I have absolutely no hesitation in admitting that I was scared to death the moment I entered the Bat Cave in Pokhara, which is also known as Chamere Gufa. Now I can say that it is the highlight of my Nepal trip, but being surrounded by nearly 30 thousand bats in complete darkness was definitely terrifying. Water dripping from the moist chambers of the dingy cave while a group of Horseshoe bats was screaming was enough to give me goosebumps. I was constantly making up scenarios in my mind and picturing the brutal attack of bats on me. But after some time, I got busy looking closely at these wonderful creatures, who were hanging upside down the ceiling and walls of the cave.
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I Jumped And Crawled In Nepal’s Bat Cave
To give it a spookier look, the terrain of the cave is quite uneven. I had to jump, climb, crawl, and wiggle to move ahead. At some close spaces, the guide had to pull me upwards. Sounds exciting, right? Definitely not! Wait till you reach the exit point. It is the trickiest. Even the guide cannot do anything as the space is very confined and narrow. To get out of the cave, I had to pull my whole body upwards, lay on the rock, and make my way through a narrow shaft.
The entry ticket is NPR 150. I would recommend getting a guide for NPR 300 who will hold the torch, show you the way, and share important information about the cave. You can explore the cave in around 20 minutes (excluding the time taken for capturing photos and videos). So if you are a daredevil and want to witness the wild side of nature, then include this enthralling cave in your Nepal travel itinerary. You will not be disappointed!
P.S. If you have claustrophobia, then should rethink your visit as this cave gets extremely confined at some points.
Top Things To Do In Nepal
Along with the Bat Cave, there is a lot to see and do in Nepal. Check out my top picks below:
1. Get droolworthy Instagram photos at Garden of Dreams
If you are a social media influencer (or trying to become one), then you should include this attraction in Kathmandu in your Nepal tour. This magnificent neo-classical garden has an amphitheater, urns, pavilions, sunken flower gardens, paved perimeter paths, pergolas, and ponds. One can simply sit and chill here in the midst of such gorgeousness. Also, there is Kaiser Gallery for art lovers which is a storehouse of unique artifacts. This garden is also referred to as the ‘Swapna Bageecha’ and ‘Garden of Six Seasons’.
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2. Find your inner peace at World Peace Pagoda
Also known as Shanti Stupa, World Peace Pagoda is a must-visit for those who want to spend some time in silence amid the mesmerizing landscapes. It is located on Anadu Hill overlooking the Phewa Lake with the charming Annapurna Mountain range in the background. I saw there people praying for world peace and chanting “Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō”, which is done within all forms of Nichiren Buddhism. Being a practitioner myself for over 5 years now, I could really feel tranquility inside my heart just listening to them. Well, as the popular saying goes—What you seek is seeking you!
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3. Spend an evening at Phewa Lake
The second largest lake in Nepal is surrounded by rani ban or queen’s forest along with the beautiful reflection of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges on its clear water. Witnessing glorious Himalayan sunrises here is a soothing experience. And if you are not so much of an early riser like me, then you can get the best of it by visiting there in the evening and indulging in the following:
- Satisfying your taste buds at a lakeside restaurant (I went to Boomerang)
- Attending the evening aarti
- Taking a walk around the lake
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4. Cherish the grandeur of Davis Falls
To get my dose of natural beauty, I visited this “underground waterfall” in Pokhara. It creates a 500-feet-long underground tunnel as it reaches its bottom. The entire place is enveloped by abundant flora. Seeing this mighty waterfall setting itself free after crashing on rocks is surely a lovely memory for me. The falls flow throughout the year, however, the best time to visit there is from June to September.
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5. Unleash your party animal
The best music, food, and dance—this is what the nightlife in Nepal comprises. For the most happening party scene, Thamel in Kathmandu is your one-stop destination. It is the city’s main nightlife zone where you will see bars and clubs blasting out party music and live bands’ performances. There are innumerable options to choose from and I went to Reggae Bar, which had a live music night. Being a solo female traveller, the best thing I realized is that not only is the Nepal nightlife vibrant, it is even safe. Dancing with the locals till it was the closing time is among my favorite memories!
Also read: This Stunning Village In Indo-Nepal Border Will Be Developed Into An Eco-Tourism Hub
Total cost
I spent a total of ₹30,000 on the trip. The breakup is as follows:
- Round trip flight tickets from Delhi were ₹13,000.
- Accommodation for 5 nights cost me ₹10,000. I stayed at Hotel Iceland, Avataar Kathmandu Hotel, and Kathmandu Eco Hotel.
- Others (food, clubbing, conveyance, shopping, entry tickets, etc): ₹7,000
Known for its mountain peaks, Nepal offers an incredible travel experience, especially to backpackers from all over the world. It is tourist-friendly, pocket-friendly, and absolutely safe for solo female travellers like me. The country is home to 8 of the 10 highest peaks in the world (including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga). That’s why its markets are dotted with shops selling all kinds of trekking gear. In Nepal, you can explore lively eateries serving Nepalese and international dishes, handicrafts, colorful jewelry, clothes, souvenirs, spas, and a lot more. In short, this buzzing country is every globetrotter’s dream.
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Also read: Nepal’s Tallest Lord Shiva Idol Of 108 Feet To Come Up At Pokhara’s Pumdikot
P.S. Even though my 2 domestic flights were cancelled due to bad weather and I had to travel via road (2 days were wasted just like that!!) this trip was still extraordinary and I plan to visit Nepal again.