Affordable accommodations with excellent services and amenities suitable for everyone at Lakeside
What Thamel’s tourist ghetto is to Kathmandu, Lakeside is to Pokhara. Teeming with seedy, dirt cheap lodgings, it is a backpacker’s dream come true. Don’t get us wrong, though. The town is more than capable of catering to the high-end, opulence seeking holiday makers. It’s the ones in the middle – those who have some paisa to spare, but don’t necessarily want to burn a hole in their wallets – that usually have a hard time. Nepali Times recommends affordable accommodations with excellent services and amenities suitable for everyone from your seven month toddler to 70 plus grandparents.
Glacier Hotel
For those looking to stay in the heart of Pokhara’s thumping district, Glacier Hotel is the place for you. The lodge is nestled right beside the breathtaking Phewa Lake, making it an excellent starting point for a morning walk or jog. Moreover, everything in Lakeside is at a walking distance.
The rooms are large, spacious, and comfortable. Owner Rajendra Dhakal, who used to be an art collector, has a keen eye for detail and many of his personal collection adorn the walls of the hotel. Glacier’s undeniable charm and quirkiness set it apart from its competitors.
Glacier Hotel
Gaurighat,
Lakeside
(061)463722/206964
glaciernepal.com
Waterfront Resort
Just 20 minutes away from the bustling Lakeside, a small slice of heaven awaits at Waterfront Resort. The two-year-old resort won TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice award in 2013 and deservingly so.
In the early mornings you are treated to sights of the fog rolling over the verdant mountain range, local fishermen paddling past in wooden boats, going about their day’s business while the lake quietly glistens. Towards the afternoon, the sky fills with colourful paragliders. As you sit by the pool and enjoy these amazing scenes, you are filled with a deep sense of serenity.
Clean, comfortable rooms offering unparallel views of Pokhara Valley, a delicious breakfast (included in the room price), a swimming pool beside the lake, and an outdoor coffee bar all make for a pleasant stay. If you are worried about the distance from the city centre, fret not. The resort operates a free bus service.
Waterfront Resort
Sedi Height,
Lakeside
(061) 466303/466304
waterfronthotelnepal.com
Chachawee
Pokhara is the grown-man and woman’s ultimate playground and party paradise. But for children who are too young to paraglide, zipline, kayak, and bar hop, a trip often ends within the confines of their hotel room. Seeing this dearth of activities, Dinesh Prasain started ChaChaWee Fun Park Resort.
ChaChaWee started as an amusement park in 2012 and was expanded into a hotel this year. Sprawling out across a lush green lawn with spectacular views of the Annapurna range, the park offers dozens of rides and games to keep the children busy the entire day. Parents can leave their little ones in the care of the well-trained, friendly staff and enjoy downtime. The resort boasts of 15 rooms, furnished with stone floors and wooden furniture exuding a rustic, cosy ambience and organises shorts treks around the valley on request.
ChaChaWhee’s laidback vibe and out-of-the-way location make it perfect for staycations, especially for stressed parents who want a quick get-away from city life.
ChaChaWhee Funpark Resort
Gharipata
(Behind the airport)
(061)466652
chachawhee.com
Atithi Resort and Spa
The latest addition to Lakeside’s sprawling hotel-scape, Atithi Resort & Spa is luxury at its best. For those looking to pamper themselves, the resort offers a multitude of spa options and claims to using only the best oils and soaps.
After a massage or a rejuvenating yoga session, it’ll be a sin to ignore the resort’s pristine jacuzzi, which like everything else about the resort is beautiful. If you love to laze around, Atithi has a bunch of hammocks perfect for jumping in with a book, drink in hand, and Mt Macchapuchhre in the horizon.
From the exquisite rosewood furniture to the calming scents that greet you as you walk in, to the choice of music, every component adds a certain richness to the resort, missing in many others. The rooms are spacious, comfortable, and inviting and offer all the modern facilities imaginable.
The Satkar restaurant, which overlooks the pool, whips up delicious meals and rolls out the best breakfast spread of the lot which had us going for seconds and thirds throughout our stay.
Shanti Patan,
Lakeside
(061)466760/ (01)4002077
atithiresort.com
It's a bird, HARIZ BAHARUDIN
Dining with vultures, TOH EE MING
Visitors' Interactive Map of Pokhara, AYESHA SHAKYA
I just ride, MEGHNA BALI