Top 3 Caves in Pokhara that You Should Visit!
Looking for the best caves in Pokhara? Here are the top 3 caves for an adventurous day out in Pokhara!
I have been visiting and periodically living in Nepal since 2015 but it took me a long time to visit the caves in Pokhara. Now that I have, here is what you can expect when visiting the 3 best caves in Pokhara.
There are 5 caves in Pokhara but out of the 5 caves, 3 are the most popular caves in Pokhara. They each bring their own unique experiences.
The 3 best caves in Pokhara are the Chamere Gufa (Bat Cave), Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave and the Mahendra Cave.
Chamere Gufa is one of the most popular caves as it has hundreds of bats inside. Don’t worry, the bats mostly just sleep inside. While, the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave is the longest cave in Pokhara with over 2,000 metres.
Want to explore the biggest cave in Nepal? Check out the Siddha Gufa in Bandipur.
The Best Caves in Pokhara
In the Nepali language “gufa” means “cave”, so when you see “gufa” in this article, know that it simply refers to “cave”.
1. Chamere Gufa (the “Bat Cave”)
- Best for: To see hundreds of bats inside the cave
- Chamere Gufa (Bat Cave) Ticket Price: Rs. 150 (foreigners), Rs. 80 (SAARC), Rs. 50 (Nepalese) + you get a free torch to use inside the cave
- Opening Times: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Location: on google maps here
- Is a guide needed? No. They will try to sell you to go with a guide but it is not needed
How to get to the Bat Cave:
By Taxi:
Book a taxi (car/motorbike) through the inDrive app (Google Play, Apple Store)
By Public Bus:
Route: Lakeside to 0 Km to Hari Chowk to Bat Cave
There is no direct buy from Lakeside to the Bat Cave and you will have to change buses many times. If you stay at Lakeside, it is easier to go by taxi but if you wan to go by bus, here is how you can get there:
- Step 1: Take a local bus from Lakeside to 0 Km
- Step 2: Take another bus from 0 Km to Hari Chowk
- Step 3: Take another bus from Hari Chowk to the Bat Cave. After the bus drops you, the Bat Cave is about 10 minutes walk. (The bus fare costs Rs. 30/trip)
🚌 Want to know how to get around Pokhara? Check out my post on taking taxis and public buses in Pokhara!
Inside the Chamere Gufa (Bat Cave Pokhara)
The Chamere Cave is a cave most famous for the hundreds of bats that are hanging down inside. Due to all the bats living there, the cave is famously known as the Bat Cave in Pokhara.
As you enter the cave the terrain becomes a little bit slippery and dark. The lamp that they give you when you buy your ticket will be needed while you are inside the cave as there are no lights set up inside the cave.
You have to walk a little bit further into the cave before you can see all the hundreds (or thousands?) of bats.
After you check out the bats, you have two options to exit the cave:
- You can either turn back and exit the cave the same way you came. This is the safer and easier option.
- You can continue in the cave and exit through a narrow path leading outside the cave. This narrow path is a bit of an adventure as you have to crawl through a very narrow, sometimes vertically upwards section of the cave to get through. If you are brave enough to try this path, you will most likely get a little bit dirty along the way.
💡 Be prepared and get your headlamp for exploring the caves in Nepal!
2. Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave
- Best for: to see the gorge and waterfall inside the cave
- Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave Ticket Price: Rs. 100 (foreigners), Rs. 50 (Nepalese), Rs. 35 (Nepalese student with valid ID)
- Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave Opening Times: 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Gupteshwor Mahadev Gufa Location: on google maps here
How to get to the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave:
- By Taxi: Book taxi (car/motorbike) through the inDrive, a Nepali taxi app
- By public transport: Take a local bus from Lakeside to Damside. Take another bus from Damside to the Gupteshwor Mahadev Gufa. (The bus fare costs Rs. 30/trip)
Inside the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave
The Gupteshwor Mahadev Gufa is pretty amazing. In the first part you just go through the cave which is an easy walk and is well-lit.
After a few minutes, you arrive into the final section of the cave in which you can see the water flowing through the cave. There is also an area set up for visitors to be able to see a waterfall at the end of the cave.
The water level will vary depending on when you visit: if you visit during the monsoon season, the water levels will be the highest. Alternatively, if you are visiting off the monsoon season, then the water levels will be lower.
I have visited the cave both during monsoon and off-monsoon, and while it is more impressive during monsoon season with the high water levels, it was still pretty cool during off-monsoon season.
Curious to check out Nepal’s biggest cave? Head to the Siddha Gufa in Bandipur!
3. Mahendra Cave (Mahendra Gufa)
- Best for: limestone formations
- Mahendra Cave Ticket Price: Rs. 150 (foreigners), Rs. 80 (SAARC), Rs. 50 (Nepalese), Rs. 30 (Nepalese student with ID)
- Mahendra Cave Opening Times: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Mahendra Cave Location: on google maps here
How to get there:
By Taxi:
Book taxi (car/motorbike) through inDrive, a Nepali taxi app.
By Public Bus:
Route: Lakeside to 0 Km to Hari Chowk to Mahendra Gufa
There is no direct buy from Lakeside and you will have to change buses many times. If you stay at Lakeside, it is easier to go by taxi but if you wan to go by bus, here is how you can get there:
- Step 1: Take a local bus from Lakeside to 0 Km
- Step 2: Take another bus from 0 Km to Hari Chowk
- Step 3: Take another bus from Hari Chowk to the Mahendra Gufa. The bus drops you near the entrance to the cave. (The bus fare costs Rs. 30/trip)
Inside the Mahendra Cave (Mahendra Gufa)
Although the cave is beautiful inside, for me, it was the least impressive cave out of the three in Pokhara.
It is well-lit inside and the cave is best to see limestone formations. It is a short and easy walk within the cave. There is also a priest inside the cave that gives blessings to those who would like to get one.
BONUS: Things to Do in Pokhara
Apart from visiting the caves in Pokhara, there are so many other activities that you can do. Here are some of the best things to do in Pokhara:
- Boating on Fewa Lake + Hiking to the World Peace Pagoda
- Sunrise trip to Sarangkot
- Museums
- Paragliding
- Begnas Lake
For the full list of activities, check out my Travel Guide to Pokhara here!
BONUS: Where to Stay in Pokhara
📍 Best Budget Accommodation: Pokhara Backpackers Hostel
📍 Best Mid-Range Hotel: Beli Guest House
📍 Best High-End Hotel: Bar Peepal Resort
BONUS: Restaurants in Pokhara
Here is our top 5 restaurants in Pokhara:
Looking for affordable restaurants Pokhara? Check out the best cheap restaurants in Pokhara here!
Looking for vegan food in Pokhara? Check out the best vegan restaurants in Pokhara here!
FAQs: Caves in Pokhara
Which is the longest cave in Pokhara?
The longest cave in Pokhara is the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave with the length of over 2,000 metres.
What is inside the Mahendra Cave?
Inside the Mahendra Gufa you can find limestone formations. There is also a priest inside the cave that gives blessings to those who would like to get one.
Why is Pokhara so famous?
Pokhara is famous as it is the most popular tourist town in Nepal. It is famous for the views of Himalayas, trekking and hiking trails, Fewa Lake, and the World Peace Pagoda.
What is the largest cave in Nepal?
The largest cave in Nepal is the Siddha Gufa. It is located in the Tanahun District of Nepal and can be reached by a 50 minutes hike from Bandipur.
The Siddha Gufa is 50 metres high and 430 metres deep. If you have time to visit Bandipur, making a trip to the Siddha Gufa is really adventurous!
What is the second city of Nepal?
The second biggest city in Nepal is Pokhara, with Kathmandu being the biggest city.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are 3 main caves in Pokhara worth checking out and they each bring their own unique experiences.
The 3 best caves in Pokhara are the Chamere Gufa (Bat Cave), Gupteshwor Mahadev Gufa and the Mahendra Gufa.
Chamere Gufa is one of the most popular caves as it has hundreds of bats inside. Don’t worry, the bats mostly just sleep inside. While, the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave is the longest cave in Pokhara with over 2,000 metres.
