Colourful boats
Rowed.
Bijay chaurasia — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sanu N — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Iamavinashk — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Vyacheslav Argenberg — CC BY 4.0
Nepal's second-largest lake, a calm lake on the edge of Pokhara ringed by forested hills, whose surface on clear mornings mirrors the snow peaks of the Annapurna range, above all the twin-tipped Machhapuchhre, the Fishtail. The east shore is lined by Lakeside, with its long promenade, cafés, hotels and shops, from which colourful wooden boats are hired to row yourself or with a boatman. In the middle of the lake a small island holds the two-tiered Tal Barahi temple, reached by boat. The best time is dawn, when the water is still as a mirror and the mountains are clear, then sunset, when sky and water change colour. From the south shore a trail climbs to the World Peace Pagoda on the hill. The lake is free; boat fares are agreed at the jetty. Swimming is not advised. The clearest months are October to December and March to April; in the June-September monsoon the mountains hide behind cloud.
Rowed.
Tal Barahi.
Cafés.
Lakeside, Pokhara
Early morning from October to December, when skies are clear and water still; the monsoon usually hides them.
