Tashi Palkhel

The largest Tibetan settlement is Tashi Palkhel, a few kilometres north of Pokhara on the road to Baglung. The colourful Jangchub Choeling Gompa in the middle of the village is home to around 100 monks and masked dances are held here in January/February as part of the annual Losar (Tibetan New Year) celebrations. To reach the gompa you have to run the gauntlet past an arcade of persistent handicraft vendors.

Nearby is a chörten piled with carved mani stones bearing Buddhist mantras and a carpet weaving centre, where you can see all stages of the process and buy the finished article.