Pokhara
Pokhara
पोखरा | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s): City of Lakes, Tourism Capital of Nepal | |
| Motto(s): | |
| Coordinates: 28°12′30″N 83°59′20″E / 28.20833°N 83.98889°E | |
| Country | Nepal |
| Province | Gandaki |
| District | Kaski |
| Incorporated | 1962 |
| No. of Wards | 33 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| • Body | Pokhara Metropolitan City Council |
| • Mayor | Dhana Raj Acharya, CPN (Unified Socialist) |
| • Deputy mayor | Manju Devi Gurung, CPN(UML) |
| Area | |
• Total | 464.24 km2 (179.24 sq mi) |
| • Water | 4.4 km2 (1.7 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 1st |
| Elevation | 822 m (2,697 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 599,504 |
| • Rank | 2nd |
| • Density | 1,300/km2 (3,300/sq mi) |
| • Households | 120,594 (2nd most) |
| Demonym | Pokhareli |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Nepali and (Other Language) |
| Ethnicities | |
| • Ethnicities | Bahun, Gurung, Chhetri, Magar, Newar, |
| Time zone | UTC+5:45 (NST) |
| Postal Codes | 33700 (WRPD), 33702, 33704, 33706, 33708, 33713 |
| Area code | 061 |
| International Airport | Pokhara International Airport |
| Website | pokharamun |
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Pokhara (Nepali: पोखरा [ˈpokʰʌɾa]) is a metropolitan city located in central Nepal, which serves as the capital of Gandaki Province. Named the country's "capital of tourism" it is the second largest city after Kathmandu, with 599,504 inhabitants living in 120,594 households as of 2021 census.
Pokhara is located 200 kilometres (120 miles) west of the capital, Kathmandu, on the shore of Phewa Lake, and sits at an average elevation of approximately 822 m above sea level. The Annapurna Range, with three out of the ten highest peaks in the world—Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I and Manaslu—is within 15–35 mi (24–56 km) aerial range from the valley.
In 2024, Pokhara was declared as the tourism capital of Nepal, being a base for trekkers undertaking the Annapurna Circuit through the Annapurna Conservation Area region of the Annapurna ranges in the Himalayas. The city is also home to many of the elite Gurkha soldiers, soldiers native to South Asia of Nepalese nationality recruited for the British Army, Nepalese Army, Indian Army, Gurkha Contingent Singapore, Gurkha Reserve Unit Brunei, UN peacekeeping forces and in war zones around the world.