Phewa Lake

Phewa (Fewa) is the lake Pokhara is known for: a freshwater basin on the west side of the city, with Lakeside along the east shore and forested ridges to the south. It is usually called Nepal’s second-largest lake. Surveys disagree on the exact area — roughly four to six square kilometres depending on monsoon, silt, and whether the old shoreline is counted — because the lake has been shrinking as sediment arrives from the hills.

Average depth is about nine metres; the deepest soundings are a little over twenty. The surface sits around 740 metres above sea level. Water comes in from the west (Harpan Khola) and leaves at the dam toward Patale Chhango (Devi’s Fall). On a still morning the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre can sit on the water as a reflection. The island shrine is Tal Barahi; boats leave from the east wall in daylight. Do not treat it as wilderness — the east shore is a town.