The Cube

As mentioned in previous post, I took a cable car to Sarangkot. There are other ways to get there - hike, taxi, bus. I like the idea of cable car but possibly not the most popular because it was fairly quiet. I was the only one there to get in a cable car and got the whole cable car to myself. Maybe it wasn't the peak time yet, I don't know. 

Sarangkot is Ward 18 of Pokhara, Kaski District, Nepal, after it was merged into the city in 2015. It is a popular tourist destination for those who arrive in Pokhara and known for its panaromic Himalayan views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu. 

As a village, the major reason why people visit Sarangkot is the view. The village is not big and there isn't much to do. 

Otherwise, Sarangkot is the launching site for paragliding or one can zipline or do some hikes. I was there to catch the sunset and sunrise that Sarangkot is famous for. 

Entrance fee: NPR 50

I initially tried to just view the sunrise from the guesthouse rooftop again but not a great spot for getting Himalayan ranges, because well - a hill is kind of in the way. 

I walked a little further away from the entrance to the view point and found a spot. It wasn't a high as the viewpoint but it was unblocked.

I made my walk back to the Sarangkot Cable Car terminal after breakfast at the guesthouse to go back to Pokhara. 

I slotted in Pokhara sometime in the middle of the trip to have buffer between international flights. To cut down commuting time, I decided to fly one way to Pokhara and bus back to Kathmandu. I booked a flight with Yeti Air, the cheapest flight on the day and timing I want. I read that it is better to fly earlier in the morning due to potential flight cancellations or rescheduling. Also, right side of the plane to Pokhara gives a better view if you can get it. The guesthouse staff haggled with a taxi driver just outside the guesthouse entrance to bring me to the airport, NPR 600. 

I left my bigger backpack at the guesthouse in Kathmandu as I would return to the same guesthouse after Pokhara. So I only carried my daypack with me, which was really lucky because a lot of walking happened in Pokhara before checking into an accommodation. 

On arrival in Pokhara, I got a taxi to bring me to World Peace Pagoda. The driver also offered a full day tour but I didn't take it up. I read that taxi charges NPR 1200 to World Peace Pagoda for one way, and NPR 1500 for return trip. I am not sure if the price had gone up or I paid too much but I only managed to negotiate to NPR 1500 for a one way trip from Pokhara Airport. I ended up walking everywhere in Pokhara the whole day after leaving the World Peace Pagoda. 

Entrance fee: Free

World Peace Pagoda or Shanti Stupa is located on Anadu Hill overlooking Phewa Lake with Annapurna Mountain range in the background. The first of these pagodas were built in Japan, and the aim is to build 100 World Peace Pagodas throughout the world to convey the message of peace. 

From what I read, there are 2 popular ways if you want a hike up to the pagoda. One is to take a boat trip across Phewa Lake and then walk up from where the boat drops you off. The other less steep but longer way is to walk through Damside. Damside is said to be the stomping ground of muggers and thieves and people are warned from solo hiking. There are posts online to warn on danger on both trails albeit dated quite a few years back. 

After considering all factors, I chose to go there directly from Pokhara Airport by a taxi but walked down via the main road. The taxi dropped me off at the base of a flight of rock steps. I was told to climb those steps to reach the pagoda. Along the way to the pagoda, there are some small shops and eateries. 

From World Peace Pagoda, you can see what I think is Pumdikot Shiva Statue. 

Entrance fee: NPR 100

Locally known as Patale Chhango, this is the most famous waterfall in Pokhara. It was said that the fall was named as Davis Fall following the death of a Swiss citizen known as Mrs. Davis. Allegedly, Mrs. Davis and her husband visited the area and she died while taking a bath a few meters away from the fall, presumably due to an accident.

The introduction board mentioned that the best time to watch the falls is from June to September. I visited at end of March. 

There is a couple of resting area around the grounds and wishing well but overall place is not big. 

 

Side note: 🦥

For a week long in Nepal, it is not possible to venture deep into the high Himalaya. So I make do with a short hike into the hills of the Kathmandu Valley. I decided on this Panauti to Namo Buddha hike day hike as it is not far to get to from Kathmandu, I can do it without engaging a guide and description of hike that includes culture, nature and views.

There are direct buses to Panauti departing from Ratna Bus Park area every 15 minutes or so. These buses stop in Banepa but a transfer is not required. The same bus will contiue to Panauti bus park. If there isn't a direct bus, then option is to take one to Banepa and change from there. I paid NPR 90 for the approximately 1.5 hours ride. 

What happened when I needed to take buses were - walked to Ratna Bus Park and on getting there, asked any of the drivers or bus conductors if they were heading to where I wanted to go. If they were not, they would very kindly let me know where to find those buses. During my trip, buses to Panauti were bigger buses (not minivans) and departed from the main road. I got on a direct bus to Panauti. 

I find that this page was very helpful in both getting to Panauti and the hike. 

I got off the bus stop and walked to a random shop to have my breakfast before starting the hike. Of course with intention to find gwaramari (round bread in Newari) as mentioned in the page above. I didn't see any but had my breakfast. Not sure what they are called though. I tried to ask especially the one in a long roll as that was the tastiest among the 3 but they told me, "roll". Ok. 

The Panauti temple complex is conveniently at the start of the trail. Indreshwar Mahadev temple is one of Nepal's oldest and largest surviving wooden mandirs. This temple is dedicated to Shiva Mahadyo and said to be built in 1294 and possibly re-built from 16th century onward. 

This part of the hike is on asphalt paved roads. There were construction sites nearby so there were trucks passing by fairly frequently nearer to the temple complex. One can see villagers working in the fields and children playing in the courtyards at this stretch. 

 

After this, the hike gained elevation from here and ascended uphill to northeast till Namo Buddha monastery. One of the tuk tuk driver even stopped to offer me a ride for free. Must've taken pity of my slow struggling steps uphill. I did wish I had a motorbike at this point. 

This monastery is also known as Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery, is a Tibetan monastery about 40 km southeast of Kathmandu. It lies at the top of a hill in Namobuddha Municipality.