Pokhara: Tourist's Paradise

Pokhara from World peace stupa

Pokhara, the country's glory, is situated in the middle of the country. A few months back around January or February, I had been to Pokhara with my friend for 2 nights and a day. We took a tourist bus from Kathmandu at 7:00 am in the morning and headed towards the city of Mount Fishtail (Machhapuchre). It took us about 8 hours to reach the tourist bus park in Pokhara stopping for breakfast and lunch. The way to Pokhara is full of twist and turns of road along the heights of mighty Trishuli, Marshyandi and their tributaries. The magnificent view of the mountains and the rivers that flow along made the trip enjoyable forgetting the length of time that took to reach our destination Phewa Lakeside.

sunset from lake Fewa

It was about 2 pm when we reached the tourist bus park. We walked about 5 minutes from there to reach the Phewa Lakeside avoiding the taxis that were lined up to have any passengers. We reached a hotel where we had booked our stay. After resting for some time, we headed to explore the lakeside in the eve. The lakeside was so calm and really nice when we sat along the coast. People enjoying boating and having fun around. The paragliders all over the sky enjoying their flight, chasing the hawks and eagles, the view of mountains and their images on water, lotuses on the lake. I really enjoyed the atmosphere different from Kathmandu where I live.

Lake Phewa in the eve and paragliders

We tried the lakeside fish with the beaten rice which is one of the famous local menus. It was great. Really lovable. The sunset view aligning to the World's Peace Stupa over the mountain was just awesome. We took a short walk around lakeside to experience the nightlife of the area. It was busier in the night as there are many pubs and discos. The streets are brighter and colorful. The mass of locals and the foreigners resting there and gossiping seems like it is the different place than the place where I had come in the afternoon. Two parts of a place in a day, very interesting.

Great mountain ranges from Sarangkot

sunrise in Pokhara

Another day, we had planned the tour package with the hotel so early in the morning after having a cup of hot tea we were taken to Sarangkot for the sunrise view. Praise the Lord! we were lucky to have such a clear and pleasant view on the morning of the sunrise and the mountains. It was full of the people to see the sunrise view and the mountain ranges of Annapurna and Fishtail including others. Nearby the viewpoint was the paragliding station. We wanted to experience paragliding but we weren't aware that it has to be booked otherwise it might be full and that it was. It was full for the day and next. We then headed to Pokhara International Tourism Museum and learned about the cultures tribes, mountains and many other things related to Pokhara and the mountaineering. Glad to be there. The Tibetan song of "OM MANE PEMBE" was really rejoicing and soulful.

David's Fall

Then the taxi took us to visit the famous David's fall. I was amazed by the landscape of the fall just like a hole in between and the texture of the rock. Another side of David's fall was a pilgrim place leading to the cave that insight the fall of the water from Davids fall. It was slippery being wet and little dark. But it was awesome to be there and witness the wonder of nature. Then we headed to the World Peace Stupa. It was about 20 minutes west drive from David's fall. The way was rough, dry and dusty and on the height. The ride was as if I was riding a donkey. We girls laughed a lot during the ride. Of course, girlish way! We then reached the World Peace Stupa and rested there for some while enjoying the view around. The gigantic mountain view, Seti River, Lake Fewa, and others. The combination of beautiful sight staying from a single place. It is a pilgrim place to all the Buddhist around the world. When they visit Pokhara, they don't forget to pay their visit here. All white and green and peaceful.

World Peace Stupa: Google

The tour made us all hungry and tired so we headed to have our lunch in a Thakali restaurant, one of the locally famous restaurant for the Nepali cuisine. The traditional Dhido with chicken and side curries and in reasonable price. Yummy!!! We were very tired so decided to be back to the hotel room and rested. The very next day we had to be back to home so respecting the time, we headed to have fun and buy some souvenirs for a family in the eve. With such beautiful memories, I headed back home. I still remember the time and cherish. Pokhara has lured me to be there again and again. Really an ultimate destination to be.

Tigertops Jungle safari Lodge: Chitwan

Last year, I went to Tigertops, jungle safari lodge, one of the best jungle lodges in Nepal and in the world, with my uncle and aunties for 2 days stay. Tigertops was established in the year 1965 A.D in Chitwan, 75 miles south-west of Kathmandu. I found it as the best place for recreation and forget yourself in the wild nature. It is situated within the territory of Chitwan National Park in the middle of the jungle. Road transport is the only way now to reach there because of no flights to Chitwan airport. Once we are booked to the lodge, the pickup and the drop off facilities are also available.

It took us about 6hrs drive from Kathmandu valley enjoying the beautiful view of mountains and the mighty Trishuli river along with its tributaries. When we reached to the Meghauli Airport of Chitwan we found a small resting place for the tiger tops visitors, where we rested for some while, took the yummiest English lunch and then headed to the lodge using another lodge's bus waiting to pick the visitors. It took us 20 minutes to reach along the river coast. There were few boatmen with their boats awaiting us to help us cross the river. Just the other side of the river, tiger tops safari jeeps were ready to take us to the destination. 

From Queen Elizabeth to our former King and Queen Birendra and Aishwarya to the presidents of different nations and the big celebrities like Orlando Bloom, Dev Anand, had been there to take the pleasure of the facilities of this lodge and be in nature, Wild. Famous Hollywood actor Leonardo De Caprio has campaigned for the tiger's conservation, here in Tigertops. Being in this place, in the main lobby, I felt so amazing and like one among the VIP celebs walking in the red carpet. It has excellent service and excellent hospitality. This lodge made me feel like I'm again in  England with my Nepali folks. 

When I reached the room, I found it managed and very clean. Tigertops uses the solar power as a means for light. Being in the heart of the jungle, there is no mobile network and the animals that are running around the lodge, elephants roar made me feel."OMG...how will I survive here?".  This feeling later made me think it as a very unique place I had ever been and from the crowded city like Kathmandu where I spend my 24/7. I found this place peaceful and very adventurous. I began to wonder myself as the 'Lady Jane" from Tarzan. I enjoyed a lot, the lodge packages: elephant safari for sightseeing, jeep safari around the jungle and boating to see the crocodiles along the river banks. Jeep safari and elephant safari is so much adventurous and really exciting. The elephant on which I was on-sighted the tigers just near its feet. It was really a great thing. We sighted wild animals like great one-horned rhino, barking deer, bears, reindeer, just a few meters from us. I got through the real scare and the adventures one can feel it got surrounded by the wild animals. But it was awesome.

Night at the lodge been really enjoyable. Witnessing the sounds of wild cries whole night.W e dined a sit-down English meal and watched a documentary about tigers. No doubt, Tigertops is one of the important lodges which hold a great capacity of tourist attraction. I doubt if anyone can find a similar place in Nepal or abroad. This lodge is not just helping Nepal in tourism but also in the tiger conservation. This jungle lodge practices the environmentally sustainable and responsible conservation tourism. This jungle lodge has been rated as the best “wildlife destinations of the world”. I went through a great joy and the privilege to be in this place and something really memorable in my life. Why not visit tiger tops once?