Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Pokhara Picnic


In stark contrast to Kathmandu’s hustle and bustle, Pokhara is a relatively peaceful city. Situated alongside Nepal’s third largest lake and known primarily as the starting point for the Annapurna treks, Pokhara made for a quiet place to simply relax.


Even for those of us not heading out to conquer any portion of the Himalaya mountain range, the city boasted several days’ worth of leisurely sights and activities. That is, once you got away from the tourist-aimed shops, trekking guides, and touts.



High above the lake, the Japanese-built Buddhist World Peace pagoda offered breathtaking views, after a hike that made it hard enough to breathe in the first place. (This was our first encounter with what was considered a “leisurely stroll” in the Nepal Lonely Planet.)



Unfortunately, we largely missed out on Pokhara’s famed views across the nearby mountain peaks, as it rained every morning and evening during our visit, leaving the views hazy the rest of the time.



The city buses made it a simple task to visit nearby waterfalls and cave temples. The Old City’s brick buildings and slow pace offered a glimpse into Pokhara’s past. And Nepali snacks of momos (dumplings), sekuwa (water buffalo jerkey), choyla (dried water buffalo with chili and garlic), and more momos were readily available.



Not a bad way to spend a couple of days.