Pokhara: lakes and Himalayan peaks within sight

Overlooking a lake reflecting the snow-capped peaks of the Annapurna, Pokhara remains Nepal's most convenient starting point for Himalayan trekking.

The center is explored on foot; trekking requires local guides.

The Phewa Lake, a body of water in the heart of the city, reflects on clear days the peaks of Annapurna and Machapuchare, a sacred mountain never climbed out of religious respect.

On the hill above the lake, the World Peace Stupa, built by Japanese Buddhist monks, offers a panoramic view over the entire Himalayan range.

Continuing, one visits Davis Cave, an underground cavity where in 1961 a tourist accidentally fell, discovering the karst cave system of the area.

Toward evening, the Lakeside district, along the lake shore, animates restaurants and trekking equipment shops for excursionists departing toward the mountains.

Machapuchare, the sacred mountain visible from Pokhara, has never been officially summited: the Nepali government prohibits expeditions to the peak out of respect for the mountain's religious significance.

Pokhara remains the starting point for the famous Annapurna Circuit, one of the world's most famous Himalayan treks, requiring one to three weeks depending on the chosen route.