Pokhara, Nepal Recommendations please

[trailblazer]

I'll be traveling to Kathmandu next week and planning to visit Pokhara for 4-5 days. Would any one be kind enough to suggest the places i must visit. also need suggestions on Places to stay ($50-60) and good restaraunts and bars.

Thinking of hiring a bike and cover the places that aren't particularly close and it'll also allow me to carry my camera gear all the time with me without getting tired.

Its a good thing that my wife speaks Nepalese language and it'll be easier for me to get the information i want while i'm there. as i'm doing my homework by reading blogs, checking out photos I'd appreciate suggestions from those who have been there.

Thanks

 

[Ally]

I'll be traveling to Kathmandu next week and planning to visit Pokhara for 4-5 days. Would any one be kind enough to suggest the places i must visit. also need suggestions on Places to stay ($50-60) and good restaraunts and bars.

Thinking of hiring a bike and cover the places that aren't particularly close and it'll also allow me to carry my camera gear all the time with me without getting tired.

Its a good thing that my wife speaks Nepalese language and it'll be easier for me to get the information i want while i'm there. as i'm doing my homework by reading blogs, checking out photos I'd appreciate suggestions from those who have been there.

Thanks

Was in Pokhara in June'10, and stayed at Nightingale Hotel.. nothing fancy, but is near to money-changers, cafes, shops etc..

Maybe you would want to visit Chitwan Nature Park?


cheers
ally

 

[trailblazer]

I had Chitwan in my mind but considering the total number of days i have I'm not sure... i dnt want it to be too hectic but thanks for the suggestion.. I'll look into more details.

Lemme google Nightingale Hotel because i also believe in basic accomodation... those are the places u meet some of the most interesting people

 

[ahbian]

Tourist restaurants line the main street in Pokhara, you'll be spoilt for choice if you are willing to spend.

For something different (i.e. cheap and good and local), I would recommend the Asian teahouse, a small family run shop (its near the Korean hankook sarang resturant). Try the steam fruit momos if you have a sweet tooth.

Unfortunately, some tourists adopt a snobbish approach and don't give such shops a chance.

 

[ahbian]

I had Chitwan in my mind but considering the total number of days i have I'm not sure... i dnt want it to be too hectic but thanks for the suggestion.. I'll look into more details.

Lemme google Nightingale Hotel because i also believe in basic accomodation... those are the places u meet some of the most interesting people

$50 per night actually belongs to the above average scale of accommodation there. Watch out for those who stationed themselves near bars, the loud music lasts till 10/11pm every night.

For places where you can mix with people, the lower budget and more personal guesthouses will make better choices.

Have a look at Butterfly Lodge, you can stay for days there for $50.

 

[trailblazer]

$50 per night actually belongs to the above average scale of accommodation there. Watch out for those who stationed themselves near bars, the loud music lasts till 10/11pm every night.

For places where you can mix with people, the lower budget and more personal guesthouses will make better choices.

Have a look at Butterfly Lodge, you can stay for days there for $50.

Thanks so much for such useful advice... i sort of knew that you would respond to this thread.. and the reason i knew it because i've been following your thread on Nepal

I'll check out the butterfly lodge and will send an email in advance and as far as the food is concerned i try all places... street food or a posh restaurant i'm gonna get inside both and try what they have on offer...

and Momos... i love them... my wife makes momos that are hard to beat (She is from Nepal) and if you ever miss momos lemme know and i can invite you over to my place for Beer and Momos ;-)

 

[ahbian]

Thanks so much for such useful advice... i sort of knew that you would respond to this thread.. and the reason i knew it because i've been following your thread on Nepal

I'll check out the butterfly lodge and will send an email in advance and as far as the food is concerned i try all places... street food or a posh restaurant i'm gonna get inside both and try what they have on offer...

and Momos... i love them... my wife makes momos that are hard to beat (She is from Nepal) and if you ever miss momos lemme know and i can invite you over to my place for Beer and Momos ;-)

Perhaps one thing to note would be the dependability of hot water shower in the accommodations; especially in cold weather. We had some places where the room was cheap, but shower was not enjoyable at all.....

Lucky you, homemade momo's are hard to beat. Especially if made by the wife. :bsmilie:

If you do go to the food place I recommended (Asian Teahouse), can try your luck and ask to have the fruit momo or toast with wild honey.
The owner was kind enough to treat us to it after our repeated visits.

We also found it the best place to meet friendly locals and backpackers; service isn't that fast since the kitchen setup is pretty basic, keep yourself occupied by checking out its guestbook.

Another place to have good and cheap food (breakfast) would be Laughing Buddha, that is listed in Lonely Planet.

As for food carts, we found the one serving Chaat (near the outside of Amrit Guesthouse) to be safe and quite delicious.

If changing USD to ruppees, Thamel at Kathmandu gives much better rates than Pokhara.
In Thamel, Very good Japanese curry and rice can be found at Lotus Restaurant (near Hotel Blue Diamond and Hotel Utse).

Its obvious from my post that we ate a lot while we were in Nepal. :bsmilie:

 

[trailblazer]

Thanks for the wonderful suggestions... I'll certainly check out Asian Tea House and Laughing Buddha.... I dont mind if service is a bit slow while on vacation as i tend to take things slowly when i'm away from work :-]

Thanks for all the help.

 

[bluemoon]

Check out the Sacred Valley Inn. Cheap, clean, comfortable accomodation, with very helpful and friendly staff. They can arrange activities for you like trekking.

Rent a rowboat from one of the many piers along the lake and spend the day boating on the lake. It's beautiful. There are many little inlets you can explore. Cycling around the lake is nice too, but I think nothing beats boating.

Take an early morning trip up to Sarangkot to see the sun rise over the Annapurna Himal. Breathtaking

Best of all, go trekking! Even a short 3-4 day trek e.g. to Poon Hill is great. The best way to experience Nepal and get up close to its majestic mountains and friendly people.

Enjoy!! :bsmilie:

 

[trailblazer]

Check out the Sacred Valley Inn. Cheap, clean, comfortable accomodation, with very helpful and friendly staff. They can arrange activities for you like trekking.

Rent a rowboat from one of the many piers along the lake and spend the day boating on the lake. It's beautiful. There are many little inlets you can explore. Cycling around the lake is nice too, but I think nothing beats boating.

Take an early morning trip up to Sarangkot to see the sun rise over the Annapurna Himal. Breathtaking

Best of all, go trekking! Even a short 3-4 day trek e.g. to Poon Hill is great. The best way to experience Nepal and get up close to its majestic mountains and friendly people.

Enjoy!! :bsmilie:

I'll checkout the places you suggested. Sarangkot was part of my plan as well but a 3-4 days trek sounds really appealing... however i need to see whether i'm fit enough to do that :dunno:

Smoking over the years has seriously hurt my stamina but i guess i'd never know unless i try once.

Thanks for suggestions man.

 

[femmeordinaire]

Please go Chitwan if you can, if you love nature photography you will fall in love with the place there!

 

[Ally]

Please go Chitwan if you can, if you love nature photography you will fall in love with the place there!

Chitwan's about 5hours by bus from Pokhara.. If your coming from Kathmandu, it's about 8hr bus-ride..

We stayed there for 5D4N, and nature is literally at your doorstep..
How close to nature? Well, a tiger was captured wandering around in Sauraha town (in Chitwan) in Sep'10.. It was later released in a nature reserve in India..

Cheers!
ally

 

[trailblazer]

Please go Chitwan if you can, if you love nature photography you will fall in love with the place there!

Chitwan's about 5hours by bus from Pokhara.. If your coming from Kathmandu, it's about 8hr bus-ride..

We stayed there for 5D4N, and nature is literally at your doorstep..
How close to nature? Well, a tiger was captured wandering around in Sauraha town (in Chitwan) in Sep'10.. It was later released in a nature reserve in India..

Cheers!
ally

I was born and raised in a place that was very close to the nature reserves and forests...... not that it doesnt attract me anymore but I'll try to stick to mountains for as long as i can.... I LOVE MOUNTAINS and cold weather... i have another trip planned for May and thats when i go to Bandipur, Karnataka in India, which is a few hours drive from Bangalore check this place out on google if you are interested in wildlife photography and it also has some nice places with in 100KM... i know this because i was working in Bangalore for over an year and had the opportunity to visit some of these places with people i worked with.

however i do appreciate all of you taking time out to give your best suggestion... :thumbsup:

very helpful indeed

 

[trailblazer]

Please go Chitwan if you can, if you love nature photography you will fall in love with the place there!

Hey femme-extra-ordinaire was looking at some cheaper and clean places to stay in Chitwan but the google results are a bit too overwhelming.. would you be kind enough to share where you stayed when you were last there... i only have 2 more days before i leave and i'm finding it hard to manage time among my job, shopping, packing + still find time to find all the information i need.

Thanks in advance

 

[femmeordinaire]

I travelled from Kathmandu and it was a 7 hour bus ride (full of road blocks and bumpy roads). You are able to find many travel agencies in Thamel who provides the travel package to Chitwan. Mine was 3D2N, including all 3 meals. Got to ride the elephants through the jungle, washed and played with the elephants in the rain, saw the one horn rhino, took a walk through the jungle early in the morning to see the beautiful birds. Unfortunately i cant recall the name of the resort stayed, but it was a wonderful experience. Wished i went to Pokhara!