What currency is used in Pokhara?

Pokhara uses the Nepalese rupee (NPR).

What is the emergency number in Pokhara?

In Pokhara, call 100 for police, 102 for ambulance, 101 for fire; 1144 for the Tourist Police.

How much does a day in Pokhara cost?

Roughly $25-40 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $50-90 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Pokhara?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Pokhara without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Pokhara travel guide

Nepal

A lakeside town at the foot of the Annapurna range, and the start or finish of many Himalayan treks. On a clear morning the peaks seem to rise straight out of Phewa Lake.

Essentials

Language: Nepali; English is widely spoken in Lakeside
Currency: Nepalese rupee (NPR)
Plugs: Type C, D and M, 230 V
Emergency number: 100 for police, 102 for ambulance, 101 for fire; 1144 for the Tourist Police
Tipping: Many restaurants add a 10% service charge; trekking guides and porters are customarily tipped at the end of a trek.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $25-40, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $50-90, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Pokhara

Lakeside: the main strip of guesthouses, cafés and trekking shops along Phewa Lake.
Damside: the southern end of the lake, quieter and closer to the World Peace Pagoda trail.
Old Bazaar: the traditional trading quarter, with Newari houses and the Bindhyabasini temple.

Getting around Pokhara

Lakeside is easy on foot or by rented bicycle. Taxis cover longer trips, so agree the price first, and rowing boats cross Phewa Lake to the temple island and the pagoda trail.

Best time to visit Pokhara

October to November and March to April, for clear mountain views and dry trails.

Top things to do in Pokhara

Row across Phewa Lake to the island temple of Tal Barahi
Hike up to the World Peace Pagoda for views back over the lake and town
Paraglide from Sarangkot, one of the best-known paragliding spots in Asia
Learn about Himalayan mountaineering at the International Mountain Museum
Walk the short trek to Australian Camp for a night with the Annapurnas on the doorstep

What to eat in Pokhara

Dal bhat: rice, lentil soup, vegetable curry and pickle, usually with free refills
Momo: steamed dumplings filled with vegetables, buffalo or chicken
Thakali set: a refined version of dal bhat from the Thak Khola valley
Sel roti: a sweet, ring-shaped rice bread, especially common at festivals

Day trips from Pokhara

Sarangkot: a ridge-top village with sunrise views of the Himalaya, about 30 minutes by road
Begnas Lake: a quieter, less developed lake for boating and walking, under an hour away
Bandipur: a car-free hilltop Newari town of old trading houses, about two and a half hours by road

Local etiquette

Walk clockwise around stupas and prayer wheels, remove your shoes at temples, and use your right hand to give and receive. Ask before photographing people.

Staying connected

Ncell and Nepal Telecom SIMs are sold with a passport and photo, and most guesthouses and cafés have Wi-Fi, though it thins out on trekking routes.

Staying safe

Pokhara is calm, but monsoon rain from June to September can close mountain roads with landslides. Only swim close to the shore, and book paragliding and trekking with registered operators.

A local tip

Head up to Sarangkot before dawn to watch the sun light up Machhapuchhre and the Annapurnas, then come back down for breakfast by the lake.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Pokhara on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Pokhara for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Pokhara, you could be one of the first hosts.

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Questions about Pokhara

What currency is used in Pokhara?: Pokhara uses the Nepalese rupee (NPR).
What is the emergency number in Pokhara?: In Pokhara, call 100 for police, 102 for ambulance, 101 for fire; 1144 for the Tourist Police.
When is the best time to visit Pokhara?: October to November and March to April, for clear mountain views and dry trails.
How much does a day in Pokhara cost?: Roughly $25-40 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $50-90 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Pokhara?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Pokhara without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

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