Kathmandu to Pokhara: A Scenic Road Trip via Historic Gorkha Durbar - Nepal Purple Travel Guide

Today we travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara. There are multiple options to get to Pokhara from Kathmandu:

• You can fly. This is the fastest option as the flight only takes 25min. But flights are often delayed by weather, and flying within Nepal is not as save as in other countries. Here is more information about Flying within Nepal.

• You can take a bus. This is by far the cheapest option and also the slowest, and it requires you to be at the bus stop early in the morning. Here is more information about Traveling by bus in Nepal.

• You can rent a car with a driver. This is the most expensive and the most flexible way to go to Pokhara and back. It gives you the opportunity to stop anywhere you like, take detours (e.g. to Gorkha Durbar, and Bandipur) admire the beautiful scenery, and gives you complete freedom over the timing. On the downside, you have to endure the notoriously bad Nepali roads. Even though a regular sedan is cheaper, we propose renting a more expensive Jeep as it has a softer suspension. But it will still give you good shaking over the 6-8h of the trip. If you rent a car with a driver, consider retaining the driver to drive you around in Pokhara. You can likely save money by hiring local taxis, but you will need to find them. Be advised that at the time of writing, Pathao, and inDrive are not operating in Pokhara. We found it very convenient to have our personal driver waiting for us, and after he saw that I was really interested in the rice fields we passed, he brought us to an extremely scenic Rice Field that is way off the beaten path. Here is more information about Renting a car with driver in Nepal.

Please be advised that the monsoon rains flood and damage the road between Kathmandu and Pokhara every year. Depending on the condition of the road at the time of your travel, your trip can take anywhere from 6-12h, or if the road is damaged, be impassable.

Below are some photos from our trip between Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Here at Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides, we typically promote self-guided walking tours.
But we realize that not everybody likes to walk by themselves in a foreign city. So, just in case that you rather go with ab guide: NO PROBLEM! Please see the Viator tours below.

Gorkha Museum

(map, reviews)

Tucked away in the heart of Gorkha Bazaar, the Gorkha Museum is the second most visited attraction in Gorkha, after Gorkha Durbar.
This modest yet historically rich museum offers insight into the life and times of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the visionary who unified the fragmented kingdoms into modern-day Nepal.

Detailed information can be found at our Gorkha Museum Page

Gorkha Durbar Palace

(map, reviews)

The word ‘Durbar’ means palace in Nepali. The name ‘Gorkha’ itself is deeply intertwined with the site's spiritual significance. It is derived from the revered sage Guru Gorakhnath, a prominent figure in Hindu Nath tradition, and district of Gorkha and its ancient Gorkha kingdom are named after him. Thus, Gorkha Durbar simply means ‘The Palace of Gorkha’, signifying its role as the royal residence of the Gorkha kings.

Detailed information can be found at our Gorkha Durbar Palace Page

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Author: Rudy at Backpack and Snorkel

Bio: Owner of Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides. We create in-depth guides to help you plan unforgettable vacations around the world.

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