Begnas Lake, Pokhara: Travel Guide (2024)
Planning a trip to Begnas Lake, Lekhnath?
Begnas Lake is right next to Pokhara and if you are looking for a more peaceful version of Pokhara, you should check out Begnas Lake!
It’s been a long time that I have been planning to visit Begnas Lake and finally when I got a long weekend, I decided the time has come. It took me almost 10 years of visiting Nepal but I finally made it to Begnas Lake!
Begnas Lake is 13 km from Pokhara and you can get there in about 1-1.5 hours by bus.
There are 8 lakes around Pokhara and Begnas Lake is the second biggest lake out of the 8 lakes. Its maximum depth is 10 meters and there are many restaurants around the lake from where you can even go swimming.
Overall, some of the best things to do at Begnas Lake include chilling by the lake, boating, hiking, eating fish and going on a yoga or meditation retreat.
Here is everything you need you know for your trip to Begnas Lake!
Best Time to Visit Begnas Lake
The best time to visit Begnas Lake is from October to April which is when you have clear views of the Himalayas from the lake.
Nevertheless, it can be visited all year around, even during monsoon, however, there will be no mountains views during monsoon. Also, hiking around the lake during monsoon has the risks of leeches, so it is something to keep in mind.
Quick Facts About Begnas Lake
- Lake Type: natural freshwater
- Average Depth: 6.6 meters (22 feet)
- Maximum Depth: 10 meters (33 feet)
How to Get to Begnas Lake, Lekhnath
Begnas Lake is 13 km from Pokhara and it takes around 1-1.5 hours to get there by bus.
The easiest is to get to Begnas Lake from Pokhara, but there are many buses that pass by Begnas Lake. Even if you are in Kathmandu or Chitwan, you can easily get a tourist bus towards Pokhara and get off by Begnas Lake (Leknath).
Pokhara to Begnas Lake
- Pokhara to Begnas Lake Distance: Begnas Lake is 13 km from Pokhara and takes 1-1.5 hours to get there by bus
- Pokhara to Begnas Lake Bus: The buses go from Prithvi Chowk in Pokhara to Begnas Lake once every hour. The bus ticket costs Rs. 100 from Pokhara to Begnas Lake (Majhikuna)
Kathmandu to Begnas Lake, Lekhnath
- Kathmandu to Begnas Lake Distance: Begnas Lake is 189 km from Kathmandu and takes around 8 hours to get there by bus.
- Kathmandu to Begnas Lake Bus: To get from Kathmandu to Begnas Lake, you can take a tourist bus that goes from Kathmandu to Pokhara and get off at Taal Chowk, Lekhnath. From Taal Chowk in Lekhnath there are buses that go to Begnas Lake.
- Kathmandu to Begnas Lake Bus Time: It takes around 7 hours from Kathmandu to Lekhnath and then around 20 minutes from Lekhnath to Begnas Lake.
- Kathmandu to Begnas Lake Bus Ticket Price: The tourist bus ticket from Kathmandu to Lekhnath costs Rs. 1,200-2,200, and the bus ticket from Lekhnath to Begnas Lake costs Rs. 20.
Where to Stay at Begnas Lake
When visiting Begnas Lake, two of the best areas to stay is in Majhikuna or Piple.
Majhikuna is on the east side of the lake and it is one of the best areas to stay at Begnas Lake. The buses go all the way there, so you don’t have to worry about having to walk there. Majhikuna has many hotels and restaurants by the lake and is a very chill place. You can go boating from here and it is also where the Sundari Danda View Tower is overlooking both Begnas and Rupa Lake.
Piple is on the west side of the lake. If you don’t stay in Majhikuna, Piple is the second best area to stay at Begnas Lake. It is slightly smaller than Majhikuna but it is also by the lake and there are some nice restaurants/hotels by the lake. You can also rent boats on the west side of the lake.
Hotels in Begnas Lake
Here are my top recommendations for hotels:
Budget Hotel: Dinesh House
High-End Hotel: The Begnas Lake Resort & Villas
Things to Do at Begnas Lake, Pokhara
1. Chill by the Lake
Begnas Lake is the less touristy version of Pokhara so it is a great place to spend time by nature and recharge. The best thing to do is to book a hotel right by the lake. The hotels also operate as restaurants so you can spend time just chilling by the lake.
It is also possible to swim in the lake, for example, you can even go swimming from some of the hotels and restaurants. Although, it is best if you don’t go too far into the lake and just stay close to the shore.
2. Go Boating
Just like at Fewa Lake in Pokhara, you can also go boating on Begnas Lake! Begnas Lake is visited by less people than Pokhara, so going boating is even more peaceful here.
There are small row boats and paddle boats to choose from. You can decide if you want to row the boat yourself but there are staff that can row the boat for you. If you are on your own or not used to rowing boats, it is best to get a driver to row the boat for you. It is very hard to row the boat yourself and can take up to 1 hour to cross the lake.
There are different packages for the boat, you can rent a boat with a driver to just take you to the Baraha Temple, Majhikuna or to just boat around the lake for 1-4 hours.
Begnas Lake Boating Price (row boat):
- Crossing the lake: Rs. 1,000
- 1-4 hours boating on lake: Rs. 700-2,200
Begnas Lake Paddle Boating Price:
- Crossing the lake: Rs. 2,500
- 1-4 hours boating on lake: Rs. 1,500-4,500
3. See the Lakes from the Sundari Danda View Tower
- Sundari Danda View Tower Ticket Prices: Rs. 50 for foreigners, Rs. 30 for Nepali citizens, Rs. 20 for Nepali students
The Sundari Danda View Tower is on the east side of the lake and from here you can see both the Begnas and Rupa Lake. The easiest to reach the view tower is from Majhikuna.
From the lakeside in Majhikuna, it is only about 15 minutes’ walk to the view tower. It can be reached on a road without any hiking.
The Sundari Danda View Tower is not very high but you get nice views of both the Begnas and Rupa Lake from the top. On a clear day, you should also be able to see the Himalayas, so that can be pretty great. I visited during the monsoon season and there was no clear view of Himalayas due to the clouds.
4. Go Hiking
There are also some short hiking routes around Begnas Lake that are great to spend time in the nature.
If you like hiking, some of the best hiking routes around the lake are Thulokot, Begnas Kot, and the Chakra Devi Viewpoint.
- Begnas Lake to Thulokot Hiking: 9.2 km and takes around 2.5 hours hike (one-way)
- Baraha Temple (Begnas Lake) to Begnas Kot: 6.8 km and takes around 2 hours (one-way). The easiest way to get to the Begnas Kot Viewpoint is take the boat across the lake to the Baraha Temple and hike to Begnas Kot from there.
- Begnas Lake to Chakra Devi: 5.4 km and takes 1.5 hours hike (one-way). The Chakra Devi Temple and Viewpoint is on the way to Thulokot, so if you get tired, you can also stop by Chakra Devi. The views are not as great as from Thulokot but if you want a short hike, this can be a great option.
5. Eat Fish
Begnas Lake is a great place for dishes made of fish. You will find all kinds of dishes made from fish here: fish curry, grilled fish, fried fish, fish stuffed with vegetables either made from small or big fish.
If you like fish, you’ll be happy here. Don’t worry in case you don’t eat fish, the restaurants also serve many other dishes including Nepali and western dishes.
6. Go on a Meditation Retreat
Begnas Lake is also known as a great place for meditation and yoga. There are a couple of meditation and yoga retreat places and many people come here to join a meditation course in a peaceful environment.
There is also a Vipassana Meditation Centre by the lake which usually needs to be pre-booked 1-2 months in advance. I did a vipassana course in Kathmandu and I must say it is a bit hard but if you are curious about it (and determined), it’s totally worth it!
Where to Eat
Most of the restaurants are in Majhikuna on the east side or in Piple on the west side of the lake. The restaurants in these two places are by the lake in a very relaxing atmosphere.
Sanu Lake on D Water (in Piple)
Sanu Lake on D Water is on the Piple side of Begnas Lake and it is one of the best restaurants there. It has a chill atmosphere and it is right by the lake so you can even go swimming in the lake directly from the restaurant!
They serve great fish both grilled fish or fish curry, but they have other dishes too if you don’t feel like having fish.
Classic Chill (in Majhikuna)
Classic Chill is at the Majhikuna side of the lake and as the name suggests it has a very chill atmosphere. There are many restaurants by the lake in Majhikuna so you have many options even if you don’t end up at the Classic Chill.
The Classic Chill restaurant is right by the lake. They serve fish as well as Nepali and continental dishes. It is great as you can also go swimming from here.
Short Trips near Pokhara
Visiting Begnas Lake can be great for a 1 or 2-day trip from Pokhara. If you are not sure about visiting Begnas Lake, here are some other short trips near Pokhara that you can go on:
For things to do in Pokhara, check out my Travel Guide to Pokhara here!
FAQs: Begnas Lake, Pokhara
Why is Begnas Lake famous?
Begnas Lake is famous for being the second largest lake around Pokhara. It is a more peaceful version of Pokhara and is known for its boating, hiking trails, dishes made from fish and even swimming in the lake.
Can you swim in Begnas Lake, Nepal?
Yes, you can swim in Begnas Lake! There are hotels and restaurants by the lake and you can go swimming from there. It is still good to stay close to the shore for safety.
What is the depth of Begnas Lake, Nepal?
The average depth of Begnas Lake is 6.6 meters while its maximum depth is 10 meters.
Is Begnas Lake bigger than Fewa Lake?
No, Begnas Lake is smaller than Fewa Lake. However, there are 8 lakes around Pokhara and Begnas Lake is the second biggest lake. Fewa Lake is the biggest lake around Pokhara.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Begnas Lake is right next to Pokhara and it is a great place to visit if you are looking for a more peaceful version of Pokhara.
Begnas Lake is 13 km from Pokhara and you can get there in about 1-1.5 hours by bus.
There are 8 lakes around Pokhara and Begnas Lake is the second biggest lake near Pokhara. Its maximum depth is 10 meters and there are many restaurants around the lake from where you can go swimming.
Overall, some of the best things to do at Begnas Lake include chilling by the lake, boating, hiking, eating fish and going on a yoga or meditation retreat.
