Adventures in Nepal XIII: Patale Chhango

On January 25, Emma and Elizabeth went to see a waterfall.

Interesting backstory: a Swiss couple with the surname Davis went swimming there in 1961, and the wife drowned. English-speaking visitors started calling the place “Davis Falls.” In the Nepali language, this is commonly pronounced as “Devis.” Also, “Dev” and “Devi” are popular names in Nepal. So now, when you try to find out what the waterfall’s actual damn name is so you can write a blog post about it, you find the waterfall listed on various sites as Devi’s Fall, Devis Falls, Davis Falls, Hell’s Falls or its Nepali name, Patale Chhango, which means “Underworld Waterfall.”

The girls took a colorful Pokhara bus to their destination.

Just a guy out walking his water buffaloes.

A theme park has developed around the waterfall…

…featuring a scale model of the Annapurna mountain range…

…assorted shrines and tributes…

…a “luck pond,” or what we would call a wishing well…

(try to land your coin on the little platform in the center for good luck)

…some fun photo ops…

…and a traditional Nepali house.

Adorable Emma is adorable.

Finally, down to see the falls.

The stream flows from Phewa Tal, eventually forming a tunnel in the rock and creating a semi-underground waterfall that you can only see from a certain angle. Here’s a pretty section of cliff wall along the descent:

The stream in its deepening bed:

First glimpse of the fall:

There it is!

Shortly after the fall, the stream flows into Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave…but that’s another blog post.

Back up to the surface.

Bonus pic of the friendship bracelets from the Tibetan weaver:

To be continued!