Pokhara Valley is Nepal’s second major tourist destination after Kathmandu. A peaceful valley set in the center of the country, Pokhara combines a warm, subtropical climate with amazing mountain views. The mountains rise more than 7,200m above the town.
On the northeastern side of Pokhara is the Sarangkot Peak, which, at 1,592m above the sea level, is slightly over 700m above the city and offers awesome views of the town and the Phewa Tal Lake as well as of the Annapurna Himal Range, on a clear day. It is the perfect day walk, allowing you to check your equipment and the basic terrain conditions; if walking without breaks, you can make the whole way in some 2 hours. The obvious way to reach it is to approach it from the northern limit of the town, but that will lead you to uncomfortable cliffs. Making a detour through the southern limit of the Phewa Tal Lake will take you through delightful local villages as well through the Devi’s Falls, one of the local attractions that are easily added to such an excursion. Since the way passes almost completely through an inhabited area, there are practically hundreds of possible paths to reach the Sarangkot Stupa; hence, I will give here the general outlines delimiting your way to the summit.
Pokhara is divided into the lakeside and the damside parts; most probably, you are staying in a guesthouse by the lakeside, which makes the town tourist center just north of the dam, but in both cases, you should begin advancing south towards the Devi’s Falls. A good landmark is the airport’s runway; you should not cross it to the east. The falls are slightly after the dam--make sure to look at this little wonder before you proceed--and they sign the place where you should begin your detour towards the north. Any path or street after the falls will do. From here, you should continue climbing until you reach the peak. To be sure you do not err, the lake should be at your right at all times, and you should not cross the rice paddies of the narrow valley at your left. The path traces a scimitar around the lake and leads you directly to the temple at the summit. Pay attention to the way, as it is not less interesting than your goal; the area is densely populated and endless surprising interactions will occur. The day I walked through, chickens were put inside buckets for the sake of the eagles living in the surroundings, the last eagerly defended the offerings from the local dogs that searched for their share. The time of your visit is crucial: during the mornings, the dew is transformed into a slight fog that obscures the mountain sights; hence, it is wiser to depart late in the morning, to stop for a break at the Devi’s fall, and to plan reaching the summit after noon. The summit offers, beside the stunning views, an interesting stupa, also known as the World Peace Temple or Biswo Shanti Pagoda, that was inaugurated in 2001.