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Pokharaरुपा ताल

Rupa Lake

A small, shallow lake beside Begnas in the east of the Pokhara valley, managed by a local fisheries cooperative and rich in waterbirds.

Plan a trip here
Rupa Lake seen through trees from a path on the shore, with forested hills beyond.
Photo: Doc.akshat (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Altitude
600 m
Best months
Oct-Mar
Type
Lake
District
Kaski, Gandaki
Permit
None needed

Why go

Rupa Lake is the third largest of the Pokhara valley lakes and one of the quieter sights of Pokhara. It lies just south-east of Begnas Lake, on the boundary between Pokhara Metropolitan City and Rupa Rural Municipality, separated from Begnas by the low ridge of Pachbhaiya. The lake is long and narrow, running north to south, and covers about 1.35 square kilometres at roughly 600 m.

It is shallow, averaging about 3 m and reaching around 6 m at its deepest, and fed by perennial streams from a catchment of about 30 square kilometres. Those conditions make it good habitat for waterbirds: researchers have recorded 36 species of wetland birds here, around a fifth of the wetland-dependent species known in Nepal.

There is little tourist infrastructure. Visitors usually walk over from Begnas, hire a boat for a short paddle, watch birds along the reedy margins and walk back, or continue on village paths through the surrounding farmland. It is a good choice for anyone who found Phewa too busy and Begnas still too developed.

Rupa Lake under a hazy evening sky, framed by low wooded ridges.
Photo: Imsangam (CC BY-SA 3.0)

History and culture

Rupa Lake is notable for community management. Farmers from the surrounding villages formed a cooperative for the lake's rehabilitation and fisheries, which runs cage and pen fish farming and works to protect the watershed from siltation and encroachment. Income from the fishery funds local conservation work and supports member households.

Like other lakes in the valley, Rupa has been shrinking as sediment washes in from deforested slopes and as margins are converted to paddy. Its future depends on catchment protection, and conservation groups regularly cite it as one of the valley's vulnerable wetlands.

Things to do in Rupa Lake

  • Walk from Begnas

    Cross Pachbhaiya hill from Begnas Bazaar to the Rupa shore, around 1-2 hours each way through farms and forest.

  • Birdwatching

    Early mornings in winter are the best time to look for ducks, herons and kingfishers along the edges.

  • Boating

    Small boats can sometimes be hired locally; ask at the shore.

Weather and the best time to visit Rupa Lake

Weather in Rupa Lake

Forecast for 600 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.

Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.

Best time to visit

Oct-Mar

  1. Good month: Jan
  2. Good month: Feb
  3. Good month: Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Good month: Oct
  11. Good month: Nov
  12. Good month: Dec
Autumn (Sep-Nov)
October and November are clear and pleasant, with mountain glimpses from the ridges above the lake.
Winter (Dec-Feb)
December to February brings the most waterbirds, including winter migrants, with cool foggy mornings.
Spring (Mar-May)
March to May is warm and green, with hazy skies and fewer migrant birds by May.
Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
June to August is wet and lush; paths are muddy and leeches are common on forested sections.

Where to stay

HomestaysGuesthouses

A few homestays and small guesthouses operate on the hills between Begnas and Rupa; most visitors stay at Begnas or in Pokhara.

No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.

Getting there

Rupa Lake is reached via Begnas, either on foot over Pachbhaiya hill or by a rural road that reaches the eastern side of the lake.

Nearest hub: Pokhara

  • roadAbout 15-20 km from Pokhara Lakeside to the Begnas area, then local road to the lake; allow 45-75 minutes by taxi.
  • walkFrom Begnas Bazaar, a path climbs over Pachbhaiya hill and descends to Rupa in about 1-2 hours.
Mount Everest 8,848.86Kangchenjunga 8,586Dhaulagiri I 8,167Manaslu 8,163Annapurna I 8,091Rupa LakeKathmandu
Boundary: Government of Nepal, Survey Department (2020). Peak data: Wikidata.

Permits and fees

None needed

No permit is needed to visit Rupa Lake.

Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Rupa Lake, Wikipedia.

Practical tips

  • There are no ATMs at the lake; withdraw cash in Pokhara or Begnas Bazaar.
  • Mobile signal is usually available, though patchy in hollows.
  • Bring water and snacks, as shops at the lake are few.
  • Respect fish cages and private farmland; stay on paths through fields.

Questions about Rupa Lake

How do I get to Rupa Lake from Pokhara?

Drive or take a local bus to Begnas Bazaar (about 30-45 minutes), then walk over Pachbhaiya hill or continue by local road to the lake.

What is the difference between Begnas and Rupa lakes?

Begnas is larger and has more resorts and boating; Rupa is smaller, shallower and quieter, with more emphasis on birdlife and community fish farming.

When is the best time for birdwatching at Rupa Lake?

Winter, from December to February, brings the most waterbirds, including migrant species; early morning is best.

More in Pokhara

All of Pokhara
Begnas Lake seen from the Sundari Danda ridge, with wooded hills around its shore.

Lake · 650 m

Begnas Lake

A quieter freshwater lake in the east of the Pokhara valley, ringed by forested ridges, rice terraces and fish farms.

Water dropping through a narrow, moss-covered rock channel at Davis Falls before it disappears underground.

Viewpoint · 780 m

Davis Falls

A waterfall in south Pokhara where the outflow of Phewa Tal drops into a narrow chasm and disappears underground.

Layered rock walls inside Gupteshwor Cave, with light falling on the stream that flows on from Davis Falls.

Temple, monastery or heritage site · 778 m

Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave

A Shiva cave shrine in south Pokhara, with a lower passage that ends behind the falling water of Davis Falls.

A glass display case with a straw rain cape, woven baskets, footwear and traditional clothing of Himalayan hill communities.

Temple, monastery or heritage site · 797 m

International Mountain Museum

A museum in south Pokhara on the Himalaya's peaks, the people who climb them and the communities who live among them.

Kapuche glacier lake lying in a rocky basin beneath steep snow and ice slopes.

Lake · 2,546 m

Kapuche Lake

A glacier lake at about 2,546 m beneath Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal, reached by a short trek from the Gurung village of Sikles.

Viewpoint · 2,517 m

Panchase

A forested hill at about 2,500 m west of Phewa Tal, with a temple and pond on top and views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges.

Phewa Lake stretching between green hills, seen from a grassy ridge trail above Pokhara.

Lake · 742 m

Phewa Tal

Pokhara's main lake, with rowing boats, an island temple and Machhapuchhre reflected on still mornings.

The pointed summit of Machhapuchhre against a deep blue pre-dawn sky, seen from Sarangkot.

Viewpoint · 1,600 m

Sarangkot

A ridge-top viewpoint on Pokhara's western edge, known for sunrise over the Annapurnas and as the city's paragliding launch.

Nearby

Morning view over Pokhara with Phewa Lake, the city under low cloud and the Annapurna range on the skyline.

Town or village · 822 m

Pokhara

A lakeside city about 200 km west of Kathmandu, with the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre rising close to the north.

Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Rupa Lake, Wikipedia, Pokhara, Wikivoyage