Nepal: Pokhara III

As we descended from the Peace Pagoda, we found ourselves in Pokhara proper, away from the tourist haven of Lakeside and amongst everyday Nepali life. There, we stumbled across the entrances to Devi's Falls and the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave.  Both were worth visiting in passing, I think, but wouldn't have been worth a trip of their own.

The name of Devi's Falls comes from a story about a Swiss tourist named David (or Daniel) (and/or his girlfriend/wife Devi, or Mrs. Devi) who tumbled down a sinkhole and died (or not).  The accident led to the discovery of the falls, which plummet 100 feet below ground into a cave.  The true details of the story have been been lost to the mists of time and the garbling of the internet.   The waters continue to fall.

The base of Devi's Falls can be seen in Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, which is also known for a huge stalagmite venerated as a Shiva lingam.  Musty passageways lead deeper and deeper into the cave, and eventually open into a large cavern.  There, the waterfall, lit by sunlight filtering in from above and framed by the dark inner cavern walls, confounds legions of camera-bearing tourists.