Rainy Season in Pokhara: 10 Best Rainy Day Activities

Wondering what it’s like to visit Pokhara during monsoon season and what activities you can do during the rainy season in Pokhara?

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! I live in Nepal and Pokhara is a great place to visit and there are a lot of activities to do even during the monsoon season.

Pokhara receives one of the highest rainfall in Nepal during monsoon, but if monsoon is the only time you can visit Nepal, you should definitely not miss out on Pokhara.

So, here is all the information on what Pokhara is like during the monsoon season and what activities you can do!

When is Monsoon Season in Nepal

The monsoon season in Nepal (also referred to as the rainy season), runs from June to mid-September.

The weather patterns are slightly unpredictable each year, thus, the monsoon can start earlier or be delayed.

Recently, the monsoon lasted even until the end of September, so it is good to check the current weather news.

Is it Worth Visiting Pokhara in Monsoon?

Pokhara gets much more rain during monsoon than Kathmandu, sometimes raining all day long. They say that even a lot of Nepali come from Pokhara to Kathmandu during the monsoon season as it can rain so much there.

Nevertheless, it is definitely worth visiting Pokhara even during monsoon! I have visited Pokhara during monsoon before and it is not so bad.

It is true that there will be rain and that the views will be cloudy. However, Pokhara is a big city with many activities to do even during monsoon. The main attractions include: World Peace Pagoda, boating, Annapurna Cable Car, museums, Davis Falls and caves.

The other good thing during the rainy season is that due to the low number of tourists, many hotels also offer discounted rates. So, if you are travelling to Pokhara during this time, you will be able to do things on a lower budget.

Pokhara Weather in Monsoon

Pokhara has one of the highest rainfalls in Nepal during the monsoon season. As it rains so much between June-August, Pokhara is not the most ideal place to visit.

However, Pokhara has a lot to offer and if monsoon season is the only time that you can visit Pokhara, you should not miss out on it.

I have visited Pokhara during monsoon season before, and yes, there is rain, but it is not constant and you can still do many activities.

What to Pack for Travelling in Pokhara During Monsoon Season

• Umbrella
• Waterproof shoes
• Lights clothes
• Light rain jacket

Best Things to Do During the Rainy Season in Pokhara

1. Trek in the Rain Shadow Region of Nepal: Mustang!

Mustang is in the rain shadow region of Nepal, this means that it does not (or rains less) here during monsoon.

Jomsom in Lower Mustang can be reached by bus from Pokhara. From Jomsom, you can go on day hikes to other nearby villages such as Muktinath, Marpha or Kagbeni.

You should still check the weather forecast and be careful when travelling to Lower Mustang. For example, in 2023 Kagbeni (one of the villages in Lower Mustang) got flooded from all the rainfall. So, even though Lower Mustang is in the rain shadow, the weather patterns can still be unpredictable.

2. Chill by the Fewa Lake

Fewa Lake and Lakeside are the tourist centre of Pokhara. It is the perfect place to find a restaurant by the lake and relax. Although, during the monsoon there will be less travellers in Pokhara, the restaurants and bars are open as usual.

It is also possible to go boating or kayaking on the Fewa Lake. However, the boats and kayaking shops stop operating when it is raining or if there is a storm for safety measures. 

3. Visit the World Peace Pagoda

The World Peace Pagoda is on the hill on the other side of Lake Fewa. It is popular to take a boat across the lake and then hike up to the World Peace Pagoda.

The hike takes about 45 minutes uphill, however, be careful as the trail may be full of leeches during monsoon season. 

Apart from hiking to the World Peace Pagoda, it is also possible to go by taxi or local bus to reach the pagoda. It might be a better option during rainy season, in case the boats are not operating on the lake.

4. Take the Annapurna Cable Car to Sarangkot

The Annapurna Cable Car is a short taxi or bus ride away from Lakeside – or you can even get there in about 30 minutes’ walk. The cable car goes up to Sarangkot, which is a popular village for sunrise views. 

During monsoon, the views will be cloudy and you may not have any views of the mountains. However, taking the cable car and spending some time in Sarangkot is still a nice activity.

5. Visit a Museum Exhibition

There are a couple of museums in Pokhara if you would like to learn more about the culture and history of Nepal.

The top 4 museums in Pokhara are the International Mountain Museum, Annapurna Museum, Gurkha Memorial Museum and the Regional Museum.

6. Learn to Cook Nepali Dishes

Joining a Nepali cooking class and learn how to cook Nepali dishes is a fun experience. Plus, once you return home from Nepal, you can even use the recipes to cook a meal for your friends and family.

There are a couple of cooking classes in Pokhara you can choose from. They usually last between 2-3 hours and cost USD 10-30.

Before the cooking class, you can choose which dish you’d like to learn to cook. The usual options include dal bhat, momo or thupka.

You can also make it in either veg or non-veg. The best is that at the end of your class, you also get to eat the dishes you cooked.

7. Join a Vipassana Meditation Course

Vipassana meditation is a form of Buddhist meditation originating from 2,500 years ago.

The Dhamma Shringa Vipassana Meditation Centres can be found all around the world and they hold free 10-day Vipassana courses.

If you are interested to learn more about meditation, Nepal is a good place to give it a go. The Vipassana Meditation Centre is near the Begnas Lake in Pokhara.

8. Watch a Movie at the Movie Garden Pokhara

The Movie Garden is a chill place to watch movies in Pokhara. It is an outdoor cinema but they also have seats that are covered in case it rains.

They play one movie in the evenings and it usually start around 7 pm. The place has a small bar so you can order drinks and snacks too.

9. Soak in the Sun at a Swimming Pool

What’s better than chilling by the pool on a hot day?

There are many hotels in and around Lakeside that have swimming pools. Even if you don’t stay at the hotel, you can buy a day ticket to get access to the pool for the day. The day ticket prices are around Rs. 2,000.

10. Visit the Caves and Waterfalls in Pokhara

The waterfalls and caves in Pokhara are one of the best places to visit during monsoon.

Generally, outside of monsoon season, there is not much rain so the water levels can be very low. However, during monsoon season the waterfalls and rivers get full of water and offer a much better view.

Some of the places in Pokhara worth checking out is the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave (it is a cave but there is a waterfall inside which gets full of water during monsoon), Davis Falls (it is a small waterfall that is not so spectacular outside of monsoon season) and the Seti River Gorge.

Hotels in Pokhara

Looking for a place to stay in Pokhara? Check out my top recommendations for every budget:

Nepal: Month-by-Month

Not sure about when to visit Nepal? Check out my month-by-month guide for Nepal:

• Nepal in January
• Nepal in February
• Nepal in March
• Nepal in April
• Nepal in May
• Nepal in June
• Nepal in July
• Nepal in August
• Nepal in September
• Nepal in October
• Nepal in November
• Nepal in December

Nepal: Seasons

Want to know more about visiting Nepal during other seasons? Check out my seasonal guides to Nepal:

• Spring Season in Nepal
• Monsoon Season in Nepal
• Autumn Season in Nepal
• Winter Season in Nepal

FAQs: Rainy Season in Pokhara

When is Monsoon Season in Nepal?

The monsoon season is between June-August in Nepal. However, it can start earlier or later. The weather patterns can be unexpected so it can be that it is still raining until mid-September.

Is it Safe to Travel to Pokhara During Monsoon Season?

There are two options to travel to Pokhara: either by bus or flights. Flights often get cancelled when the weather is bad, so if you decide to fly to Pokhara, it is good to plan some additional time in case of delays. 

Road travel can also be delayed due to possible landslides on the highway. In case of a landslide, there will be a long queue of traffic and may take hours until the road is cleared for traffic. Although buses operate regularly during monsoon, it is good to expect the trip may take longer.

Is it Worth to Visit Pokhara During Monsoon Season?

It might be rainy but it is still definitely worth visiting Pokhara during monsoon season. Although, it is not recommended to go trekking during monsoon due to landslides, there are still other activities you can do.

You will not have clear views of the mountains and due to the leeches on the trails, it is better not to go hiking, but overall you can do every other activity.

What Activities Can I Do in Pokhara During Monsoon?

If you are visiting Kathmandu during the rainy season, you can do many things that you could do any other season: sightseeing, museums, day trips, cooking classes, meditation courses, cable cars.

Conclusion

Although it is said that Pokhara is town in Nepal that receives one of the most rainfall in Nepal during the rainy season, don’t let it deter you.

Pokhara is a great place and if the monsoon season is the only time you can visit Nepal, you should not miss out on Pokhara.

I have travelled to Pokhara during the rainy season and there are still many activities that you can do.

If you are in Pokhara during the rainy season, check out the waterfalls, caves, Fewa Lake, World Peace Pagoda, Movie Garden or you can even take a cooking class on Nepali dishes.