POKHARA: Hotels in Nepal’s tourism capital, Pokhara, are witnessing high occupancy rates as a surge of Indian tourists continues to boost the local tourism industry.
Most visitors are flocking to popular attractions such as the Lakeside area and the Talbarahi Temple.
According to Laxman Subedi, President of the Hotel Association Pokhara Nepal, the number of Indian tourists visiting major religious and tourist destinations in Gandaki Province, including Talbarahi Temple in Phewa Lake, Bindhyabasini Temple, Muktinath, and various trekking routes, has been highly encouraging.
Subedi said Indian travelers are increasingly choosing Nepal as an attractive and accessible destination to escape the extreme summer heat in India and spend their holidays.
He emphasized that tourism entrepreneurs in Pokhara have a responsibility to warmly welcome and respect their guests. He added that the rise in tourist arrivals has also boosted boating, trekking, and other tourism-related activities.
Dhan Bahadur BK, Joint Secretary of the Fewa Boat Entrepreneurs’ Association, said that between 4,000 and 5,000 Indian tourists take boat rides on Fewa Lake every day.
He noted that Indian tourist arrivals have remained strong for the past one and a half months, with many visitors particularly interested in visiting the Talbarahi Temple located in the middle of the lake.
“The days of waiting all day for passengers and returning home empty-handed have ended,” BK said, adding that 140 boats currently operate daily from Barahi Ghat alone.
Deepak Sapkota, Treasurer of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Gandaki, said that around 150,000 Indian tourists have visited Pokhara in the past one and a half months.
According to him, Indian visitors are showing interest in religious tourism, short-distance trekking, paragliding, canoeing, boating, and rafting. He added that accommodations ranging from five-star hotels to budget lodges and dharamshalas are experiencing strong demand.
Hotel entrepreneur Parbati Pandey said Indian tourists generally do not bargain much over room rates, as hotel accommodation is comparatively more expensive in India. However, some visitors negotiate food prices.
She noted that hotels across Pokhara are filled with Indian guests and stressed that greater promotion of Nepal’s religious and tourist destinations in India could attract even more visitors.
Although this period is traditionally considered the tourism off-season, tourism entrepreneurs say they have been encouraged by the significant increase in tourist arrivals. They noted that the momentum that began during the Nepali New Year has continued through the end of Jestha and into the current season.
Industry estimates suggest that approximately 150,000 Indian tourists have arrived in Pokhara within a month, helping push hotel occupancy rates to around 90 percent. Popular destinations among Indian visitors include Talbarahi Temple, Pumdikot Shiva Temple, Kedareshwor Temple, Bindhyabasini Temple, Muktinath, and Manakamana Temple.
Tourism entrepreneurs believe that the growing influx of Indian tourists has provided a much-needed boost to Pokhara’s tourism sector. They also emphasize the importance of extending hospitality and respect to all visitors. Pokhara’s hotel industry currently has the capacity to accommodate up to 10,000 tourists in a single day.
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