Pokhara's old town on foot, the flat walk for tired legs
Two hours, no hills, and the part of Pokhara that was here before the tourists, with carved windows, a hilltop temple and a working market.
By the Lakeshore team · 5 min read · Updated 5 October 2026
Lakeside is about fifty years old and was built for visitors. Pokhara's old bazaar, north of the lake, is several centuries older. The town started here, as a trading settlement on the route between the hills and the plains.
Twenty minutes by taxi, and very few visitors go. The whole route is flat, which makes it the walk for a day when your legs are finished or the weather has closed in.
Allow two hours on foot, with no climbing except one small hill at the end.
The bazaar
The street is long and lined with Newari-influenced merchant houses, built of brick, with carved wooden windows and shuttered ground-floor shops opening straight onto the road.
The trades are still there, with metalworkers, cloth merchants, grain sellers and shops selling what a hill household needs instead of singing bowls. It's a working street, not a restored showpiece, and some of it is falling down. Walk it slowly and look up, because the carving is on the upper storeys and it's easy to miss at street level.
Bindhyabasini
At the northern end is a small hill with a temple complex on top. This is Bindhyabasini, dedicated to Durga and one of the main Hindu sites in Pokhara.
Expect local worshippers more than visitors, especially on Saturdays and at festivals, and there's usually something going on. Take your shoes off, ask before photographing people, and be aware that animal sacrifice happens here on certain days.
The view from the top takes in the old town and, on a clear day, the mountains behind.
Making a day of it
Combine it with the International Mountain Museum, which is on the same side of town and far better than it sounds. It covers Himalayan climbing history, the Sherpa community and Nepal's ethnic groups, all indoors.
Or pair it with the Gupteshwor cave and Davis Falls, which are south of town, not north, but close enough by taxi.
Old town, museum and caves together are the standing answer to a wet day in Pokhara, and a good one.
Walk it with us
Private departures on your dates, guided by the people who wrote this page.
Questions we get asked
Is it worth it if I have limited time?
If you have three days in Pokhara, yes. It's the only part of town that wasn't built for you. With one day, the lake and a viewpoint come first.
Do I need a guide?
Not to walk it. But the buildings and trades need explaining, so a guide earns their fee here more than almost anywhere in Pokhara. Our day tour includes one.
Is it accessible?
The bazaar street is flat, with uneven paving, and the temple has steps. Easier going than most of Nepal, though.
Can I buy things?
Yes, and at local prices, not Lakeside ones. Spices, brassware and cloth are worth a look.
Still deciding?
Tell us your dates and how much walking you've done, and we'll tell you whether Pokhara Highlights Day Tour is right for you. If it isn't, we'll say so.
Nothing to pay online. We confirm your dates first.
Or call the office +977 61-457830