Is it safe to swimming at Fewa Lake?

It is not safe to swim at Fewa Lake, due to character of the lake. There are a lot of rubbles in lakeside and its deep in the middle of the lake. You can boat, instead of swimming in Fewa lake.

We do not recommend swimming at Fewa lake.

Fewa lake is deep enough, average depth of Fewa lake is about 8.6 meters (28 ft). Lakes with a depth of 8 to 10 feet or greater still consider as a deep lake. The depth of Fewa lake deeper compare than average of lake. Maximum depth is 24 meters (79 ft).

Even though waters are calm, looks refreshing and most of the part of the lake is clean, but not clean enough to swim. Lake sedimentation, daily life activity in the villages near lake and hotels and restaurants in the lakeside that may not have a proper construction of wastewater treatment, might be a reason.

A deep lake, warm on the surface, and cold below.

Deep water is more harmful because of cold water shock. If your body get into chilly water suddenly, it may cause cardiac problems, even for a healthy person.

The shock of the chilly water can cause a swimmer to swallow water and drown, even for they are an excellent swimmer. It because chilly water can disable the muscles instant.

Fewa lake essentials for daily life, local peoples that live in villages on the far side of the lake, using the waters for bathing and washing their laundry. Some hotels in lakeside throw dirty water into the lake.

The water quality of the lake decline at some sites due.

That cause, Fewa Lake, can consider as not free from pollution. Some pollutants such as muddiness and coliform microbial were harmful for health, if you swallow the water by chance during swimming.

These harmful germs can cause diarrhea, dysentery, and hepatitis. Because of these reasons, it is not advice to swimming at Fewa lake.

Boating or canoeing in the morning is worth to try, instead of swimming. You can rent rowing boat, include life jacket, with cheap price.

Phewa lake is a beautiful lake surrounding by mount Machhapuchhre, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. Fresh air and scenery of Himalayan mountain with green forest will mesmerizing your eyes.

You can canoe and walk up to World Peace Pagoda or visit Tal Barahi Temple, that set on the small island in the center of Fewa Lake. One of the most important temples of Goddess Durga.

Swimming in the lake could be dangerous

Fewa Lake as the second largest lake in Nepal, after Rara lake, is always great destination when you visit Nepal.

Nature, peaceful atmosphere, fresh air, green forest and scenery of Himalayan mountain ranges will calming your mind. Calm and crisp water tempting to swim.

Categorized as deep lakes swimming in the lake could be dangerous.

At least one death reported a year. Drowning while swimming, capsized boat and slipped from the boat without wearing life-jackets.

Concerns about cold water shock, current pollution and the character of Fewa lake, often dishearten people from swimming in natural bodies of water.

Some common issues you can get from swimming in a lake are diarrhea caused by coliform bacteria in the water, skin rashes, respiratory illness and swimmers ear. People might ail one of these illnesses when they by chance ingest contaminated water.

Other alternative are swim at Begnas Lake or Rupa lakes, the nearby lakes from Fewa lake. Average deep is 3 meters (10 ft). Begnas Lake is the third largest lake of Nepal and second largest, after Phewa Lake. Average deep is 6.6 meters (22 ft).

Both are the hidden fresh-water lake in Pokhara, having great serenity but harder to reach by car. Far from city and modern crowd. Can be reach less than 45 min drive by taxi from Lakeside or a long local bus drive.

Begnas Lake and Rupa lakes separate by a forested hill named Pachabhaiya Danda. Begnas does not have comfortable hotels and lodges, it is better to make a day trip from Pokhara.

Both has limited tourist facilities and safety security for boating. Here, Fewa Lake much better.

But, consider the safety reason, swimming either at Benas lake, Rupa lake or Fewa Lake not recommended. Not so much safety equipment provided.

Instead of swimming, you can try boating with safety precaution.

Fewa boat association make regulation to ensure tourist safety.

Authority of the boat only for 4 person and every person must wear life jackets. Rent life jacket for 10 NPR. Children above 5 years old also charged.

They provide life jacket type III. It recommended uses and features for supervised activities, such as sailing regattas, dinghy races, water skiing, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and during personal watercraft operation.

Minimum Buoyancy 15.5 lbs (7 kg) for adult size. These types of life jacket is good for protected where the chance of immediate rescue is good.

Not suitable for extended survival in rough water. Not designed to turn unconscious people face up in water. More comfortable to wear than a Type I or a Type II, but provides far less floatation than a Type I.

Instead swimming, boating with safety precaution and walk up to Santi Stupa

A cheap price for boating available every day to give enjoyment for everyone who visits Fewa Lake at Pokhara.

You can walk up to the first World Peace Pagoda at Nepal, Santi stupa that sits atop a hill on the opposite side of the lake, giving you matchless views of the Himalayas.

Start on Lakeside Road, just above Fewa Lake. There’s a small downhill across from the main storefronts leading down the hill to the multiple docks and waterfront. Renting a rowing boat is very cheap, it was $4 USD or 500 NPR and 24 USD or 3000 NPR to whole lake boating.

The guys at the dock will help point you in the right direction along with providing a small brochure with a map. Boating along the left side of the lakeshore toward the island temple, Tal Barahi Temple. Pass the temple, and continue boating along into the cove, and dock your canoe there.

Head up the marked trail for about 1 mile uphill and walk up to the World Peace Pagoda.

If you don’t want to walk up to Santi Stupa, you can do boating for a few hours with a guide or without a guide. You can have the moments with lots of splendid sights near around you.

Here, you can choose what type of boats you would like to have. The old-fashioned one joined two boats with planks and pedals in the middle, row boats and sail boats. There is also a choice between fibre-body sailboats and wooden ones.

You can do boating at Fewa Lake through the length of the year except monsoon. Monsoon season at Nepal start from mid of June, July, August, until mid of September.

Boating and Visiting Tal Barahi Temple

To reach Tal Barahi Temple, you can take a small roof boat or larger for the 5 minute journey. It cost to start from100 NPR, less than 1 USD.

This temple locates on a small island just off the coastline on the south-east section of Pokhara’s lake Phewa. The Barahi Temple open 10:30 AM until 4:30 PM.

Nepal’s Hindu people perform puja and animal sacrifice here.

Enjoy Food at Lakeside cafe with Peaceful views

If you don’t want to do boating activities and only want to relax. You can stop by restaurants in the lakeside.

Enjoy a slice of pizza, pasta and dessert at Lakeside pizzeria. This restaurant have easy friendly ambient with a reasonable price. Chicken wings with chips, also good. Sandwich bread could be better. This restaurant consider as clean hygienic kitchen for Nepal standards.

Drink hot coffee at Lake Lovers Cafe, combine with a stunning view of Himalayan mountain range from lakeside, also a pleasant choice to enjoy your morning.

This place cooks fresh products that coming from the family’s farm. They cook all food with passion, and plates are full-filled. The price is cheap compare to the quality of food. Exceptional experience is you will have a mesmerizing view on the lake.

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