Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge
Venture into the hills above the city of Pokhara and you will be treated to some of the most incredible views imaginable. Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge provides a perfect haven, an escape from the city, even perhaps an escape from reality, as quite simply the views from this boutique resort are a conjured up image of tranquility from your wildest dreams. Once you’ve checked in and accepted that the stunning vistas are actually real, you can relax, unwind and enjoy everything that Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge has to offer.
The simple yet serene cottages are set within mature trees and foliage in small clusters, to represent a Nepali village. Championing local carpentry and craftsmanship, they are both warm and welcoming, providing the ideal spot to recharge and rejuvenate during your Nepalese adventure. Start your day with a cup of tea on your terrace, before contemplating what the day ahead holds, and then once your day has unfolded, sit on your terrace surrounded by nature and the luxury of silence.
With the majestic Annapurna mountain range as a constant backdrop, it’s impossible not to fall in love with the mesmerising multi layered views. As riverside life continues on the valley floor below, the forest and rice terrace covered hills comprise the foreground, before the mountains rise, bursting through the clouds to the blue sky above, where black kites float effortlessly on the thermals. From time to time you’ll have to pinch yourself, to check that you’re not dreaming. Simply breathtaking.
The Vegan Food
Breakfast is served in the main lodge or on the adjacent terrace, both of which offer those incredible valley and mountain views. Starting with fresh seasonal juice, your choice of tea or coffee prepared with homemade soya or cashew milk and local fruits, breakfast was a lazy and leisurely affair. In a country where surprisingly we struggled to find alternative milks, it was refreshing to not only have it available at Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge, but for it to be homemade too. Next up was a bowl of granola with cashew milk, and toast with a duo of homemade jams. The citrus marmalade was very good, but for us it was all about the local fig jam which was absolutely delicious. Our breakfast finished with roasted tomatoes, and garlic oyster mushrooms on toast which really hit the spot and set us up for the day. On day two, following the juice, coffee, fruit, toast and jam combo we enjoyed ‘puri dum aloo’ which comprised a spicy potato curry with fried puri breads. We were very happy indeed for our final breakfast at Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge to be tasty and flavour packed Nepalese cuisine.
Lunch and dinner at Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge is an ever changing set menu of Nepalese and international cuisine, meaning that during your stay you can enjoy a selection of both if you like. As these were are last few days in Nepal and we wanted as many local flavours as possible before we departed, we requested that most of our meals comprised Nepalese dishes. There’s no better way to enjoy a variety of dishes, ingredients and flavours than with traditional Nepalese ‘dal bhat’, comprising rice, dal, bread and a selection of veggie curries and chutneys, it’s the perfect way to eat. We love the spicy and sweet chutneys, just as much as we love the creamy dal and the flavour packed curries, so we happily enjoyed this Nepalese staple for lunch and dinner. The excellent Chef Lalu also prepared momos which made us very happy indeed, and a trio of fresh and nutritious salads which were a light and healthy option, the perfect antidote to the naughty but oh so nice jalebi local dessert!
The Vegan Essentials
With no single use plastic water bottles or miniature bathroom amenities in the rooms, the team at Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge are making a sustainable travel statement. The fact that they use bathroom amenities from local company Laavanya Luxury Ayurveda, who don’t test on animals and only use organic and natural ingredients underlines that initial statement. When you learn that the drinking water is filtered on site, having being pumped from the valley floor 1000ft below, you know that they are serious about ‘doing the right thing’. Using homegrown fruit and veggies or from the local area is big plus too, as is employing locally and up skilling those team members wherever possible. Buying local products such as the woven mats from Sikles village, and supporting education programs are just two other examples of responsible tourism from the team behind Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge. This small Nepalese resort has a huge heart that is easy to see in so many ways…
The Vegan Food Quest Verdict
For pure relaxation and the chance to be surrounded by nature, whilst at the same time enjoying some of the most mesmerising mountain views, check into Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge knowing that you really won’t want to leave. Get that feel good factor from knowing that they are going above and beyond to operate both sustainably and responsibly, and rest assured that Chef Lalu and his kitchen team are well versed in preparing an array of plant based delights during your stay.
We were guests of Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge but please rest assured that their generosity in hosting us didn’t influence our views.
Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge
Kandani Danda Pokhara 26
Kaski
Gandaki Nepal
Telephone: +977 (0)1 472 0580
Email: info@tigermountainpokhara.com
Cost From: £310 / $365 (September 2022)