Pokhara

Leaving Ghandruk at the end of the project, I was travelling once more through Pokhara and decided to take the time to explore Nepali's honey moon town!

Nepali's off road transportation rates

Nepali's off road vehicles :)

After Katmandu, Pokhara is more or less a little paradise. The town is surrounded by the Phewa Tal (second largest lake in Nepal), forested hills and the snow caped Himalayan peaks in the background. High above the lake and the forested hills sits the World Peace Pagoda. The pagoda was constructed by Buddhist monks from the Japanese Nipponzan Myohoji organization to promote world peace.
 

Phewa Tal & the World Peace Pagoda high above the hills

Sarangkot offers a great view point over Pokhara Lakes and valley. Better to be there at dawn or dusk, when the sun picks out the mountains and sets the sky in fire...
 

View from Sarangkot

View from Sarangkot

In contrast with this picture-postcard description, Lakeside Pokhara also offers all the souvenirs, trekking clothing and gear fund in Katmandu - Thamel's area. Same shopping opportunities minus the traffic fumes and crowds of Katmandu!
 

Pokhara Lakeside main street near 'Center Point'

Pokhara is also the starting point for some hikers heading towards Annapurna treks and other outdoors activities such as paragliding, rafting, mountain biking etc.

Paraglading at the north end of the Lake

This tourism industry is good for the local economy as long as the environment can support it. Water access is not a concern in the region and future increase in water consumption is not a problem although management of waste water and garbage might become critical as consumption continue to increase. 

My observation is that increasingly over-packed goods added to the great amount of plastic water bottles is creating important waste during tourism peak seasons. Also directly related is the booming construction of Guesthouses / Hotels whit its rather negative impact on the picturesque side of Pokhara.

View from the roof top of my guesthouse

Pokhara's back streets