KASKI: Pokhara is experiencing an unprecedented boom in Indian tourists, driving hotel occupancy to nearly 90% and packing Lakeside streets.

Driven by extreme summer heat in India and heavy promotion on social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook, this historic influx has completely transformed Nepal’s traditional rainy “off-season.”

Phewa Lake is seeing over 5,000 boaters daily, while trekking routes like Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp are packed with Indian youth.

Older travelers are flooding the religious site like Muktinath in Mustang.

Tourism officials note this is the highest volume of Indian visitors seen in over three decades, though the surge has triggered parking shortages and highlighted the urgent need for better highway rest facilities to manage the crowd.