Nagarkot Travel Guide

Nagarkot is a viewpoint town on the ridge at the eastern edge of the Kathmandu Valley at about 2,100 m, about an hour from Kathmandu, famous for distant views of the magnificent Himalayan snow range (especially sunrise and sunset over the peaks); autumn (Oct-Nov) after the rainy season brings the clearest peaks, best at dawn. Perched on the valley's edge facing the Himalayas to the north and east, on clear days it takes in peaks such as Langtang and Ganesh, and on exceptionally transparent days a distant glimpse of the world's highest peak, Everest. The classic experience is the snow-mountain sunrise the first light casting a golden glow that turns the white peaks golden-red, sublime and sacred; the evening sunset is equally enchanting. The ridge has fresh, cool air and terraced fields, pine forests and villages for short hikes. Visitors often stay overnight for the sunrise; at high altitude bring a jacket for the cool dawn.