A Day in Pokhara, Nepal

                   Like thousands of other tourists and travelers drawn to Nepal for trekking in the Himalayas, Kim and I have found ourselves in the city of Pokhara. It’s the base of operations for anyone planning to trek in the Annapurna region.

At first glance, one word came to mind upon arrival in Pokhara: touristy. The more I travel, the more ‘touristy’ becomes a four letter word, and usually said with a sneer that is reserved for cockroaches and bus station touts. At first blush we were questioning our decision to spend a week in Pokhara before heading out to Annapurna Base Camp.

But we decided to set our first impressions aside and give it a chance, and Pokhara has shown itself to be a nice little city. Despite being Nepal’s second largest city, its population is only 265,000, and outside of the tourist district it almost has a small-town feel. It’s located beside the man-made Phewa Tal (lake), the second largest lake in Nepal. On clear days you can see three 8,000 meter (26,246 feet) mountain peaks from pretty much everywhere in town, the highlight being Annapurna, the 10th tallest mountain in the world.

We arrived in town with no guest house reservations, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem in Pokhara. There seems to be a higher guesthouse-to-tourist ratio here than anywhere else we have visited. We stayed in the Iceland Guest House, by my reasoning that staying at a guesthouse named after a country that believes in gnomes would be good karma while on my one man search for the Yeti.

One of the many sign clusters pointing you to side streets full of guest houses

                Despite the tourist-y-ness of the city, we have had a great time here. The city has a laid-back, mountain town pace about it and has all of the creature comforts to cater to the western tourists (good wi-fi, hot water, real coffee, etc.) There are day hikes up the steep hills surrounding the lake. We have taken advantage of our time here to whip our legs back into trekking shape after our relaxing, but not so active, stay in Goa.

We spent one day renting a boat to row across the lake and hike up to the World Peace Pagoda that overlooks the city. The hour-long hike, straight up the hill (I don’t think they believe in switchbacks here), was a wake up call to how out of shape I am. I had to huff, puff, sweat, and haul myself up to the top, barely able to keep sight of Kim’s feet scampering up the trail.

Rowing our rented boat across Phewa Tal

               Once we reached the top, and I finally caught my breath, we explored the Peace Pagoda. We learned that there are 100 Peace Pagodas located around the world and they are built to help spread peace throughout the world, as taught by the Buddha. The Peace Pagoda in Pokhara is the first built in Nepal, and the 71st Pagoda constructed around the world.

The World Peace Pagoda in Pokhara

           After stopping for a cold drink and exploring a peak covered in prayer flags, we headed back down to our rented boat. As we rowed back across the lake, we stopped at a temple located in the middle of the lake. I am not sure what the temple is for, as I was unable to make the connection between the bird hotels constructed for the hundreds of pigeons on the island and the statues of fire-breathing tigers guarding the entrance of the temple. We didn’t stay long, as there were probably 200 people on the tiny island temple: Nepali tourists in town for the new year celebration.

After rowing back to shore and a much needed shower, we set out to stop the grumbling in our bellies. Just down the street from our guesthouse I see one of my favorite sights in the world. Kim had to nearly tackle me to stop me from running down the street to my newfound, albeit temporary, savior: the street food vendor. We fill ourselves with mixed chaat, samosas, and my new favorite street food: pani puri.

Samosas fresh out of the fryer

The deliciousness that is Pani Puri

            We get overcharged for our food, but the combination of spicy, sweet, crunchy, and tartness from fresh squeezed lime temporarily dulled our penny pinching. We realize that we have been overcharged by little over one dollar. I guess my hunger induced over zealousness didn’t do me any favors. And really, the vendor, trying to scratch out a living selling food to tourists, probably needs it more than we do.

After we regain all of our senses, we take an evening stroll on the lakeside path. It’s dusk and the sunset over the lake is beautiful. After taking in the last of the daylight, we make our way back to our temporary home, having enjoyed everything this city has to offer, even if it is a little touristy.

Sunset over Phewa Tal

From: wanderingsasquatch.com

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Visit Baglung

Baglung District,(Nepali: बागलुङ जिल्ला ), a part of Dhawalagiri Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district, with Baglung as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,784 km² and has a population (2001) of 268,938.

Baglung is surrounded by Parvat, Myagdi, Rukum, Ropla, Pyuthan and Gulmi districts. It looks like Nepal in shape. It has 59 Village Development Committees and one Municipality. It has many rivers and streams and so, many suspension bridges. Baglung is also known as the district of suspension bridges because of the large number of bridges. It is a hilly district, most of the population settled in the sides of the rivers. Fertile planes situated in the either sides of the rivers are used for farming. Headquarter of Baglung (Baglung Bazaar) is also situated in the bank of the holy river- Kaligandaki. Like Nepal, Baglung is also diverse in religion, culture, ethnicity, altitude, temperature etc. Hinduism and Buddhism are the major religions. pun, thapa, rana ,Chhantyal, magar, Chhetri, Bramhan, Newar, Gurung, and Thakali are the main ethnic groups living in Baglung. Highest temperature in the lowest altutude of baglung rises up to about 37.5 degrees Celsius in summer and the lowest temperature at Dhorpatan falls up to about −15 degrees Celsius in winter. Altitude of Baglung varies from about 650 meters at Kharbang to about 4,300 meters in Dhorpatan.

Baglung is rich in herbal medicine plants. Rice, corn, millet, wheat and potato are the major crops of baglung.There were many mines in use in Baglung in the past; Iron and Copper mines being the most prevalent. But they are not in use for long time because of the heedlessness of the government. There are numerous slate mines in use in Baglung. These slates are excellent for roofing.

Baglung Bazaar, Hatiya- Galkot, Kushmi Sera and Burtibang are the main trading centers of Baglung. Galkot, Kushmi Sera and Burtibang are connected with the district headquarter Baglung Bazaar by raw roads. Small part of Baglung is electrified by Nepal Electricity Authority and some other parts are electrified by small local hydroplants. Recently, telephone has been accessible in almost all villages of Baglung.

Baglung is considered to be one of the politically most conscious districts and it plays a significant role in the Nepali politics. Moreover it is the only district of Nepal whose shape is roughly like the country itself.

Towns and Villages

Adhikarichaur, Amalachaur, Amarbhumi, Argal, Arjewa, Baglung, Baskot, Batakachaur, Bhakunde, Bhimgithe, Bhimpokhara, Bihunkot, Binamare, Boharagaun, Bowang, Bungadovan, Burtibang, Chhisti, Daga Tundada, Damek, Darling, Devisthan, Dhamja, Dhullu Jaidi, Dhullubaskot, Dudilavati, Gwalichaur, Harichaur, Hatiya, Heela, Hudgisheer, Jabdi, Jaljala, Kandebas, Khungkhani, Khunga, Kusmishera, Lekhani, Malika, Malma, Mulpani, Narayansthan, Narethanti, Nisi, Paiyunthanthap, Palakot, Pandavkhani, Paiyunpata, Rajkut, Ranasingkiteni, Rangkhani, Rayadanda, Resha, Righa, Salyan, Sarkuwa, Singana, Sisakhani, Sukhaura, Sunkhani, Taman, Tangram, Tara, Tityang,

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Rhododendrons dream destination city

Opinion - Opinion Tinjure spring VD , pastures and forests of rubble color revised. Ratamya lays guramsale are everywhere .
' Athol capital ' of those entering the village the natural beauty test plot near the village spring boom that rational obligations could also toast .
Particularly as the city as urban planning , digitally alapatrai unrestrained on wire could also add charm .
ADB plans to construct the city government of denying the village ten years ago brought the two . Also, Truth and business center are trying to be a selected village ten lucky . Urbanization plan made ​​vasantapuravasima excited .
Organising a meeting were to be held at the local level stakeholders . Fourteen boom , denying odds and citregaum and Fat tamaphoka village samgetera ' Civics model city ' plan became making . Locals prepared new city model . Trade , tourism , housing , education , health and government bodies in different areas toekie .
Rinarodale tear derailed and ten broad, road making , Koshi Highway dhepera who live today , nearly unchanged - also became a political consensus at the local level .

One million population of the respectable -sized city, urban development plan Ellen why he has failed ?
Local leaders are now looking for the same answers the capital bonds.
A weekend UML vice julan Tiwari , Congress Civics village committee chairman Devendra Thapa and Lokendra Khadka capital district member Anniversary TO THE various body bonds. According to them, the government of the City Development Committee to quickly and JHU New Town project office has been established to agree .
The Committee stressed the city's blueprint for the government party equates thinking is based . Department of Urban Development and Building Construction Division Office , said , according to engineers, Shyam hedge nagarasamiti only became counsel be appointed to make DPR . ' Nagarasamiti formed to work but can not move forward , ' unako WCS .
.........
Neighbors and the slope of the ground boom area of a tourist hub . Athol minted Tinjure capital , and another is entered . CE Till now come here to see the internal and external tourists greatly . Savings and Vanniyars reach towards financing the boom . Vasantapuramai village also forming four road .
Civics money, ancient , cardamom and vegetables sales center . The current area of ​​a hundred tons of annual leave from here Chiraito kevalamana Dhan Gurung says Chairman drilled irregular .
The city and surrounding area are trying to be a painless land value skyrocketed . Resort , hotalalagayata buy land for infrastructure boom to reinvent local businessman Chandra Tiwari says , Chine . TI also 6 million each to give 7 adopting pact . According to him, a businessman Fourteen 9 thousand to 7 are adopting bought .
Carcaaghi city land price to be low due to swerve 2 million , he says. Obasanjo, the disclosure of a house 30 years ago the market value of the area is now 10 million, has reached 1 million Babu experience .
Urban yojanasamgai government gave 50 million the previous year, was equally fridge . Minors 50 million for 2069 , according to hedge the information came , but the situation can not implement . " Lately, the budget was set aside for respectable name , the implementation may mistaken , " he said .
Urbanization yojanaarntagata forces this year to spend 86 million on the street, and the influx of Democratic choke - choke boxes to two kilometers way to ban the construction contract , he said . Moreover, 50 million allocated for the purchase of land . However , the City Development Committee also become more susceptible to the budget has not been spent .

The city is also making some of the plan has not been able to attract to local said . Discuss new city began to move here too the number is significant . VDC office bucky 14 households have moved to a report in the previous fiscal year . Happy family was here the same period the number 11 . The current fiscal year the losses are 24 families went elsewhere nine families have come from another place . According to the JHU now 60 VDC 8 hundred thousand households and a population of about 5 .
New city, called Samantha fry combinations and rotate the village about 2 thousand , and the population is less than a thousand villages Fat tamaphoka . Opinion about a million population, migration should be the leader of the district .

From: Nagariknews.com

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