Food · Begnas Lake
Fish lunch and a farm walk at Begnas bazaar
Walk through the terraces and fish ponds around Begnas with a local host, see how the valley grows rice and raises fish, then sit down to fried lake fish, dal bhat and pickles at a family restaurant by the dam.
Begnas bazaar at the lake's western end is a farm town as much as a lake resort. Walk out along the field paths with a guide or homestay host and you pass rice terraces fed by kulo channels, fish ponds, buffalo sheds and kitchen gardens of mustard greens and chillies. Depending on the season you may see planting, weeding or harvest. Your host will explain how water from the lake reaches the fields through kulo channels and how the planting calendar follows the monsoon.
The lake's fish come from two places: the open water, fished with nets from small boats, and floating cages where carp and tilapia are raised. Ask your host to show you the cages from the shore and explain how the fish are fed and harvested. Many families combine fishing with farming and a small shop. Cage fish need careful feeding and protection from storms, and a bad year can wipe out a family's investment.
Then lunch. Order machha tareko, whole small fish or chunks of larger fish fried with turmeric and chilli, with dal bhat, greens and a tomato or timur pickle. Weekend lunchtimes are lively with Pokhara families; weekdays are calm. Ask what was caught that morning. Vegetarians can ask for dal bhat with seasonal vegetables and fresh greens instead. Pay in cash; small restaurants rarely take cards, and a modest tip for the cook is welcome.
Good for
Questions
What fish is served at Begnas Lake?
Restaurants by Begnas serve fish from the lake and its floating cages, commonly carp species and tilapia, sometimes small local fish fried whole. It is usually fried with turmeric, chilli and salt, or cooked in a spiced curry. Ask for the day's catch rather than frozen fish. Prices are by weight or by plate.
Is the fish at Begnas safe to eat?
Freshly fried fish from busy restaurants is generally safe. Choose places with high turnover, eat it hot, and avoid salads or raw garnishes if you have a sensitive stomach. Watch for small bones in whole fried fish. Drink bottled or filtered water. Most visitors eat fish here without problems, and it is a local favourite.
Can I visit a farm near Begnas Lake?
Yes. Homestays and local guides around Begnas can arrange a walk through rice terraces, fish ponds and family farms, and in season you can join planting or harvest briefly. It is informal, so arrange it through your guide or homestay a day ahead. Bring sandals for wet fields in July and walking shoes otherwise.
Also in Begnas Lake
More ways to spend the day
Rivers and lakesDawn rowing on Begnas Lake
Take a wooden boat out from the Begnas dam before the day starts, row past fish cages and forested shores …
NatureWalk the ridge between Begnas and Rupa lakes
An easy village walk up the Panchabhaiya ridge that separates Begnas from Rupa Lake, with both lakes below you, the …
WildlifeBirding on the Pokhara lake cluster
A winter morning with binoculars on Begnas and Rupa, part of the Pokhara Valley's Ramsar-listed lake cluster: resident herons, egrets, …