Interesting facts

1. Pokhara is the largest city in Nepal by geographical area. 2. It is the second-largest city in Nepal by population, after Kathmandu. 3. The city sits at an elevation of approximately 822 meters (2,697 feet). 4. Pokhara is the gateway to the Annapurna Circuit, one of the most famous trekking routes in the world. 5. The city is famous for Phewa Lake, where the reflection of Mount Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) can often be seen on the water. 6. Machhapuchhre (6,993m) has never been officially summited; it is considered sacred to the god Shiva and is off-limits to climbers. 7. The nearby village of Lumle records the highest amount of rainfall in Nepal. 8. Pokhara is globally renowned as one of the best paragliding destinations in the world, taking off from Sarangkot. 9. The Seti Gandaki River flows through the city, carving a deep, narrow gorge that is completely invisible from some surface areas. 10. Davis Falls (Patale Chhango) is a famous waterfall where the water forms an underground tunnel after reaching the bottom. 11. The Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave is a nearly 3 km long cave located directly across from Davis Falls. 12. The region is the ancestral homeland of the Gurkhas, soldiers famous for their bravery in the British and Indian armies. 13. Tal Barahi Temple is a two-story pagoda situated on a small island in the middle of Phewa Lake. 14. The World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa) sits on a narrow ridge high above Phewa Lake, offering panoramic views of the city and Himalayas. 15. The International Mountain Museum in Pokhara documents the history of mountaineering and the culture of Himalayan peoples. 16. Pokhara hosts multiple Tibetan refugee settlements (Tashiling, Tashi Palkhel), established in the 1960s, which are now centers for carpet weaving and culture. 17. Despite being just 200 km from Kathmandu, the bus journey historically takes 7-9 hours due to winding mountain roads. 18. The city is surrounded by three out of the ten highest mountains in the world (Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, and Manaslu) within 30 linear miles. 19. Lakeside (Baidam) is the city's tourism hub, filled with hotels, restaurants, and shops stretching along the eastern shore of Phewa Lake. 20. In addition to Phewa, the city contains two other major lakes: Begnas and Rupa, which are quieter and less commercialized.