Pokhara

Pokhara is a big city in Nepal.

It sits near a blue lake called Phewa Lake.

Very tall mountains are near the city. You can see three huge peaks from the streets.

A river flows through the city too. The water goes into deep, rocky holes in the ground. These are called gorges.

Many people visit the city to see the mountains. They walk on paths to see the views. This makes it a famous place for trips.

It is a busy and pretty place to be.

Pokhara is a large city in central Nepal.

It is the second largest city in the country. Many people call it the tourism capital of Nepal. This is because many travelers visit to see the mountains.

The city sits near the beautiful Phewa Lake.

You can see very tall peaks from the city. These include the Annapurna and Manaslu mountains. One peak is called Machhapuchchhre, or Fishtail.

A river called the Seti Gandaki flows through the city. It has made deep, rocky paths called gorges. Some of these are hundreds of meters deep. In one spot, water falls into an underground hole. People call this place Davis Falls.

Many different groups of people live here. Most people speak Nepali. There are also many Gurung and Magar people. You can find many temples and Buddhist monasteries too.

The weather stays mild because the city is high up. It gets a lot of rain during the monsoon season. This is the time from June to September. The sky is often clear in the winter.

Pokhara is a large and busy city in central Nepal.

It is the capital of the Gandaki Province. Many people call it the "capital of tourism" for the country. It is the second largest city in Nepal after Kathmandu. In 2021, there were 600,051 people living in the city. Most people live in about 120,594 different households.

The city sits at an average height of 822 meters above sea level.

The land around the city is very dramatic.

You can see the huge Annapurna Range from the valley. This range has three of the ten highest peaks in the world. These are named Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, and Manaslu. You can also see the Machhapuchchhre peak, which is also called Fishtail.

A river called the Seti Gandaki flows right through the city. This river has carved deep, rocky canyons called gorges. Some of these gorges are hundreds of meters deep. In the south, a river flows into a hole called Davis Falls.

History shows that this valley has changed a lot over time.

Scientists found that big earthquakes happened here in the years 1000, 1255, and 1344. There were also huge floods from the mountains long ago. In the 1700s, the city was part of the Kingdom of Kaski. Later, in 1786, the ruler Prithvi Narayan Shah added it to his kingdom. The city became a very important place for trading goods. It sat on old paths between China and India. It also connected Kathmandu to places like Tibet.

Many different groups of people call Pokhara home.

Most people speak Nepali, but many also speak Gurung or Magar. There is also a large Newar population in the city. You can see beautiful Buddhist monasteries and Hindu temples everywhere. Some temples, like Tal Barahi, sit on an island in Phewa Lake.

There are also Tibetan settlements with special buildings called gompas. These communities help make the city feel very special and diverse.

Today, the city is a major center for many activities.

Tourism is a huge part of the local economy. Many trekkers use the city as a starting point for hikes. The city also has many factories and power plants. These plants use water from rivers to make electricity. Even though it is a growing city, the weather stays quite mild. The mountains keep the temperatures from getting too hot or too cold.

Pokhara is a major metropolitan city located in central Nepal.

It serves as the capital of the Gandaki Province. Many people refer to it as the "capital of tourism" for the country. It is the second largest city in Nepal, following the capital, Kathmandu. As of the 2021 census, the city had 600,051 inhabitants living in 120,594 households.

The city sits at an average elevation of approximately 822 meters above sea level. It is situated on the shores of Phewa Lake. This location makes it a vital hub for travelers and locals alike.

The geography of the Pokhara Valley is shaped by dramatic mountain features. The city sits in a widening of the Seti Gandaki valley. This valley is part of the Himalayan Pahad region. In this area, the mountains rise very quickly. The elevation climbs sharply from the valley floor. This rapid rise in altitude causes high precipitation rates. The valley receives about 3,350 mm of rain per year. Nearby areas like Lumle receive even more, reaching 5,600 mm annually.

This creates a humid subtropical climate with moderate temperatures.

Water plays a massive role in the landscape and local geology. The Seti Gandaki River flows directly through the city. This river and its tributaries have carved deep canyons called gorges. Some of these gorges are hundreds of meters deep. In some places, these canyons are only a few meters wide. In the south, the city borders Phewa Lake, which covers 4.4 square kilometers. A tributary of the Seti Gandaki flows out of this lake. It disappears into an underground gorge at Patale Chhango, also known as Davis Falls.

The porous underground also allows for the formation of several caves.

The history of the valley reveals a landscape shaped by powerful natural forces. Researchers used radiocarbon dating to study alluvial deposits. They found evidence of large medieval earthquakes in 1000, 1255, and 1344 AD. The area also shows signs of massive ancient floods. These megafloods likely came from the Sabche Cirque in the Annapurna range. A 2023 study by French scientists looked at a massive landslide. They estimated that around 1190 AD, a landslide removed 23 cubic kilometers of material. This event occurred at Annapurna IV, which is now 7,525 meters high. This landslide sent material toward the area where Pokhara was later built.

Human history in Pokhara is tied to ancient trade and local kingdoms. The city lies on an old trading route between China and India. It also connected Kathmandu to Jumla and Tibet. In the 17th century, it was part of the Kingdom of Kaski. This was one of the Chaubisi rajya, or 24 Kingdoms of Nepal. In 1786, Prithvi Narayan Shah added Pokhara to the Gorkha Kingdom. This helped form the modern Kingdom of Nepal. The first settlement is thought to have started in the mid-14th century. The King of Kaski established a winter capital at Batulechaur during this time.

The population of Pokhara is highly diverse in terms of ethnicity and religion. Most residents belong to the Khas, Gurung, or Magar communities. The Gurung and Magar groups often live in the surrounding hills. There is also a significant Newari population. The city is home to many Tibetan exiles who live in four settlements. These include Jampaling, Paljorling, Tashi Ling, and Tashi Palkhel. These settlements feature unique architecture, including gompas and chortens.

Religion is also diverse, with 82.4% identifying as Hindu and 13.2% as Buddhist. Many temples serve both Hindu and Buddhist worshippers.

Today, the economy of Pokhara has changed through rapid urbanization. Since the 1990s, the service sector has overtaken traditional agriculture. Tourism is a primary economic driver. Many trekkers use the city as a base for the Annapurna Circuit. This trek goes through the Annapurna Conservation Area. Manufacturing and remittances also contribute to the economy. Tourism, services, and manufacturing together account for about 58% of the economy. Remittances make up about 20%, while agriculture provides nearly 16%.

The city also utilizes its rivers for hydroelectric power. Several power plants, such as the Fewa Hydropower Station, operate in the region.