As one of the most wonderful times to visit Nepal, the Nepali New Year brings thousands of people from all over the world including Nepalese. One of the best places to celebrate is in Pokhara, where many people gather to celebrate with their family, friends and the breathtaking outdoor scenery. Surrounded by beautiful lakes and lush green hills, this city will fill with activity during this holiday.

New Year’s is a festive occasion in Pokhara and everyone will be celebrating with lots of music and festivities including cultural events. The streets will be full of people enjoying being together, having fun and celebrating the holiday in a variety of ways. For those looking for some relaxation at the lake or some adventure via adventure sports, below is a list (in no particular order) of the top 10 things to do in Pokhara in celebration of the Nepali New Year in 2083.

Fewa-Lake-Pokhara

Lakeside Pokhara is where the majority of people will be celebrating the new year. This area is directly off the Phewa Lake and has many restaurants, cafes, shops and hotels for people to choose from.

For New Year's celebrations in Lakeside, there will be numerous festival events and entertainment activities. Many of the restaurants in the area will be offering special New Year’s dinners, live entertainment and cultural shows. There will be many visitors walking around the streets near the lake front enjoying all of the street food, handicraft markets, and colourful decorations.

Numerous bars and cafes throw parties for the New Year celebration at night to celebrate New Year's; there is something about this casual atmosphere near the lake combined with the festive energy that makes this a good place to celebrate New Year.

1. Boat Ride at Phewa Lake

An iconic thing you can do when in Pokhara is take a boat ride at Phewa Lake (the second largest lake in Nepal). Phewa Lake is located centrally in Pokhara, it is known for its tranquillity and beautiful reflections of the surrounding mountains. On the morning of Nepali New Year, many tourists will rent colourful wooden boats to take a peaceful trip around Phewa Lake. Visitors have the opportunity to view amazing reflections of Machhapuchhare (Fishtail) mountain while standing in the centre of the lake.

The location's beauty combined with relaxation and numerous photographs make canoeing at Tal Barahi Temple one of the most photographed locations in Pokhara (especially at sunrise and sunset when the sun is shining on the mountains).

This temple is home to goddess Barahi, who serves as a protector of worshippers and a provider of prosperity. A large number of worshippers visit this temple around the time of the New Year in Nepal, asking to pray for happiness, success, and wealth in their life's journey for the upcoming year.

The temple may be accessed by taking a short boat ride from Lakeside. During the festivals, riverside areas around the temple become very active, as pilgrims pray and offer flowers, incense, or other representations of their prayers to the heavens. In addition to its spiritual aura, the temple's location on the lake can provide some very stunning natural or "scenic" views.

2.Sunrise from Sarangkot

One of the most impressive views of the Himalayas around Pokhara, you can experience breathtaking views from Sarangkot.

Just over 30 minutes away from Pokhara, Sarangkot's number one claim to fame are the spectacular views that one gets of the Himalayas during the sunrise.

Clear Days at Sunrise offer unparalleled views of Mount, Dhaulagiri and the entire Annapurna Range including Machhapuchhre.

Experiencing the sunrise over Sarangkot on the first day of the Nepali New Year is an incredible experience as the golden peaks are illuminated by the grace of the mountain's light and the Pokhara Valley below is radiantly illuminated with the dawning of a new day.

3. Experience Paragliding Over Pokhara

Internationally renowned for its paragliding opportunities, Pokhara attracts adventure enthusiasts to make paragliding flights from either Sarangkot or other locations throughout the year. Typically, paragliding flights last 20 to 30 minutes, offering unique aerial views of Phewa Lake, the entire city of Pokhara and the entire surrounding mountain range.

Many visitors have a great deal of fun flying above the valley with professional pilots and many will make this their highlight of their visit to Pokhara; thus, giving people who are celebrating the New Year an exciting and adventurous start to the New Year.

4. Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Cave

Another location within Pokhara that many enjoy visiting is Davis Falls, a unique waterfall where water flows into the underground tunnel directly. While the waterfall offers the most dramatic scenery during the monsoon season, it will continue to impress visitors all year round. Visitors can see a water drop dispatcher underground, creating a very mysterious and captivating view of the waterfall.

Directly across from Davis Falls on the other side of the road is Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, which is one of the longest caves in Nepal. A visit to the cave will take visitors to see the sacred Shiva Temple where devotees come to pray. In addition, as they explore the cave further into the cave, they can see underneath the waterfall, making it an adventurous and spiritual experience for those who visit.

5. Visit the World Peace Pagoda

The World Peace Pagoda, which represents worldwide peace and harmony, was built by monks from Japan and is considered one of the most beautiful and tranquil locations in all of Pockhara. Sitting on top of a hill and overlooking Phewa Lake, the World Peace Pagoda allows you to see huge vistas of the Pokhara Valley, Phewa Lake, and the Himalayan range.

The World Peace Pagoda is a great place for pondering and welcoming the New Year with peace and quietness because many people will be hiking to the World Peace Pagoda to look at how beautiful the view and how peaceful the environment are during the Nepali New Year celebration.

6. Try Adventure Activities in Pokhara

There are so many outdoor activity choices in Pokhara that it is known as the adventure capital of Nepal. Adventure companies in Pokhara will have many opportunities for adventure activities during the Nepali New Year celebration to include bungee jumping, zip-lining, ultra-light flying, mountain biking and much more.

With ultra-light flying, you get to experience the Himalayas up close through a completely different view. The experience on the world’s fastest and steepest zip-line in Pokhara will be exhilarating for those purchasing tickets to ride the zip-line at this location.

7. Taste Local Food and Cafe Culture

The food scene in Pokhara is among the greatest attractions; Lakeside restaurants serve a wide range of Nepalese, Tibetan and International cuisine. Most of the restaurants serve authentic Nepali dishes such as Dal Bhat, Momo, and Thukpa, while many cafes also have scenic views of the lake where you can relax after exploring the town. Also, several restaurants offer special New Year menus and entertainment at the time of the Nepali New Year.

8. Short Trekking Adventures in Pokhara

For anyone who loves spending time outdoors or prefers hiking up mountains, Pokhara is a great place to start your adventure! Whether you want to go on one of the many short hikes throughout Pokhara and experience breathtaking scenery of the mountains or get outside for an outdoor activity by hiking to the Australian Camp and/or to Dhampus (traditional Gurung villages) that are located close by; there are plenty of options to hike near Pokhara. All hiking areas will give you access to beautiful forests, terraced agricultural fields, and the ability to interact with local Nepalese; so, you will also experience what daily life is like in rural Nepal, while hiking through these areas. Hiking in these locations is easy, and therefore they are great places for new hikers wanting to hike in the Himalayas but not wanting to spend an extended period of time trekking.

Conclusion

If you want to celebrate the Nepali New Year of 2083 in Pokhara, the balance between cultural experiences, natural beauty, and adventure make the predictability of visiting Pokhara effortless in that you will create wonderful memories! From taking a boat ride on Phewa Lake to watching the sunrise/sunset from Sarangkot or visiting some of the countless local temples, there is no shortage of incredible things to see or do while in Pokhara. Regardless of whether you want to spend your New Year's Eve in solitude with nature or celebrating with many people around Lakeside; Pokhara is one of the best places in Nepal to celebrate New Year's!

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