Begnas Lake

Begnas Lake is the second largest lake of Pokhara Valley. Tucked away at an altitude of 650 meters, this lake is located in the Siswa village on the eastern part of Pokhara and is 13 km away from the city of Pokhara. Spread across a total area of 3 square km, the lake has a capacity of 29.05 million cubic meters. Average water depth of the lake is 9.37 meters and the maximum water depth is 13.84 meters. The northern and western parts of the Begnas Lake are relatively deeper than the eastern and southern parts.

If one thing defines Pokhara in popular tourist imagination, then it is its lakes with crystal clear. The word ‘Pokhara’ means the valley of the lakes and the word is a direct derivation of ‘Pokhari’ which literally means a lake. Apart from Begnas Lake, the other lakes which are some of the major Tourist Attractions in Pokhara are Phewa, Rupa, Maidi, Khaste, Gunde, Dipang and Kamal Pokhari inside the valley. 


The Begnas Lake area is composed of slate and phyllite zone with beds of calcareous conglomerate and gravel deposits. The vegetation here is different in comparison with that of the other parts of Pokhara. The major species on the southern aspect of the hills on the northern part of the Begnas Lake is Shorea robuista while the major species of the forest on the northern aspect of the hill lying on the southern part of the lake is Schima-Castonopsis. Dense forest characterizes the northern and southern part of the lake whereas there is cultivation on the eastern part and fishery project on the western part. The lake water is drained out by Khudi Khola from the western part. 


The forest area is rich with diversity of flora and fauna. The forest surrounding the Begnas Lake in Pokhara is home to more than 150 species of avian species. The northern part of the lake is best site for spotting water fowls. The forest is also home to mammal species including leopards. You will find here some endangered species of plants and animals.