“This waterfall is named after a Swiss tourist swept to her death here when an upstream dam suddenly released, plunging into a chasm and vanishing underground.”
About Davis Falls (Patale Chhango)
Davis Falls is fed by the outflow of Phewa Lake and the Pardi Khola stream. Its name commemorates a foreign visitor said to have drowned in the 1960s when water released from a dam upstream surged through and swept her into the gorge, the body reportedly recovered far downstream. The falls and the cave system below have since become a well-known Pokhara attraction.
Davis Falls, known locally as Patale Chhango , is a striking waterfall in Pokhara where a stream plunges abruptly into a deep, narrow chasm and disappears underground. Its unusual underground course and a tragic legend behind its name make it one of the city's most popular and curious sights.
Davis Falls, known locally as Patale Chhango , is a striking waterfall in Pokhara where a stream plunges abruptly into a deep, narrow chasm and disappears underground.
A Waterfall That Vanishes Into the Earth
What makes Davis Falls remarkable is that the water does not fall into an open pool but pours into a sinkhole and vanishes beneath the ground, flowing on through an underground passage. The name comes from a sad tale: a foreign visitor, often said to be a Swiss woman named Davi or Davis, is reported to have drowned here in the 1960s when a sudden release of water from an upstream dam swept her into the chasm, and the falls were named in her memory.
The Experience
You view the falls from platforms as the stream tumbles into a deep, mossy fissure and disappears into the earth, especially powerful during and after the monsoon. The site connects with the Gupteshwor Cave across the road, where the underground continuation of the water can be seen. The combination of the vanishing waterfall and its grim legend makes it an intriguing, if busy, stop.
Why It Matters
Davis Falls is one of Pokhara's signature natural curiosities, notable for its rare underground course and the poignant story behind its name. Linked to the sacred Gupteshwor Cave below, it forms part of an unusual hydrological and spiritual landscape that draws both tourists and pilgrims.
Davis Falls is one of Pokhara's signature natural curiosities, notable for its rare underground course and the poignant story behind its name.
Why Visit
An unusual Pokhara waterfall that plunges into a chasm and vanishes underground, named after a tourist's tragic death and linked to a sacred cave below.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
The falls are most powerful during and after the monsoon.
- 2
It pairs with the Gupteshwor Cave just across the road.
- 3
View it from the platforms; the chasm is dangerous.
- 4
Expect crowds at this popular Pokhara sight.
