Some 200 km west of Kathmandu lies the lush valley and the charming city of Pokhara, second in tourism but without the hustle-bustle and pollution of the capital. The valley covers 124 square km, stretches 38.4 km north to south and averages 6.4 km in width, and ranges in height from 900 to 8000 meters. It enjoys a mild climate, reaching 30° Celsius in April-May and around 20° Celsius in Dec.-Jan. Winter skies are crisp and clear, with temperatures hitting about 7° Celsius at dawn. The monsoon usually arrives by late June, and Pokhara gets more rain year-round than most places in south Asia.