Outdoors & day trips · About 30 km east
Catch a Himalayan sunrise at Nagarkot
Stay overnight to see the range at dawn. October to March gives the clearest skies.
Sunrise over the Himalaya
Nagarkot is a village on the eastern rim of the valley, around 2,000 metres up, and it is famous for one thing: the view of the Himalaya at sunrise. On a clear morning the range stretches across the northern horizon, turning pink and then gold as the sun comes up.
Most people stay overnight so they can be at a viewpoint before dawn without a 4 AM drive. The viewpoint tower at the top of the ridge is the classic spot, but many hotels have their own terraces.
What to do after the sun is up
Walk down. Trails run from Nagarkot through villages and terraced fields towards Changu Narayan, one of the valley's oldest temples, and on to Bhaktapur. It is an easy half-day downhill walk and a good way back.
Where to stay
Nagarkot has guesthouses and hotels along the ridge, from simple rooms to resorts, and most face the mountains. Pick one with an east or north view and you can watch the sunrise from your window or terrace.
The village itself is quiet. Evenings are for dinner, a fire if your hotel has one, and an early night before the alarm.
Tips
- Check the weather the day before. Cloud can hide the mountains completely.
- Bring warm clothes. Mornings are cold up there, even when the city is mild.
- In the monsoon, June to September, the view is rarely clear.
- Pair it with a day in Bhaktapur on the way up or down.
More things to do
Questions
Can you see Everest from Nagarkot?
On a very clear day you can see a long stretch of the Himalaya, and Everest is sometimes visible as a small peak far to the east. The nearer Langtang range is the main view.
Is Nagarkot worth it for sunrise?
Yes, from October to March, when the skies are usually clear. In the monsoon the mountains are often hidden.
What's on for Catch a Himalayan sunrise at Nagarkot?
Nothing listed right now — new dates appear the day they are announced.
Where is this?
About 30 km east.