Pokhara itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Pokhara, day by day: sunrise views from Sarangkot, Phewa Lake, the World Peace Pagoda, the International Mountain Museum and Davis Falls first, then the Gupteshwor Mahadev, Bat and Mahendra caves, the Bindhyabasini Temple and the Old Bazaar as you add a day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Pokhara in 1 day
Day 1
Sarangkot
Hilltop village above Phewa Lake famous for sunrise views over the Annapurna range and Machapuchare, and a paragliding launch.
Phewa Lake
Large lake at the heart of Pokhara with rowing boats, the Tal Barahi island temple and Lakeside's cafes along its shore.
World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa)
White Buddhist stupa on a hill above Phewa Lake, with views over the lake, the city and the Himalaya.
Davis Falls
Waterfall where a stream drops into a deep gorge and disappears underground, strongest in the monsoon.
Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave
Cave opposite Davis Falls with a Shiva shrine and a passage down to the underground waterfall.
International Mountain Museum
Museum on the Himalaya, its peaks, mountaineering history and mountain peoples, with views of the Annapurnas.
Pokhara in 2 days
Day 1
International Mountain Museum
Museum on the Himalaya, its peaks, mountaineering history and mountain peoples, with views of the Annapurnas.
Davis Falls
Waterfall where a stream drops into a deep gorge and disappears underground, strongest in the monsoon.
Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave
Cave opposite Davis Falls with a Shiva shrine and a passage down to the underground waterfall.
World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa)
White Buddhist stupa on a hill above Phewa Lake, with views over the lake, the city and the Himalaya.
Phewa Lake
Large lake at the heart of Pokhara with rowing boats, the Tal Barahi island temple and Lakeside's cafes along its shore.
Day 2
Sarangkot
Hilltop village above Phewa Lake famous for sunrise views over the Annapurna range and Machapuchare, and a paragliding launch.
Bat Cave
Limestone cave north of the city home to thousands of bats, with a tight crawl out at the far end.
Mahendra Cave
Limestone cave with stalactites and a small Shiva shrine, near the Bat Cave north of the city.
Bindhyabasini Temple
One of Pokhara's oldest and most visited Hindu temples, on a small hill above the Old Bazaar.
Bhimsen Tole (Old Bazaar)
Historic trading quarter of Pokhara with old Newari houses, shops and the Bhimsen temple.
Watch: Pokhara
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Pokhara
October and November are the best months, with clear skies and the sharpest mountain views after the monsoon; March and April are also good, with rhododendrons in bloom but more haze. June to September is the monsoon, with heavy rain and clouds hiding the mountains. Winter mornings are cool and often clear.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Pokhara on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Pokhara on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Pokhara on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Nepal from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Pokhara
- Go up Sarangkot before dawn for sunrise over the Annapurna range; the mountains are clearest early and often cloud over later.
- Rent a rowing boat on Phewa Lake to reach the Tal Barahi temple on its island.
- The caves are dark and wet; bring a torch and shoes with grip, especially in the Bat Cave.
- The World Peace Pagoda can be reached by a hiking trail from the lake shore or by taxi; dress modestly there.
- Take off shoes and leather items before entering Hindu temples such as Bindhyabasini.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Bat Cave: Fistinair, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bindhyabasini Temple: Dhurba Gurung, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Davis Falls: Satyamfxr, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave: Q-lieb-in, CC BY-SA 4.0
- International Mountain Museum: Anup Sadi, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mahendra Cave: Kamalbeloved, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Phewa Lake: Jmhullot, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarangkot: Q-lieb-in, CC BY-SA 4.0
- World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa): PageantUpdatess, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
