Enthralling natural sceneries, peaceful city life, religious hub, and adventurous activities are just the beginning of the long list of wonders this city has to offer.

It is believed that the Pokhara Valley originated around 700 years ago in the 1300s. A catastrophic avalanche-triggered flood that came as an outcome of massive earthquakes in the past centuries, came from the Sabche Cirque of the Annapurna range. Mother nature played her strings and the captivating valley was born. During the Shah Dynasty in the 1700s, the then king of Kaski kingdom, Kulmandan Singh is said to have built the sacred Taal Barahi Temple nearby the then-young city.

During the 17th century, the Pokhara Valley was an important spot for training after the Tibet to India trading route was passed through it. It was one of the crown jewels in terms of wealth for the Kaski Kingdom. Most of the ancestors of the now-residing people of the city came during the 1800s. This enhanced the population and the infrastructural growth in the city.

However, the legend of the origin of the city tells another story. It is believed that thousands of years ago, here used to lay the peaceful city of Phewa. One day, Goddess Barahi took the form of an old woman and knocked on every house in the city asking for some food. While everyone shut her out and didn’t agree to help her, One man and his wife were kind enough to invite her inside and offer their own food to her.

The goddess was touched by their kindness and infuriated by the rest of the city. She decided to bring in a flood and destroy all their houses except for the couple who helped her. She asked them to go to a Hillock, where the now Tal Barahi temple resides, while the flood was coming. Everyone except for the couple died in the flood, and the Phewa Tal was formed. In honor of the Goddess, that couple built the temple dedicated to her.

It takes around 25 minutes to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu on the plane. 9 daily flights are available. The valley is located at an elevation of 822m above sea level, about 400m lower than the Kathmandu valley. The temperature is warmer, and the best time to visit is around autumn or winter when it is not too hot, and not too cold either. It is also the time when the mountains are at their best view from the valley.

There is a world of things you can spend your weekend doing here. Obviously, it makes no sense to miss visiting the beautiful Phewa Tal after your arrival. Its peaceful serenity reflecting the Annapurna mountain range in its waters perfectly balances out the bustling city. A breath of the tranquil view this valley gets because of the lake, your heart will be pumped throughout your stay here. You can simply go on a boat ride to take in the lake at its best. The boat ride will also take you to the Tal Barahi temple sitting in the middle of the lake as an island. It is a two-tiered temple that resonated with the historic Nepali pagoda-style architecture. There is also a trek that circuits the late and also stops by the World Peace Pagoda.

Within and just around the city lies more of nature that will baffle your trip. The Davis fall is located about 2 kilometers away from the Pokhara Airport. It is the point where the Pardi Khola stream goes underground and disappears. During the monsoon, the waters are at their wildest and the sound of the waterfall in between the stoney cliffs is what people so admirably visit for.

Right across the road of Davis fall, lies the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave was discovered in 1950. It is the longest known cave in Nepal with a distance of 2950 meters. It is home to a magnificent stalagmite that is worshiped as Lord Shiva. People believe that once upon a time the lord himself would come inside this cave to meditate. Through the decades, it has been a significant Hindu pilgrimage site where devotees come to worship, and at the present, it is a popular tourist attraction.

After spending half your day visiting these popular sites, you can dedicate the rest of it to visiting the World Peace Pagoda. About 7 kilometers from the core city, it is located at the top of the Anada hill of Pumdi village at an elevation of 2100m. Throughout your stay at Pokhara, the sight of this pagoda will not leave the corner of your eye as it sits overlooking the valley. A one-of-a-kind view of the city, it is only situated about a one-hour hike or a 20-minute drive away. Boating across the lake and then taking another hiking route is again a fun way to the World Peace Stupa.

The second day at Pokhara can be dedicated to experiencing some of the countless adventurous activities the city has in store. There is boating, kayaking, rafting, horse riding, mountain biking, paragliding, bungee jumping, parasailing, and many more. You can even go on a hike to the alluring villages around the valley like Sarangkot, Dhampus, Begnas Tal, Rupa Tal, and many more.

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