Nepal is a wonderful and scenic country all on its own. Sunrise in Nepal is a must-watch affair.
When the sun touches it and spreads its ray of light over the snow-capped mountains and paints the sky with reds, yellows, and oranges, the country becomes even more mesmerizing.
And if you want to get the best position for this event, here are the top 6 places to go:
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6 Best Places to Witness Sunrise in Nepal
Nagarkot
Located in the beautiful district of Bhaktapur, Nagarkot has one of the most strategic locations to view sunrise in Nepal.
With an elevated height of 2,195 km, Nagarkot easily offers the broadest view of the enormous mountain ranges in Nepal where 8 out of 13 are in sight.
Witnessing sunrise in Nagarkot is such a magical experience. The place is far from dust and pollution of the busy streets of Kathmandu. It also guarantees a fresh clean breeze as the sun ascends behind the mountains and unto the clouds.
The best time to visit Nagarkot for that perfect sunrise is view is on March and October. Expect the weather to be pleasantly colder than the city of Kathmandu, but skies are often clearer during these months.
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Sarangkot
Just half an hour away from Pokhara is a mountain ridge called Sarangkot. The ridge is elevated at an altitude of 1600 meters, making it a very perfect place to view sunrises in Nepal.
Sarangkot has the best location to see the sun rising with its rays touching the snow-capped ranges of Annapurna, Machhapucchare, and Dhaulagiri.
Many tourists flock to Sarangkot between the months of October to April to experience the surreal beauty of the sunrise.
It’s easy and worthwhile to visit Sarangkot when you’re in Pokhara. You can either go hiking in the afternoon and catch the sunset the same day. Stay in the tea house overnight then wake up early to see the majestic sunrise.
Or, you could drive early in the morning from Pokhara to Sarangkot and get there just in time to see the sun making its first appearance. Stay for a while to see more sights, eat breakfast then drive back to Pokhara.
Poon Hill
Located at the northern side of Pokhara is a beautiful place called the Poon Hill. You can go to Poon Hill as part of your Annapurna Trek and enjoy the mesmerizing sunrise on the Day 3 of your Poon Hill Trek itinerary.
Poon Hill offers an excellent vantage point for sunrise viewing. Located at an altitude of 3,210 meters, trekking to Poon Hill is between easy and moderate which can easily be accomplished by people with average fitness.
On the second day, you will arrive at Ghorepani and trek early morning the next day to Poon Hill.
Standing on the hill, you will enjoy the sight of the northern mountains like the panoramic Mt. Dhaulagiri, Dolpo, Manaslu, and Machhapuchhre. The Annapurna ranges are also close when you’re in Poon Hill than in Sarangkot.
There are organized treks to Poon Hill the whole year round. But it’s often best to go between March to June and September to December since the sky is clearer and weather more comfortable for trekking.
Gokyo Ri
Trekking to Gokyo Ri is a wonderful opportunity to see the sunrise over the Everest, but it’s also one that’s often overlooked. Perhaps it’s because the trek to Gokyo Ri is more challenging than climbing the Poon Hill and other more popular trekking routes.
Nonetheless, witnessing the sunrise in Gokyo Ri can get very overwhelming. At the 8th day of the trek, you would have reached Gokyo which is situated at an altitude of 4750 meters. You have the opportunity to explore the pristine lakes and beautiful glaciers, set against the backdrop of towering ranges.
The next day, wake up early to see a beautiful sunrise painting the clouds with oranges and crimsons. Guaranteed, it would be one of the most picturesque sights worth getting up early for.
Kalapatthar
Kala Patthar is a very popular destination for sunrise viewing en route to Everest Base Camp.
Depending on your itinerary, you will likely arrive in Kalapatthar by the eight days of your Everest Base Camp Trek. On a ninth morning, wake up early to see the sun rising over the majestic Everest which now appears even closer.
Nearby ranges like Nuptse, Lhotse, and Cho-Oyu also dazzles with the delightful orange rays of the sun.
Visit Kalapatthar in summer and autumn to enjoy a friendlier weather and better view of the sunrise.
Kalapatthar is often included on your itinerary to Mount Everest Base Camp and there is no other way to get there other than to trek.
Antu Danda
Located in the eastern portion of Nepal is Antu Danda which is popular for its tea gardens.
It’s quite far than other destination as you’ll have to embark a 12-hour ride coming from Kathmandu, but the views are more than a reward for this adventure.
Lying at an elevation of 1823 meters, Antu Danda is indeed the best place to view sunrise in this part of the country. Sun rising behind Mt. Kanchenjunga, also known as the third highest peak in the world, is enough to take your breath away.
Antu Danda also boasts of lush vegetation and scenic slopes at the same time has a great view of Darjeeling District of neighboring country, India.
Summary
There are several other places in Nepal that offer the best sunrise views. In the hilly regions, you will witness the first rays of the sun lighting the whole valley.
While in the mountains, you will witness the sun rising from behind the mountains. During that time, you get to enjoy the spectacular views of the cloud surrounding the mountains in different hues.
Wherever you go, the towering hillocks of Nepal offer the most enticing sunrise views.
Want more information? Send us your query, and our experts will get back to you within 24 hrs.
Madhav started working as a porter in 2001 and then moved on to work as a trekking guide. After working in the trekking and tourism industry for eight years, he co-founded Mosaic Adventure in 2009.
Madhav has trekked to most of the trekking destinations in Nepal, including Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit Trek, Poon Hill Trek, Jomsom Muktinath Trek, Indigenous Peoples Trek, Langtang Valley Trek, Mardi Himal Trek, and all of the day hikes around Kathmandu.
He has also extensively traveled to other countries such as Australia, the USA, the UK, France, Hong Kong, Japan, China, the Philippines, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Thailand, Turkey, and India. Madhav is the one who answers most of your questions about trekking and tours and helps to plan your trip by giving a personal touch.
