Hiking around Pokhara

Hiking around Pokhara Valley Rim
Taking to your feet is the only way to see most mountain areas of Nepal but it is also the best way to see the valley rich in cultural diversity, snowcapped mountains and the beautiful lakes If Katmandu is the cultural hub of Nepal, then Pokhara is its center of adventure. An enchanting city nestled in a tranquil valley; it is the starting point of many Nepal’s most popular trekking, hiking, biking, paragliding and rafting destinations. Exploring picturesque villages, gently rolling chains of hills with terraced fields of rice, subtropical forests and the unique outline of the Himalayas - whose gigantic mountains are only thirty kilometers away. This Land, is very much favorable for mountain bikers. There are many routes for biking which are full of mountain views and typical mountain villages.

Our programs:
We will take a packed lunch or some sandwiches and fruit and have it with a relaxed time. We will linger in the rice fields, wonder at the haunting views of Lakes Mountains and green forest and enjoy the shy smile of a passing beauty.

Suggested Hikes;

1) Pokhara-sarangkot-Pokhara (1 day)
2) Pokhara- sarangkot - Naudanda- Dhampus –Pokhara (2 days )
3) Pokhara-Dhampus - Naudanda-Pokhara (1 day)
4) Pokhara-Lahachowk - Ghahachowk-Pokhara( 2 days)
5) Pokhara-Chapakot - Pokhara (1 day )
6) Pokhara-Ramche Danda - Pokhara( 1-2 days )
7) Pokhara- World Peace Pagoda - Pokhara(1 day )
8) Pokhara- Foksing-Pokhara (1-2 days )
9) Pokhara-Kahun Danda – Pokhara ( 1-2 days )
10) Pokhara-Kalikasthan-Pokhara (1-2 days)


1) Pokhara –Sarangkot-Pokhara (1 day)

The Sarangkot hill is very popular for its best Mountains and sunrise view. We start our trip early morning around 5-5:30 am by car .Normally sun rises at 6 am. After the sunrise and Mountain View we walk down from sarangkot along with the pokhara city view and the Fewa lake view with green forest. We walk around 4-5 hours.
Note:-The length of the time depends on your choice of route.

2) Pokhara- sarangkot- Naudanda- Dhampus – Pokhara (2 days)

This route is popular both for mountain and sunrise view and to experience the Nepalese village life. The view point, Sarangkot offers the excellent panoramic view of Annapurnas and the sunrise while Naudanda offers the dramatic view of the twin tails of Machapuchhre (Fishtail) and the massif Dhaulagiri view. We walk through the Kaskikot village ,Naudanda village and the culturally rich Dhampus village where the view of Annapurnas seems very close and we can feel the cool and fresh air of the mountains.

3) Pokhara-Dhampus –Naudanda-Pokhara (1 day)

The main focus of the hike in this area is the scenic beauty of Naudanda and the ancient traditional culture and the great panoramic view of mountains from Dhampus village. While walking we pass through the diverse forest with the rhododendron and wild orchid flowers. We walk through the terraced rice fields and through the stone houses with thatched roofs.

4) Pokhara-Lahachowk - Ghahachowk-Pokhara (2 days)
This route offers the scenic beauty and the oldest settlement rich in culture; we start our walk from the Hemja village, famous for orange garden. We cross Seti and Mardi River to reach this typical Gurung village.

5) Pokhara - Chapakot-Pokhara (1 day)
After the 45 minute drive from Pokhara, we start walking from Pame west of Pokhara. We follow the Harpan River, the source of Phewa Lake then climb the hills with small villages. We walk through paddy field with the mountain and lake view.

6) Pokhara-Ramche Danda- Pokhara (1-2 days)
After 45 minutes drive south of Pokhara, we start our 7 hours hike climbing the hills, passing through villages and cultivated land. We walk through the forest of religious Chandan and oak tree. The smell of mountain can be sensed when we walk through the extensive forest of Rhododendron.

7) Pokhara- World Peace Pagoda -Pokhara (1 day)
World Peace Pagoda, a massive Buddhist stupa is situated on the top of a hill on the southern shore of Phewa Lake. Besides being a impressive sight in itself, the shrine is a great vantage point which offers the spectacular views of the Annapurna range, Phewa Lake, and the Pokhara city. We Climb the Raniban forest crossing the suspension bridge. After the 2 hours of walk we reach stupa and enjoy the spiritual and scenic beauty. Climbing down from Pagoda is more enjoyable with the view of Phewa Lake and the mountains. We cross the lake after the 20 minutes of boating with the visit to island temple (Barahi temple) in the middle of lake.

8) Pokhara - Foksing-Pokhara (1-2 days)
Around 10 minutes of drive south of pokhara we climb the hill passing the suspension bridge. The Foksing hill is popular for its fascinating mountain view. The Orange garden and the terraced rice fields and the typical Nepali houses with thatched roof can be experienced. The length of stay could be prolonged if you are interested to stay overnight with the villagers.

9) Pokhara-Kahun Danda – Pokhara (1-2 days)
Normally, this is one day hiking route but if you are interested to spend some time with the villagers you can make it for 2 days. The Khaun Danda (1520 m) to the northeast of Pokhara has a ruined fort on the summit as well as a view tower with spectacular scenery. The dramatic change of colors after the sunrise on the Annapurnas gives you the experience of natural beauty.
10) Pokhara-Kalikasthan-Pokhara (1-2 days)
This is the best view point to view the serene 7 lakes around Pokhara. The panoramic view of Annapurnas and the experience of village life is the highlight of the hiking.

Charikot - Dolakha - Jiri

Dolakha - Charikot Information.

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Jiri is located in Dolakha district at an altitude of 1905m from the sea level. Surrounded on all sides by beautiful forests and hills where heavy snow falls in winter, Jiri has beauty to attract anyone! To the North and South, Cherdung andTame hills lies where snow falls most of the time of year. Jiri Khola flows through the mid of the valley is the main river. Jiri Village Development Committee (VDC) is divided into 9 wards.

•Jiri- meaning
According to some local people who have done research on Jiri, Ji - means dense (black) and Ri - means Jungle in Jirel language. Many aged people who have been living in Jiri for many years also agree with the above view. According to them, there was a thick forest where many wild faunas including tiger used to remain. This doesn’t mean there is no forest and tigers these days in Jiri but of course, their level has been reduced by certain level.

•Jirels
Jirels are the main residential people of Jiri. It should be clear here that Jiri is not so called since Jirel people live in Jiri as first time they hear.

Besides, people of Brahman, Kshetri, Sherpa, Newar, Tamang castes also live in Jiri in good harmony among one another.

•• Naturally Jiri

Natural beauty of Jiri can’t be described in words. Those beautiful forests, snow covered hills, green grassland, famous Jiri technical Institute (JTS), fresh air, eye-catching landscape are few to mention that makes Jiri second Switzerland in the world. I haven’t felt myself but heard from some people that many diseases will be automatically healed after visiting Jiri. This shows how much people like Jiri. Average temperature here ranges from 10 to 25 degree Celsius but sometime in the winter, temperature decreases down to -5 or -10 degree Celsius. Almost all places of Jiri receive snow falls at least once a year necessarily.

•Jiri as tourism spot

For its wonderful natural beauty, Jiri is developing as one of the main tourists destinations in Nepal at a fast rate. Many tourists go to Mt. Everest area via Jiri. Famous mountaineers Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal and late Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand who climbed Mt. Everest for the first time in the world made their way to the Everest through Jiri. Therefore, Jiri is also called Gateway to Mt. Everest.

• Accessibility:

There is bus, microbus service from Kathmandu that takes 6-8 hours to travel 184 km road. Jiri was connected to Kathmandu more than 20 years ago by Kathmandu- Jiri highway. Though there was direct Kathmandu to Jiri flight service in past, it is postponed nowadays.

• Hotels and Lodges:
Many hotels and lodges in and around Jiri Bazaar provide various facilities for different people according to their own choice.

•Education in Jiri

Though literacy rate of Nepal is quite low, people of Jiri are lucky enough that they have access to education which is not in the case of many people of Nepal. Jiri Higher Secondary School (JHSS) that is the oldest educational institution in Jiri was established almost more than fifty years ago. There are two other secondary school and at least one or in some even more than one primary school in every ward. It is true however that the quality of education provided may be low due to less efficient teachers, lack of required educational materials.

For those who aren’t able to attend school and illiterate people, special courses are taught. Therefore, roughly more than 85% people of Jiri are literate.

•Health status

Jiri Hospital is the second main hospital in Dolakha district located at the heart of Jiri valley. In addition, at least five health posts and a private project called Jiri Helminthes Project provide health service to the people of Jiri and its surrounding VDCs. Developed with special attention, Jiri has potential to be one of the top visiting places of Nepal.

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Dolakha - Charikot

Dolakha offers an astonishing topographical variation for trekking. Trekking in Dolakha entails walking up and down the hills numerously. The most favorable and interesting places for trekking in Dolakha are Jiri, Sailung, Kalinchok, Beding, Bigu, Na Gaun, Tashi Lapsa Pass, Rolwaling Range, Lamabagar, Simigaon and Lapchi.

Trekking in Dolakha Region provides a wide range of wilderness, religious practices, architecture, lifestyles and cultural encounters. As one can trek at relatively low elevations also (generally below 3000m), it poses no problems in acclimatization to altitude.. However, selection of treks in Dolakha varies from short gentle hikes through terraced foothills to lengthy expeditions to the Mt. Gauri Shankar of the Rolwaling Range. One can choose the area of trek based on personal interest and fitness.

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