A ridge trek from Kande near Pokhara through rhododendron forest to the open crest below Machhapuchhre, with a day climb to Mardi Himal Base Camp at about 4,500 m.
- Days
- 6 days
- Maximum altitude
- 4,500 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Pokharaपञ्चासे
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.
- Altitude
- 2,517 m*
- Best months
- Feb-Apr, Oct-Dec
- Type
- Viewpoint
- District
- Kaski, Gandaki
- Permit
- None needed
Why go
Panchase is a forested hill rising to about 2,517 m on the meeting point of Kaski, Parbat and Syangja districts, west of Phewa Tal. From the summit, reached in about an hour from the saddle village of Panchase Bhanjyang, the view takes in Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas, Machhapuchhre and Manaslu, with Pokhara and Phewa Tal below.
The hill is the goal of the Panchase trek, a 2-3 day walk from Pokhara that starts from Bhadaure, Ghatichhina or Bhumdi. It is a lower, quieter alternative to the Annapurna treks and is outside the Annapurna Conservation Area.
Near the summit there is a small temple beside the Panchase pond. Below, the forest of oak, rhododendron and laurel is thick and damp, and the trail is often quiet outside festival days.
Panchase Bhanjyang, the saddle village where most trekkers sleep, has a few lodges and homestays and its own sunrise and sunset viewpoints. From there trails lead down in several directions: east to Bhadaure and the road to Pokhara, south-east to Bhumdi and the Phewa Tal shore, and north-east along the ridge towards Australian Camp and Dhampus for a longer walk.
History and culture
Panchase is a pilgrimage site for Hindus, with a Shiva shrine and the Panchase pond near the top, and fairs held at festival times. The surrounding forest was declared the Panchase Protected Forest in 2011-2012 for its biodiversity, including well over a hundred orchid species, and its role as a source of springs for villages below. Villages around the hill are mainly Gurung, with Magar, Brahmin and Chhetri communities.
Things to do in Panchase
Sunrise climb
Walk about an hour from Panchase Bhanjyang to the summit before dawn.
Forest walking
Trails through the protected forest pass moss-covered oak and rhododendron with orchids on the trees.
Weather and the best time to visit Panchase
Weather in Panchase
Forecast for 2,517 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
Feb-Apr, Oct-Dec
- Jan
- Good month: Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Good month: Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October to mid-December gives the clearest views.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is cold at night but often clear; frost is common on the top.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March to May brings rhododendron flowers in the forest, warmer days and more afternoon cloud.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August is wet and leech-prone in the forest, with few views.
Where to stay
TeahousesHomestays
A few lodges and homestays at Panchase Bhanjyang, below the summit.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Panchase is reached on foot from road heads west of Pokhara.
Nearest hub: Pokhara
- roadPokhara to Bhadaure or Ghatichhina by bus or jeep, roughly 1-2 hours.
- trekBhadaure to Panchase Bhanjyang, about 6 km and 2-3 hours; then about 1 hour to the summit.
- boatOn the way back, walk down to Bhumdi and the Phewa Tal shore and cross by boat to Lakeside.
Permits and fees
None needed
Panchase is outside the Annapurna Conservation Area and no trekking permit is reported for the standard route.
- Conservation permit: Not reported for Panchase itself; an ACAP permit is needed if you continue into the Annapurna Conservation Area, for example to Australian Camp or Mardi Himal.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Panchase trek, Nepal: itinerary and route, Travelling Mandala.
On the trail
On the Panchase trek.
- Previous stop:
- Bhadaure
- Next stop:
- Bhumdi
- A typical day:
- From Bhadaure, about 2-3 hours and roughly 450 m of climbing to Panchase Bhanjyang; the summit is about 450 m higher.
Practical tips
- Mobile signal is generally available.
- There is no ATM; carry cash.
- Remove shoes before entering the temple area.
- This route stays below about 2,500 m, so altitude illness is unlikely, but insurance that covers trekking and evacuation is still sensible. This is general information, not medical advice.
Treks through Panchase
A one- or two-day walk from Kande near Pokhara to Australian Camp, a grassy viewpoint at about 2,060 m facing the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre, returning via Dhampus and Phedi.
- Days
- 2 days
- Maximum altitude
- 2,060 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
A short, low walk south-east of Kathmandu from Dhulikhel to the Buddhist pilgrimage site of Namo Buddha, on to the farming village of Balthali, and down to the old Newar town of Panauti. No permit needed.
- Days
- 3 days
- Maximum altitude
- 1,750 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
Questions about Panchase
How high is Panchase?
The summit is about 2,517 m; Panchase Bhanjyang, where most people sleep, is about 2,050-2,070 m.
Do I need a permit for Panchase?
No trekking permit is reported for the standard route, which is outside the Annapurna Conservation Area.
How many days is the Panchase trek?
Usually 2-3 days from Pokhara.
More in Pokhara
All of Pokhara
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.
Viewpoint · 780 m
Davis Falls
A waterfall in south Pokhara where the outflow of Phewa Tal drops into a narrow chasm and disappears underground.
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.
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.
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.
Lake · 742 m
Phewa Tal
Pokhara's main lake, with rowing boats, an island temple and Machhapuchhre reflected on still mornings.
Lake · 600 m
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.
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
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.
Trek stop · 2,060 m
Australian Camp
A grassy clearing at about 2,060 m above Kande with a wide view of the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre, an easy walk from the road.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Panchase trek, Nepal: itinerary and route, Travelling Mandala, Panchase, Saarang, OpenStreetMap