Pokhara

Eco-friendly travel guide to Pokhara advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to explore the attractions in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Pokhara, Nepal.

Annapurna mountain range and Phewa lake with partial part of Pokhara city

Air quality: 4 / 5

Exploring by foot: 3 / 5

Exploring by bicycle: 2.5 / 5

Public transportation: 4 / 5

Parks: 4 / 5

Outdoor activities: 4 / 5

Locals' English level: 3 / 5

Safety: 4 / 5

Accommodation: US$10 - $100

Budget per day: US$40 - $100

Responsible Travel

Pokhara, the metropolitan city of Nepal, is a perfect destination for adventure and leisure. The city is stretched beautifully along the shore of the Phewa Lake with the colorful paddling boats lying on the shore and the ice-capped mountains at the end. The thin line of tranquillity that this place offers makes Pokhara one of the most stunning destinations to explore.

If you wish to explore the untouched beauty of Pokhara, remember some essential points of being a responsible traveler. The goal is to keep the aesthetics of the new city intact while diving in and exploring the beauty of the town. By having the active awareness of the effect of travel and making small choices that will leave significant impacts without leaving a trace of your wanderings, you can actually make a difference.

Trekking in Pokhara is one activity that boosts the economy. Traveling with an ethical trekking company and following environmental policies whilst on the trek, and trying to ensure the fellow trekkers do the same, is the best way to ensure no ecological and cultural degradation.

Respect the porters and ensure they are respected for their service. These porters rely on carrying weight for their livelihood, so don't risk injuring them.

Ensure to stick to the trail and leave the mountains the way they are without littering and polluting. In case you see trash, be responsible for picking and throwing in trash bins.

Grappling from the issues of the 2015 earthquake, the city still fights other issues like poverty, and gender inequality. If you wish to help, go for volunteering a reputable, ethically-driven, and sustainably-minded organization.

Seek out and actively support social enterprises and women-led businesses to boost female empowerment and gender equality in Pokhara.

Respect the necessary customs and norms while visiting any temple or any other holy place. Don't hesitate to take the help of locals and show respect to the city's customs.

Choose to stay in green hotels, eat local food, support the local vendors and businesses and reduce the carbon footprints, and have much richer and more authentic travel experience.

Air Quality and Pollution

Pokhara is the capital of Gandaki Pradesh. Being the largest city in terms of area and second-largest in terms of population, the city stands at 7th position in Nepal as per the US Air Quality Index (AQI). With the 62 AQI, the pollution level is moderate.

Being the bowl-shaped valley, the air takes time to exit the city. The air in Pokhara contains sulfur-dioxide and nitrogen oxide that demands immediate measures to be taken to reduce air pollution.

Pollution in Pokhara is a factor that has been changing the reputation of paradise-by-the-lake to a smog-choked city. The increasing tourism and burning of plastics and wood have increased the amount of PM10 in the air. The air pollution data for Pokhara is as follows:

PM10 - 27
PM2.5 - 17
PM10 Pollution Level - Low
Pollution Index: 44.91
Pollution Exp Scale: 81.78

The government and locals have always been on their tip-toes to contribute in every way to reduce the level of pollution and find the solution to increasing pollution issues. The significant step towards it includes Clean Air Forum I organized in 2016, Clean Air Forum II was organized on 14th June in Pokhara.

As a traveler, exploring paradise, one should focus on reducing the littering and pollution of the trails. Also, traveling with awareness, kindness, and mutual respect for the world around you is the surest way to reduce your carbon footprints and help the locals to reduce pollution levels.

Respect the Culture

Pokhara is a city that is deeply religious and spiritual. Being a little bit culturally conservative, many of the customs are linked with their religion and spirituality. Knowing about and respecting the culture of the city is the prime aspect to follow to make the trip memorable and smooth.

Every place has customs and traditions of its own. Right from offering prayers to having a meal, every site follows a unique practice. Blending in with the locals by following the traditions is the best way to have the smoothest travel. A small act of respect and love towards the local culture can be warm and welcoming for you.

Some tips of essential customs to ensure that the act will not disrespect the culture of the city are:

Remember to remove shoes outside the temple
Being a conservative city, try to keep the public display of affection to a minimum
Talk in a soft and polite voice
Understand the cues and avoid obnoxious behavior
Since most meals are eaten on floors, so while visiting a local place, be happy to follow the custom
Do not waste food as it is considered impolite and flawed luck.

Top 10 Places to Visit

The fantastic and overwhelming city with great natural beauty and photo ops are sure to surprise you. The highlight places that one can experience while traveling Pokhara are listed down for you.

Phewa Lake: The second largest lake in Nepal is the center of attraction for all tourists. So, if you wish to explore the lake by a boat tour, then get ready to be mesmerised by the surrounding Sarangkot and Kaskikot hills.

Davis fall: The stunning cascade of water is known for its beauty and tranquillity.

Jangchub Choeling Gompa: The Tibetian refugee camp with a 7-foot-long copper and gold plated Buddha statue which is surrounded by 1000 miniatures of Buddha, is beautiful and has a story of its own to share.

Shree Gaden Dhargay Ling Monastery: Located in the Tashi Ling, Tibetan Camp in Pokhara, will provide a phenomenal experience with a strong spiritual vibe to lift your spirits and give you inner peace.

Gupteshwar Mahadev Cave: With the spiral staircase leading to the cave and the naturally formed Shiva Lingam, the shelter has a great religious and tourist importance.

Pokhara Shanti Stupa: If you are searching for peace, then this hiking place is just for you. With the Peace Pagoda having the four Buddha statues depicting the prominent stages of Buddha life, this place offers a fantastic view of the Pokhara valley on one side.

Sarangkot: If you love hiking, then plan to hike this trail. The popular paragliding launching point and the amazing sunrise view will be a tremendous experience of your life.

Barahi Temple: Located in the vicinity of Phewa Lake, this place is filled with people offering prayers to the almighty who sometimes sacrifice birds and animals as an offering to the god.

Bat’s Cave: With the narrower entrance and more comprehensive inside, the bat’s cave Pokhara is a home for several nocturnal flying Draculas. Sheltering various species of bats, this place will offer you a spectacular peep in the bat’s kingdom.

Bindabasini Temple: Situated 3000 ft above the sea level, it is a Hindu religion temple designed in Pagoda Style dedicated to Goddess Durga. Enjoying the fabulous view of mountain ranges including Machhapuchhre and Annapurna, while worshipping here is phenomenal.

The breathtaking Phewa Lake

Explore

A city with breathtaking views, beautiful temples, excellent trails to trek, and with lovely people, always attracts tourists. Pokhara is one such place that offers the perfect combination of aesthetic beauty with a touch of modernization.

But the question is how to plan your daily itinerary in a new city? Well, if you wish to explore the place to the fullest and have a memorable holiday, then add a pinch of adventure to your trip. Indulge yourself in the beauty of the city and meet new people around you.

From parks to museums and various vital landmarks, exploring Pokhara will be sheer pleasure and bliss.

City Parks

The lush green parks that offer serene peace and relaxation are sure a part of exploration when you visit Pokhara. The city parks that add the beauty of Pokhara are:

Basundhara Park: A park with great potential with a beautiful lake nearby to offer opportunities to boat and fish. With the serene and scenic environment, this park is perfect for relaxing and strolling around.

Miteri Park: A beautiful park between Basundhara Park and the Kedareshwar Mahadev Temple, located right on the lake. Offering a perfect place to chill, this park is one exciting place to visit.

Pandeli Park: Hidden from the public eye, this is the way to the famous Hiking Trail between Base of Phew Lake and Sarangkot view top. This is the best place to go for paragliding and photography. Offering the beautiful view of Phewa Lake with the cool breeze flowing, this place is best for relaxing and meeting people.

Movie Garden: A hidden getaway on the jungle edge with the panoramic view of Lake Phewa, with half, covered and half-open setting, this place is simply blissful. With the unique experience of the garden and greenery mixed with the best movies of the last 50 years, the experience that this garden offers is truly unmatched.

Bindabasini Flower Garden: The peaceful environment of the temple with a small beautiful water fountain and a variety of flowers blooming to add their sweet smell to the air, this garden is best to relax and add spirituality to your trip.

Basundhara Park

National Parks

The national parks to visit in Pokhara are:

Komagane Park: With a series of unique stone sculptures, this is a tranquil park with a lake, picnic spot, and a play area. Also known as Friendship Park, this place is calm and soothing.

Pokhara Zoological Park: Located in Lekhnath, this wildlife rescue center offers a close view of different local and exotic birds and animals alongside a mesmerizing view of Rupa lake.

Annapurna Conservation Area Project: A gentle trail with a home to 400 species of birds, this trek is designed to maximize bird-watching time whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery of the area.

Komagane Park

Beaches

Pokhara is filled with lakeside views and greenery. Blessed with the beautiful views of nature and soothing environment, the city offers its visitors with a few beautiful beaches and lakesides to spend their evenings in bliss.

While you explore the beauty and nature of the city, add these places to your list to explore and have a taste of adventure to make your trip even more memorable.

Coco Beach: The sandy beach with the soothing environment and uncanny services offers the best setting to sit and relax. With a fantastic view and friendly atmosphere, visiting this place is a real bliss.

Royal Beach Camp: The campsite with fun and frolic activities and a beach to relax is the unique feature of this place. The lush green valley on a white sandy beach, on the banks of the Trishuli River, is a perfect escape from the fast-paced life.

Beach Of Pokhara: The Phewa Tal, is a small oasis which is extremely beautiful. With the rows of colorful boats standing on the bank ready to offer you a ride in crystal clear waters, the Phewa Lake is breathtaking.

Phewa Tal

Landmarks

The landmarks which make Pokhara unique in all ways are:

Ghorepani Hill: It is the most preferred trekking tail popularly known as Nepal's Classic Himalaya Trek, which is a prime attraction for nature lovers.

Mahendra cave: Named after the King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, it is a vast natural formation in limestone. Considering the cave sacred, you will find the statue of Lord Shiva installed inside.

Poon Hill: An impeccable view of sunrise and sunset, makes this short trekking destination quite famous. Trekking from Ghorepani and enjoying the spectacular view of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges on the way make this trail perfect for modest trekkers.

Bhimsen Temple: The 200-year-old temple constructed in Pagoda style is dedicated to the Newari God of trade and commerce.

Matepani Gumba: A beautiful monastery situated in a peaceful environment with a well-maintained garden is undoubtedly a rewarding experience for all.

Gopteshwar Mahadev Mandir: A cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva originating from the underground, provides the most loyal opportunity to explore the natural wonders in the purest form.

Ghorepani Hill

Museums

To know about the history and culture of a place, there is nothing better than visiting a museum. Pokhara offers tourists with so many museums to interact with history and culture and explore the hidden mysteries of the place.

International Mountain Museum: If you wish to know more about mountains, then this museum is one perfect place to explore the great documentaries in the lap of nature.

Gorkha Museum: A grand structure dedicated to commemorating the service of Gurkha soldiers, this museum is a beautiful picture gallery.

Pokhara Regional Museum: Explore and gain insight with the help of ancient culture and history of Pokhara Valley with the use of exhibits displayed in the museum.

Annapurna Butterfly Museum: A museum dedicated to the collection of around 660 rare and endemic species of butterflies, this museum is aesthetic.

International Mountain Museum

Eat

The best thing about visiting a new place is to taste the delicacies and feel the aroma of the authentic food of the city. The local delicacies of a city are unique in their method of preparation and taste. It is genuinely refreshing to taste the food which is unique and different.

Pokhara is a place that is going to offer you a flabbergasting experience when it comes to food. With the restaurants serving from international to national delicacies, you can have a menu of your own desire.

Check out Natsal Restaurant for Korean food, China Town Restaurant for Chinese, Marwadi Restaurant for Indian, AoZoRa and Koto for Himalayan, and restaurants like Moondance for International food. With so much to cover from Fried Trout Fish to Machhapuchhre Kiss, tickle your taste buds with the lip-smacking food.

Traditional Local Restaurants

Pokhara Thakali Kitchen: With the authentic Nepali food on the menu, which is very delicious and reasonably priced, this place is a hidden gem.

Dunatapari Restaurant: If you are looking forward to enjoying local Pokhara food in a peaceful environment, then this is the right place that offers an excellent taste.

Thakali Bhanchha: Offering the real taste of Nepalese food in Pokhara, this restaurant is the first choice of many when it comes to trying authentic Nepalese food.

Byanjan: With the seating area offering views over Phewa Tal, and a wide selection of Nepali, Asian and continental dishes, this place is perfect with an excellent taste offering the lip-smacking tandoori kebabs.

Asian Tea House: A must-visit in Pokhara where you can enjoy a hot chai alongside some of the locals and that too at a very affordable price.

Vegetarian and Vegan

New Marwari Restaurant: The paradise for the vegetarians that offer the incredible tasty Indian food at very affordable prices.

Bajko Macha Mahal: The ayurvedic fish restaurant that is totally worth the visit, particularly if you're craving fresh vegetables.

Umbrella Café: This is the best restaurant for anyone vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free. Recently reopened after post-earthquake renovations, this place offers yoga and meditation sessions each day.

OR2K Pokhara: The Mediterranean restaurant offers a lot of options from vegan to vegetarian in the hippest environment.

Street Food

Momos: It is the most popular snack in Nepal and can be found in street stalls or small eateries. Offered in both vegetarian and nonvegetarian variants, this street food served with piping hot chutney is fantastic.

Samosa: The iconic golden brown conical crispy puff filled with boiled potatoes and peas and served with sweet and sour chutney is best to have on any day.

Yomari: The egg-shaped steamed dumpling filled with condensed milk or molasses and sesame seeds, is a sweet street dish to try.

Bara: A classic Nepali appetizer which is essentially a fried pancake made from a batter of mashed lentils and ginger, and typically, it is served with a side of curry, makes a perfect meal.

Momos

Drink

No matter where you travel, having a clean and pure source of water to quench your thirst is essential. Not only that, if you want to get indulged in the local delicacies, then culture, food, and drink are all part of it.

Pokhara, being a city with amazing views and live music shows going on, is one of the liveliest cities of Nepal. With so many drinks to offer right from juices to coffee, spending time here will be unquestionably unique.

But when we talk about alcoholic drinks, then Raksi, the local drink of Pokhara is brewed in many houses usually for in-home consumption. Slightly heavier alcohol content with mild taste to no taste for the best ones, make this drink quite unique.

If not this, you can try on some locally made sweet lassi or even a cup of coffee, whichever suits your mood and desire. The options to quench your thirst at Pokhara are many, and each one is better than the other.

Tap-water

It is nevertheless wrong to say that the role that water plays in satisfying thirst is superior to any other drink. But while traveling outside, it is essential to know about the quality of the water before you drink it, from the health and hygiene perspective.

Unsafe or unclean water can welcome a lot of diseases and can spoil all the fun of the holidays. Considering the same, the water quality of Pokhara is 30.56, which is low, and the Quality and accessibility of the drinking water are 58.33, which is moderate, as per Numbeo.

Hence, it is better to consume bottled, filtered water, or boiled water while in Pokhara and the tap water is not at all advisable to drink. Ensure to check the seal of the bottle while buying it as compromising with health is not acceptable in any way.

Organic Cafés

If you are seeking to eat or drink something healthy and organic, then there are several cafes to make you happy. From organic tea and coffee to perfectly cooked tasty food, these cafes offer outstanding ambiance and affordable prices.

Am/Pm Organic Cafe: The perfect cafe with a clean and excellent environment offering the best Lassi in the town. Visiting this cafe to have a morning breakfast of scrambled eggs is impressive. And the best part is the cafe is budget-friendly as well.

Nepal Organic Cafe & Restaurant: The great place facing the lake offering the most tasteful coffee, provides the best experience and ambiance. Although the price is a bit high, for the occasion, it is sure worth it.

Machhapuchhre Organic Coffee: With the excellent drip of coffee, a lovely garden, fantastic ambiance, and the pleasant staff, this cafe offers the best food and drinks with an illuminating stay experience.

Organic Java Coffee House: Located on the side of Lakeside street, this place offers the facility of a takeaway with affordable pricing. So just grab a piece of healthy and tasty snack on your way from here.

Breweries

The unforgettable and a part that is not to be missed is experiencing the breweries. Well, if you love to have a bit of alcohol, or are just willing to take a sip of the same on vacay mode, then visit the best breweries and enjoy it at the fullest.

Busy Bee: The biggest and most popular bar in Pokhara that offers 2-4-1 happy hour cocktails.

Club Amsterdam: With the fantastic selection of music and the happy hour cocktails blended with a comparative silent environment, this is amazing.

The Blues Bar: An old Pokhran institution, welcoming more of a more relaxed crowd with great music and drink which are less mainstream like whiskies, alcoholic teas, and some other spirits.

Activities

Pokhara is a city that is developing in terms of the number of tourists visiting to explore and seek adventure. From the scenic beauty of the fantastic restaurants and cafes, this place has something to offer every traveler.

But if you are searching for the adrenaline rush in your body and are looking forward to some excitement, then Pokhara with the mountains, lakes, and hiking treks is a perfect place. With so many things to do each day, your trip will be memorable and fun.

Even sitting on the lakeside cafe and sipping a hot cup of coffee and diving in the scenic beauty is also a fun experience. The fun activities to make you go crazy at this place are:

Trekking
Whitewater rafting
Boating
Canoeing and Kayaking
Paragliding
Mountain biking
Bungee Jumping
Ultralight Flight
Zip Flying
Skydiving
Hand Gliding
Stand up Paddle Boating

Planning to go for any such activities, try to join the adventure group for better experience and fun. Also, this will be budget-friendly, and the troubles can also be avoided.

Yoga and Retreats

Seeking the inner pace and relaxation is indeed what the majority of the people lure for in their vacations. So, suppose you are one of the spiritual seekers and are looking for peace of mind and soul. In that case, there are various yoga and meditation centers in the peaceful environment of Pokhara to take you to the land of peace away from stress.

Atmashree Yoga Retreat
Begnas Yoga and Retreat
Sadhana Yoga Retreat Centre
Tribikram Yoga Retreat Centre
Mukti Yoga Retreat

Feel the power of yoga and cleanse your soul with the perfect meditation and yoga sessions at your disposal. Relax your mind and get away from the stress while you enjoy the scenic beauty and perform meditation.

Accommodation

Staying in Pokhara is not expensive. With the clean and budget-friendly hostel, green hotel, apartment, or other alternative options, offering you all the necessary amenities, the city offers you various options to stay.

While it is advisable to book your stay before traveling, still if you experience any difficulty in planning your visit beforehand, then you can book a place while you stroll around the city. With so many accommodation options, booking one is really quick and easy.

Green Hotels

The eco-friendly concept of staying is one that offers a lush green, happy, and peaceful environment to survive. In addition to the same, these hotels are budget-friendly and effective options that provide the concept of relaxation and recycling.

Pokhara Eco Resort Pvt. Ltd.: With just 500 m from Lake Phewa, and featuring a garden and a terrace, Pokhara Eco Resort offers classic accommodation in Pokhara.

Mum's Garden Resort: This is one of the most eco-friendly resorts located in a peaceful area and has 12 deluxe rooms with attached baths and balconies to make your holiday in Pokhara enjoyable and memorable.

Sarangkot Mountain Lodge: At just 11 km from Phewa Lake, Sarangkot Mountain Lodge provides accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, a bar, and a garden.

Hostels and Guest Houses

Gauri Shankar Hostel: With the comfy beds, chilled environment, and affordable price, this is the perfect place to stay solo. Offering books for use, and an area to swap/donate unwanted hiking gear.

Pokhara Backpackers/Hostel: One of the cheap hostels in a prime location Lakeside.

Kiwi Backpackers Hostel: With the dated rooms, this place is run by a lovely family. Being quiet and away from the noise of Lakeside, the hostel offers a calm and soothing environment.

Apartments

If you are one of those travelers who wish to have a home-like comfort while your trip and stay, then the serviced apartments are the best choice. With all the facilities from the kitchen to wash areas, parking and Wi-Fi service apartments offer the best stay experience. Some of the best stay apartments in Pokhara are:

DnD Apartment Pokhara
Pokhara Aboard Inn
Experience Unique Tibetian room
Himalaya Inn
Lake View Apartment
Buddhi Boutique

Couchsurfing

Staying alone while traveling is not liked by a lot of people. But instead, they prefer to crouch surf and visit some local families to have a good time. Couchsurfing is one such concept that offers the tourists a memorable stay while providing an opportunity to make contact and meet new people.

While you plan to couch surf, try to book your stay online and prefer to know the host beforehand. This will save you from the hassle and troubles that might occur. Locals are always open to meet and greet foreigners in Pokhara, so the opportunity to get familiar with their culture and tradition is splendid while Couchsurfing.

Make sure to be the best of yourself and try to meet their lifestyle to add magic and memories to your stay.

Camping

Do you wish to stay even closer to those beautiful mountains, clean lakes, and nature? If so, then going camping in Pokhara is really a fabulous idea. With the serene environment and clean air to breathe in, with the countless stars shining in the sky above the head and the warmth of the campfire, the nights at camp are sheer love.

Some of the great camping grounds in Pokhara are:

Back to Nature Tented and hiking Camp
Into the Wild Pokhara
Tarakuti
270-degree camping site
Uphill Camping Site

How to Get There

The most crucial part of selecting a destination to travel is its accessibility and ease of connectivity. Being an upcoming tourist destination, the city of Pokhara is quite well connected to the world. It offers quite a good route and connectivity to reach.

With various means to reach Pokhara offering affordable pricing and swift facilities, traveling will not be tiresome and boring. While some modes take less time to get others to take a bit longer duration.

Don't forget to pack your neck support and a book or a jam-packed music pod for your journey.

Air

If you are looking for some swift and quick option to reach Pokhara, then the flight is the best choice. With around 20 flights per day, having a journey period of about 25 to 40 minutes, and costing around $100 roughly, one can fly to Pokhara directly from Kathmandu. Although the flights are uncertain due to the weather conditions, it is advisable to precheck while booking.

Bus

Buses are the most common mode connecting Kathmandu to Pokhara. Taking around 8 hours to travel 200kms, the number of bus operations is quite a lot, and you can catch one at any time of the day. The charges are between $6 to $ 42.

Train

Train connectivity is relatively standard in the rest of the world, but in Nepal, the rail connectivity is really feeble. So, suppose you are willing to travel by train still. In that case, the nearest railway hub is either Jayanagar or New Jalpaiguri, cross the border, and then you need to board a bus to Kathmandu which takes about 12 - 14 hours from the boundaries.

Hitchhiking

The locals here are friendly people and are ready to help. So, if you are planning to borrow a ride to reach Pokhara, the decision is quite suited. But due to the fear of goons on the way, you might face difficulty in getting a trip.

Still, just wave towards a car or bus to try your luck but make sure to clear the driver about the insufficiency of money before entering the car to avoid any dispute while getting off at the destination.

Others

If you are looking for some other options to reach Pokhara from the ones stated, then you can select joining a tour bus specially designated to help the tourists go round the city. The best part of such an option is that it offers the opportunity to meet new people while eliminating the fear of being alone.

Moving Around

Eco-friendly tourism is the idea to opt for all the options that increase the pleasure of travel while reducing carbon footprints. With different terrains and the climate soothing the various opportunities to travel around the city of Pokhara are listed down for you.

Walk

Pokhara is a walkable town that offers the people with broad footpaths, quiet back streets, and a picturesque lakeside walk, making it desirable to measure the city on foot. In fact, hiring a taxi for such short distances is really not worth it in the city.

Bicycle

With the perfect treks and trail to explore and the lanes offering the serene view of lakes, traveling the city Pokhara on a bicycle is a good option. With the shops providing the opportunity to rent a bike to travel around or go for mountain bicycling, the trip will really be blissful.

Electronic Vehicles

Compared to the rest of Nepal, the trend of electric scooters in Pokhara is lively. With the option to rent one from the hotel and with some significant hotels offering charging stations, exploring the city on a scooter is an option to go for. But don't forget to put your helmet on while traveling.

Public Bus

The public bus connects every corner of the city of Pokhara. With this kind of extensive network, going around the city with the help of available buses is really cheap and affordable. Also, this option is the quickest and easiest option to select.

Tram, Train and Subway

The city is still in search of such an option to travel across.

Sustainable Shopping

Praising the local artisans, and local shops are the best way to boost sustainable development and tourism. So, while you explore the city of Pokhara, buy some small gifts and souvenirs from the local shops and explore the local markets. This will improve the way of living of the locals and will also help the economy to grow and flourish in general.

Food Markets

While in the city if you plan to cook in your apartment or wish to get some local herbs back to your home, then the local food markets are the best place to explore. The best food markets to visit in Pokhara are:

Market Chhorepatan, Pokhara
Khetbari Supermarket
Chapagain Fresh House
Old Bazaar

Flea Markets

Traveling without shopping at the local market is incomplete. So, suppose you really wish to explore the aesthetic beauty of the artisans and the fantastic locally made products and wish to add them to your shopping list and wardrobe. In that case, these flea markets are the best places to visit.

Tashiling Handicraft Center
Silver Oaks Handicraft
Fair Mount Trekking Shop
RK Shopping Complex
Tibetan Gift Shop
Yak Wool Handicraft
Nepal Mandala Book Shop

Second Hand Stores

Suppose you are willing to grab some cool second-hand or vintage products and save some bucks. In that case, these shops provide you with a fantastic variety of clothes and accessories at really fabulous prices.

Yes Helping Hands Handicraft
Adventure Trekking Shop

Eco-Fashion

The concept of eco-fashion is at its peak in the city of Pokhara. The locals and the businesses here believe in offering products that are eco friendly and sustainable to the users. Some of the eco-friendly options include brands like KoKroma for the baby clothing, The Shampoo Bar Kathmandu for a variety of shampoo bars, and Nepal Blue Mountain for organic coffee that you can get in Pokhara.

Recycling

The best way to return to nature is to reuse and recycle. By recycling the abandoned materials and turning them into something useful, you not only save the soul but also reduce the pollution and pollutants from the earth.

While the government is a bit less aware of the concept of recycling and the focus is also low, there is Nepal’s only recycling plant for PET-plastic bottles located in Pokhara which is recycling 40 million bottles per year.

While in Pokhara stay focused on your surroundings and make sure not to litter but to help the organizations and locals to keep the waste to the least.

Waste

As the number of tourists is increasing, the waste generated in Pokhara is also rising at an alarming stage. With the plastic bottles and bags littered on the trails and mountains, the aesthetic beauty of the city is compromised.

Lack of involvement of the government and stringent rules are the prime reason for this scenario. But being a responsible tourist, it is advisable to throw the garbage in the bin and also don't be shy to pick trash on the trek and put it in the nearest bin. This is the best way to contribute to restoring the beauty of the place.

Work and Study Abroad

Visiting Pokhara for higher education is not quite popular. Rather it is seen, then the students from Pokhara spread wings to fly to other cities to get a better education. Lack of opportunities and facilities is the prime reason due to wish working here or getting a higher education is less prevalent.

But with the upcoming advancement in tourism and awareness among the people, the trend is shifting to a positive end.

Exchange Student

There are not many universities and colleges in Pokhara that offer exchange student facilities. Still will the adequate facilities and infrastructure, the best universities providing education here are:

Western Regional Campus for Engineering
Institute of Forestry
Prithivi Narayan Campus
Pokhara University
Pokhara Engineering College

Au Pair

If you wish to work while you are in Pokhara and earn a bit or stay, then the option of Au pair is undoubtedly impressive. With the opportunity to know the locals, their culture, and traditions, the hurdle of stay option will be eliminated as well. This option is more suited for those who are looking forward to a long duration of stay.

Volunteering

If you wish to make your stay in Pokhara worth considering, then volunteering is the best choice. Indeed, getting an opportunity to volunteer in a city that is entirely unfamiliar to you is tough. Still, with the help of volunteer groups, one can quickly get the chance.

Some of the most common volunteering opportunities in Pokhara include family volunteer, ecotourism development volunteer, a volunteer with children, organic farm volunteer, and a lot more.

So, register yourself to volunteer and leave a positive footprint. At the same time, you end your trip to the beautiful city of Pokhara.