Lakeside, Pokhara


Lakeside is a commercial neighborhood located in Pokhara, the capital of Gandaki Pradesh, Nepal. Lakeside has been the centre of the tourist industry in Pokhara for over four decades. It rests at the foot of the Annapurna range and is a favourite trekking starting point. The city of Pokhara can be divided in two the charming Lakeside Pokhara, and the Old City. The Lakeside part offers many tourist attractions and beautiful views, while the Old City is the commercial hub of Pokhara. The Lakeside is further divided into the North and the Southside. Lakeside is named so, as it surrounds the Phewa Lake or the Phewa Tal, a gorgeous freshwater lake which is eerily similar to a mirror. The lake gained popularity for its breathtaking reflection of the blue skies and the towering Mt. Machhapuchhre of the Annapurna range.
Commonly sold goods include food, fresh vegetables/fruits, pastries, trekking gear, walking gear, music, DVDs, handicrafts, souvenirs, woolen items and clothes. Travel agencies, small grocery stores, budget hotels, restaurants, pubs and clubs also line the streets. Cars, two-wheelers and taxis ply these streets alongside hundreds of pedestrians.
There are many restaurants in Lakeside that serve traditional and continental cuisine, although prices are significantly higher than in non-tourist areas.Lakeside also acts as the pre-base camp for mountaineers. It boasts a wide range of mountaineering gear shops, foreign money exchange booths, mobile phone shops, along with the numerous travel agents and guest houses. Lakeside is the best place to enjoy nightlife when you are in Pokhara.

Boundries of Lakeside

Gallery

General references

  1. Sharma, Pitamber. "Phewa Lakeside: Problems of tourism and common property resources". Tourism as Development: Case Studies from the Himalaya. Kathmandu: Himal Books. p. 53..