Pokhara valley is located in western Nepal at an elevation of about 3,000
feet above sea level. It was declared a municipality in 1959 with an
estimated population of 4,000. Since then, the city of Pokhara has faced
tremendous growth pressure. Its population reached 200,000 in 2005 — a
50-fold increase in population in 46 years. Land prices have increased at a
much higher rate than the population. Most of the arable land has been
replaced by roads and buildings. There is a concern that Pokhara is facing
growth pressure similar to that of Kathmandu Valley, as described by
Pradhan and Perera (2005). As land prices soar, there is tremendous
pressure on public land for development, and the municipality has not been
able to maintain open space for public use. Pokhara has established few
sites as public parks, and most of these parks are small parcels of land
fenced for protection from cattle and water buffalo with few or no plants/
flowers and other resources for leisure time activities. There are no plans
for the development of a nature park or a green space area where people
could see, feel and touch ornamental plants and flowers. Furthermore, the
city lacks an open green space where people could walk, jog or spend
leisure or free time.