Nepal. Pokhara
Pokhara was the biggest revelation of our trip. Initially, we didn't even plan to visit this city. But during our travels, we met at least three Nepalese people who praised Pokhara so highly that we decided we must visit this much-lauded city...
Arriving at the bus station, and even before we could get off the bus, a man with a business card for his hotel approached us and offered a good price for a room. We decided not to resist and went with him. He led us to a taxi, giving the driver the address. The hotel was located across the road from Phewa Lake, Pokhara's main attraction, but we didn't check in immediately. First, we made sure there wasn't a better option in the vicinity for the price we were quoted... It turned out there wasn't. For $8, we got an excellent, clean room with a shower, almost European in style, though in Europe, it would have cost at least five times more... So sometimes, it’s very handy to go with the first offer.
Pokhara is situated in a very picturesque place, thanks to the great Himalayan mountains that surround it. But seeing the most breathtaking and classic landscapes of Pokhara is quite challenging, as the mountains are often hidden by clouds or covered by a haze, like a veil concealing their enchanting beauty. During our five-day stay in Pokhara, the mountains were clearly visible only on the second day after our arrival.
We knew in advance from where the best views could be seen, so as soon as we saw the weather was favorable for good photos, we immediately headed to a place called "Dam Side." And this is what we saw...
To better view the scenery, we rented a boat and headed to the middle of the lake...
The pointed mountain in the photo is called "Machapuchare" (6998 m), or "Fish Tail," due to its resemblance. This mountain is considered sacred in Nepal and is closed to climbing. The only incomplete ascent of Machapuchare was made in 1957 by a British team. Climbing the mountain, they halted the ascent 50 meters from the summit as they had promised not to set foot on the peak. Since then, the mountain has been completely closed to visitors...
In the distance, to the left of Machapuchare, the peak of "Annapurna I" barely shows. Annapurna I is considered the most dangerous eight-thousander, with a mortality rate of 41% over all the years of climbing... Such are the harsh mountains...
And this is what the lake looks like in our photos...
After boating, we took a taxi to the "Peace Stupa" - a Buddhist stupa created to unite people of all races and faiths in the search for peace and tranquility. It was located on a hill overlooking Phewa Lake and was visible from almost anywhere on the lake. Not only was the stupa itself very beautiful, but it was also situated in such a stunning location that it took our breath away...
The views from the hill were simply stunning...
The style of our stay in Pokhara shifted from active to almost passive. Let's say we were resting from the activity of the past twenty-plus days. The main task was to choose what and where to eat, but we quickly solved this by finding a very good restaurant that served delicious grilled fish, amazing momos, and an incredible fruit salad with yogurt...
Every evening, we were treated to a beautiful sunset, which we watched with a glass of fruit-berry Nepalese wine before heading out for dinner...
One day, we rented a boat for the whole day and spent the entire day boating on the lake, taking a break only for lunch...
The combination of water and the mountain views contributed to complete tranquility. The slowly drifting boats on the lake mirrored our thoughts, leisurely wandering through the expanse of our consciousness...
Pokhara is a paradise for paragliders; just lifting your head would confirm this...
This time, we watched the sunset not from the lakeside promenade but from the boat...
On the last day of our stay in Pokhara, we experienced the celebration of the most colorful festival in the world - Holi. This festival deserves special attention...
To be continued... Holi
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