Pokhara: Popular for the New Year

As described in the poem titled 'Pokhara' compiled in 'Prakrit Pokhara ko' by poet Mukunda Sharan Upadhyaya, Pokhara is a mine of diverse beauty. The natural beauty of the place attracts locals and as well as foreigners. Along with its natural beauty, the number of tourist-oriented infrastructures has also increased. Tourism entrepreneurs say that the arrival of New Year 2079 has added to the excitement in tourism here, which had been slowing down for almost two years due to Corona.

 According to Laxman Subedi, District Chairman of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), the hotels in Pokhara are 80 percent full this time due to the New Year.

Tourists from different parts of the country come here every New Year to visit the lakes, caves and monasteries along with the mountainous scenery like Machhapuchhre and Annapurna. But for the past two years, the tourism business had been directly affected by Corona. Baburam Pandey, operator of Hotel Admire Pokhara and president of Nepal Tourist Transport Entrepreneurs Association (NTVA), Gandaki Pradesh has informed that most of the tourists coming to Pokhara have booked hotels in advance even before the arrival of the new year.

 "The influx of domestic tourists from different parts of the country on the occasion of the New Year has also increased the enthusiasm of businessmen," he said. "Tourists entering Pokhara will start returning home from tomorrow,” he added stating that the means of tourist transport used by the tourists have been working well in the meantime. Chairman Pandey said that more than 90 percent of the means of transportation have been busy during this period.

In the midst of the New Year's holiday, it has been found that today is Friday and tomorrow is also Saturday, i.e. holiday, due to which many of them have planned for the visit. Entrepreneurs here say that Pokhara is the choice of tourists due to the activities including Phewa New Year Festival organized by the Western Hotel Association targeting the New Year. This is also the time for foreign tourists to visit Pokhara. According to Chairman Subedi, there are two five and four star hotels, 15 three star hotels and more than 400 other well-equipped hotels in the lakeside area. He says that about 1,200 hotels in the surrounding area including Lakeside are providing services to the tourists.

 Tourist activity has been on the rise since the arrival of hippie tourists in the 1960's. Chairman Subedi informed that more than Rs 4 trillion has been invested in hotels of Pokhara so far. Tourism has been flourishing here since the 1980's. There are places like Sarangkot, World Peace Stupa, Pumdikot's giant Mahadev statue as well as the best places for sightseeing along with Phewa lake in which the shadow of Mt. Machhapuchhre is seen. Religious places of historical importance like Vindhyavasini, Tal barahi and Bhadrakali are also popular among the tourists. Mahendra Cave, Chamere Cave, Gupteswar Cave, Seti River flowing through the middle and Patale Chhango are the tourist destinations here. Apart from these places, Begnas, Rupa, Khaste, Dipang, Maidi and Newrey are also important places in Lekhnath area.

 In recent times, the development of infrastructure designed to prolong the stay of tourists is also increasing in Pokhara. Tourists visit Annapurna base camp, Mardi Himal, Pun Hill and other places for trekking which attracts tourists due to its clean air and beautiful scenery. Narayan Sapkota, district president of the Trekking Equipment Shop Association (TESA), says that there is hope in the trade of trekking equipment as foreign tourists have started flocking for trekking in recent days.