Strategic position of Pokhara from the perspective of tourism

Pokhara holds a strategic position due to its central location in the map of Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, . This location of Pokhara with some specific infrastructures related facilities (airport, road network, all kinds of vehicle service, hotels, motels, restaurants, power supply, drainage system, sewage system,    etc.) have offered it with soaring scope to position it as a hub for the departure to various touristically attractive national parks, hunting reserve, wildlife reserves, etc. in western, mid-western and far western development regions of Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, .

Figure 1.1 Strategic and central position of Pokhara in connection with other tourist destinations

Source: Developed by authors

Pokhara is not only geographically located in central part of Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, but also popular as the headquarter of the Western development region from the perspective of the national planning scheme to divide the entire nation into a total of five development regions. As shown in figure 1.1, Pokhara is looked upon the central location for three important tourism triangles. Pokhara-Kathmandu-Chitwan is considered as golden triangle, Pokhara-Chitwan-Lumbini is considered as silver triangle and Pokhara- Manang-Mustang is looked upon as adventure triangle from the prospect of  tourism  by  keeping Pokhara as  an  important  bridge  for  all  these

tourism triangles (NTB 2011). Thus, Pokhara constitutes its position as a regional hub in Western Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, . A total of 230,799 international tourists who visited Pokhara in 2010 that constitutes 38.28 percent of the total tourists’ arrivals of 602,867 in Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, in this year (MoTCA 2012). In this context, Tourism is highly operational in Pokhara as the centre of mountain economy, not only for Greater Pokhara, but also beyond Pokhara valley. This is due to the enormous natural and cultural attractions for tourism and the strategic position of Pokhara as the entry and exit points for trekking and other adventure activities (e.g. paragliding, ultra light aircraft, mountain expedition, sky diving, rock climbing, river rafting, zip- line, etc.) in Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain areas in the Western Development region (NTB 2008; Thapa 2010).

Pokhara offers unique attractions that combine modern characteristics as reflected in the places like Chipledhunga, New Road and Mahendrapul; historical richness reflected in cluster of various famous temples (e.g. Barahi temple, Bindhyabasini, Bhadrakali, Sitaldevi, Gita Mandir, Bhimsen temple, etc.); panoramic views (specially from the Sarangkot, the World Peace Pagoda, etc.); museums as knowledge centre of nature, culture and people (e.g. International Mountain museum, Pokhara Regional museum, Ethnographic museum, Gurkha museum and Annapurna Natural History museum).

The fast pace of urbanization of Pokhara has attracted expansion of the tourist services, manufacturing industries, agriculture sectors, supplies industries and the remittances from the migrants abroad.

Pokhara offers tourists a number of activities with joyful events which are based on nature, culture, tradition, heritage, ceremony, adventure, and sports (NTB 2011).   Today, it is the main entry and exit points for trekking to Annapurna Conservation Area, Mt. Annapurna Base Camp, Mt. Machhapuchhre Base Camp, and post-trekking resting and relaxation point (NCCR and TAAN WRC 2010; Tripathi 2008). It is also an extra ordinary destination for all sorts of tourists. Many hills and villages can be easily accessed and enjoyed while visiting and staying in Pokhara. The names of such famous peaks and spots are Sarngkot, Kaskikot, Naudanda, Dhikurpokhari, Kahun Hill, Kalikastha, Sundari danda, Armala kot, Hemja, Austrian camp, Dhampus-Astham, Mattikhan hill, Nirmal Pokhari, Bharat Pokhari, Kristi, etc. These hills along with other destination like Sirubari, Gahlegaun, Bhujung, Tanahsur, Damauli, Nuwakot, etc. are superb village tourism destinations lie on the periphery of Pokhara which can be explored as the importante parts of Pokhara to know and experience people and their culture.

A number of short trail trekking is available in surrounding areas of Pokhara. Such short trekking are Royal trek (1720m), Ridgeline trek (Bharatpokhari-

Kristi) (1114 m), Millennium trek (1279m), Mardi Himal trek (4100m), and Machhapuchhre model trek (3682m). Furthermore, there are a number of other major trekking routes like Annapurna Sanctuary (4200m), Jomsom- Muktinath (3800m), Ghorepani-Poonhill (3120m), Siklis (1989m), Upper Mustang (3950m), Nyagi (3210m), Manang area (3450m), Manaslu circuit (5100m), Dhaulagiri circuit (5710m), Dolpa (5115m) and Dhorpan (3940m) where tourists can spend one to four weeks duration of time in lodges, camping and home-stays. The diversities of these activities offer a perfect ground for all kinds of visitors, tourists and researchers to explore the very Pokhara in detail and its surrounding exotic parts.