Our Nepal trip was never really a perfectly planned trip.
We kept deciding where to go after reaching a place, asking people for suggestions and then heading out.
That was exactly how we ended up exploring Pumdikot in Pokhara.
We had already spent some time around Pokhara and wanted to see more of the mountains. So we rented a scooter and decided to explore the area ourselves.
What looked like a simple scooter ride turned into one of the most memorable mountain experiences of our Nepal trip.
Renting a Scooter in Pokhara
After spending some time around Pokhara, we decided that the easiest way to explore the surrounding areas would be to rent a scooter.
We rented one for roughly ₹800 for the day.
We completed the formalities, collected the scooter and started our ride.
After travelling so much by buses and other public transport, having our own scooter felt completely different.
Now we could stop wherever we wanted.
There was no driver waiting for us.
No fixed route.
No need to rush.
We could simply follow the road and see where it took us.
Riding Through the Mountain Roads
As we started moving away from the main city, the surroundings gradually changed.
The roads became more mountainous.
We were riding through areas surrounded by hills, and the scenery kept getting better.
At several points, the road itself became part of the experience.
There were climbs, turns and stretches where we had to ride carefully.
But that was exactly what we wanted.
We hadn’t rented the scooter just to reach a destination.
We wanted to experience the journey.
The Mountains Around Pokhara
The biggest attraction along the route was the landscape.
Everywhere we looked, there were hills and mountains.
From certain points, the view opened up and we could see the valley below.
Pokhara looked completely different from above.
The city appeared smaller, while the surrounding mountains seemed much larger.
It was one of those moments where you understand why people come to Nepal for the mountain scenery.
You don’t need a complicated attraction.
Sometimes the road itself is enough.
Reaching Pumdikot
Eventually, we reached Pumdikot.
The first thing that immediately caught our attention was the enormous Shiva statue.
It was huge.
Standing against the mountain landscape, it looked even more impressive.
We parked our scooter and started walking around the area.
There were shops and small places selling local items and snacks.
The surroundings also had a peaceful religious atmosphere.
The Giant Shiva Statue
The Shiva statue was easily the main attraction for us.
We had seen temples and religious places throughout Nepal, but the size of this statue combined with the mountain backdrop made this place feel different.
We took photos and videos around the area.
There were also other religious structures and statues nearby.
It wasn’t simply a place where we stopped, took one photograph and left.
We spent some time exploring the surroundings.
Walking Around Pumdikot
After parking the scooter, we explored the area on foot.
There were uphill sections and places where we had to walk rather than simply stay near the parking area.
We were already tired from travelling around Pokhara, but the surroundings kept us interested.
The mountain air and open landscape made the walk enjoyable.
And every time we looked back, we could see more of the valley.
The View Was the Real Attraction
For me, the biggest attraction at Pumdikot wasn’t only the Shiva statue.
It was the view around it.
You had the statue in the foreground and mountains and valleys stretching into the distance.
It created a very different kind of travel photograph.
One side felt spiritual.
The other side felt completely natural.
And the mountains connected the two.
Our Scooter Ride Was Part of the Adventure
One thing I particularly remember is that the scooter ride itself felt adventurous.
When you travel by cab, you usually focus on reaching the destination.
On a scooter, you notice everything.
The road.
The turns.
The weather.
The hills.
The small villages.
The people.
And sometimes the road conditions.
We didn’t know every road perfectly, so we had to ask people whenever we weren’t sure which way to go.
That happened several times during our Nepal trip.
And most people were willing to help.
Weather Started Becoming a Problem
The weather wasn’t completely on our side.
As we explored the higher areas, the weather started looking uncertain.
Clouds began covering the mountains.
The visibility wasn’t always good.
And we knew that mountain weather could change quickly.
Because of the weather, there were places we wanted to explore further but couldn’t comfortably continue.
That was disappointing.
We had already come so far and wanted to see more.
But sometimes the weather decides your itinerary for you.
When the Mountains Disappear Behind Clouds
One of the strange things about mountain travel is that you can be surrounded by huge mountains one minute and then suddenly see almost nothing.
Clouds can completely cover the views.
That happened to us as well.
We had hoped to explore further, but the weather wasn’t cooperating.
Instead of taking unnecessary risks, we decided to enjoy what we could and eventually head back.
Looking back, I think that was the right decision.
Exploring Nepal Without a Fixed Plan
This experience also reminded me why our Nepal trip felt so different.
We weren’t travelling according to a strict schedule.
We didn’t have a guide telling us:
“You have exactly 30 minutes here.”
We could spend more time at a place if we liked it.
We could leave if the weather became bad.
We could stop somewhere because the view looked good.
And we could ask locals where to go next.
That freedom was one of the best things about our trip.
The Local Side of the Mountains
As we travelled through the mountain areas, we also started noticing how different life was outside the main tourist areas.
The scenery was beautiful, but life there wasn’t necessarily easy.
Roads were difficult in some places.
Basic facilities weren’t always immediately available.
People living in the mountains had to deal with the terrain every day.
For a tourist, a steep mountain road is an adventure.
For someone living there, it’s simply part of daily life.
That difference really stayed with me.
What Pumdikot Taught Me About Mountain Travel
Before visiting Nepal, it is easy to look at photographs of mountains and think:
“What a peaceful life.”
But once you actually travel through those areas, you see another side.
The mountains are beautiful.
But the terrain can make everyday life difficult.
Transport takes longer.
Supplies have to travel through difficult roads.
Weather can change suddenly.
And reaching one place from another isn’t always simple.
Our scooter ride gave us a small glimpse of that reality.
Pumdikot Was More Than a Photo Stop
We could have simply reached Pumdikot, taken a photograph of the Shiva statue and left.
But because we were travelling on our own scooter, the journey became part of the experience.
The roads, the mountain views, asking people for directions, changing weather and finally reaching the statue all became part of the memory.
That’s what I like about road trips.
Sometimes you remember the journey more than the destination.
Would I Visit Pumdikot Again?
Yes, especially if the weather is clear.
During our visit, the weather wasn’t ideal, and that meant we couldn’t explore as much as we would have liked.
If I go again, I’d want to spend more time exploring the surrounding mountain areas when visibility is better.
The combination of the giant Shiva statue and the surrounding landscape makes Pumdikot worth experiencing.
My Final Thoughts
Pumdikot was one of those places that we discovered naturally during our Nepal trip.
We rented a scooter, followed the mountain roads and kept exploring.
There was no complicated plan.
Just two travellers trying to see what was around the next turn.
The giant Shiva statue was impressive, but what I remember most is the journey to reach it—the mountain roads, the views, the weather and the feeling of being surrounded by the Himalayas.
And that’s probably the biggest lesson I took from travelling around Nepal:
Don’t always focus only on the destination.
Sometimes, get on a scooter.
Take the mountain road.
Stop when the view makes you stop.
Ask a local when you don’t know the way.
And let the journey become the story.
For us, Pumdikot was exactly that.
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