Nothing beats a warm cup of tea as you wait for the sun to bring light to the world. A country blessed with serene mountains and topography, Nepal truly at times resonates with the thoughts of Shangri-La. Amidst the numerous destinations to visit and experience in Nepal, the sites mentioned below share in common a vantage to experience the beauty of a sunrise and sunset.
Thus if you plan on visiting these destinations shortly, make sure to have your itinerary include this magical experience.
Nagarkot
Sarangkot
Shree Antu
Nagarkot
Attraction: Cultural Experience, Sunrise and Sunset Views, Buddha Peace Park, Quad Biking, Panoramic Hiking Trail
Altitude: 2195 M
Accessibility:
Closest Airport: Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA)
Distance From Kathmandu: 27.5 KM
If your looking for a quick getaway within the outskirts of the Kathmandu Valley, the destination of Nagarkot fits the bill. Located just 27.5 kilometres from the main city of Kathmandu, the city of Nagarkot in the Changun Nagrayan municipality of Bhaktapur is a great view station for you to enjoy scenic views of the greenery of the Valley. Famous for its great hills and view station it is also a great destination to view the sunrise and sunset.
The city of Nagarkot during the months from October to December and March to April features clear skies for you to enjoy a panoramic view of the Himalayan range. The mountains of Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Lantang, Jugal Himal, Rolwaling, and Number are visible during clear skies. One can also enjoy a quick cultural hike from Changu Narayan to Nagarkot and experience the Panoramic Hiking trail and indulge in activities such as Quad Biking.
Sarangkot
Attraction: Annapurna View Point, Sunrise and Sunset View from Sarangkot View Tower, Fewa Lake, Begnas Lake, Davi’s Fall, Mahendra Cave, Tal Barahi Temple, International Mountain Museum, World Peace Pagoda, Matepani Gumba
Altitude: 1600 M
Accessibility:
Closest Airport: Pokhara Airport (PKR)
Distance from Kathmandu: 211.5 KM
Distance from Pokhara: 10.6 KM
A visit to Pokhara is never complete without experiencing the first and last light of the sun from the view station of Sarangkot. Located 10.6 Kilometres from the main city of Pokhara, the station of Sarangkot is the prime spot to view the Annapurna Himalayan Range. The station requires a permit ticket which costs Rs.50/Rs.20 for foreigners and Nepalese respectively. Sweeping views of the Dhaulagiri in the west is followed by the range of Machhapuchhare, Annapurna II and Lamjung to the east.
A brief hike is required to reach the view station and early birds can set up their camera’s to photograph the first rays of the sun during the golden hours. One can reach the view station of Sarangkot by road and a great travellers secret is to experience the ruins of the Kaskikot for which is an hour walk from to the west of Sarangkot.
Shree Antu
Attraction: Sunrise and Sunset View from Shree Antu View Tower, Shree Antu Pokhari, Tea Garden Hike, Antu Data Camping
Altitude: 1628 M
Accessibility:
Closest Airport: Bhadrapur Airport (BDP)
Distance From Kathmandu: 498.4 KM
Distance from Phikal Bazar: 13.2 KM
Shree Antu is one of the most popular destinations to view the sunrise and sunset in Nepal. It is also the region which gets the first rays of the sun, as it is towards the easterly side of the country. The village of Shree Antu which lies in the Illam district, an approximately 13.2 Kilometres from Phikal Bazar is a spot you cannot miss. Notorious for its dramatic weather, decoding the weather pattern is a must if you are to experience the tantalizing views of the sunrise in this region. Located to the south of the third highest mountain, Kanchenjunga, this region also features great tea gardens and the iconic Shree Antu Lake. Apart from the sunrise and sunset views, one can indulge in a cultural experience learning about the modes of life of the ethnic communities of Limbu, Tamang, Rai, Lepcha and Magar people.
Another travellers secret is to camp at the Shree Antu Hill, where if the weather permits one can experience an amazing panoramic of Siliguri during the blue hours of the evening and wake up to an amazing sunrise. Reaching Shree Antu is a gentle 3-day trek with a maximum elevation of 3760 m. One can also fly directly to Bhadrapur Airport and rent a private vehicle to the foot of the Shree Antu Hill. An approximate 3 hour drive through the Mechi Highway is filled with great views of the tea gardens of Illam, one can stop at Fikkal Bazar to experience the serenity of the destination of Illam.
