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Mountain
Viewing |
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Guide > Adventure
& Nature > Mountain Viewing |
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The name Nepal conjures up visions of the Himalayas.
When we talk about sunrise or sunset viewing in Nepal, it is
usually understood you go where there are mountains to gaze
at. There are countless hilltops where you can wait for the
early morning sun to light up the snowy peaks or the setting
sun to display a palette of changing hues from yellow to pink
and red. The dazzling shower of color can be viewed from the
surrounding mountains of Kathmandu valley. Some of the popular
scenic destinations are:
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| Kakani |
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Less frequented by tourists, Kakani (1,982m) is equally enchanting
and lies 23 km northeast of Kathmandu. For visitors who wish
to avoid crowds this is the ideal place to go and gaze at mountains.
The superb views of Ganesh Himal, Annapurnas and Langtang make
Kakani worth visiting.
The hillside is resplendent in strawberry fields and a rhododendron
forest stretches down towards Balaju from where the climb up
begins. Kakani is also a popular picnic spot for local Nepalese
people.
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| Daman |
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For the best panoramic view of the Himalayas, Daman at 2,322m
is arguably at the top of the list. An incredible unobstructed
view of the Himalayan range from Dhaulagiri to Everest can be
had from this hilltop. That is worth spending time and money
to see. This lies on the old Tribhuvan Highway between Kathmandu
and Hetauda. Once when this used to be the only road coming
into the Kathmandu valley from the plains (Terai), everybody
coming by road was obligated to pass through Daman. There are
hotels and resorts to stay in and transport can be arranged
for you. Spring is a good time to visit as the sky is clear
and the rhododendron forest is in full bloom.
Outside Kathamandu Valley :
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| Antu
Danda |
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In Ilam district in eastern Nepal,
Antu Danda is known for its unmatched views of Mt Everest and
Mt Kanchenjunga, the highest and the third highest mountains
in the world. It is famous for sunrise and sunset viewing. A
motor road goes up to Chhipitar from where you can easily walk
to Antu Danda.
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| Chisopani |
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A three-hour walk up from Sundarijal, which is 15 km north east
of Kathmandu, lies a little settlement on top of a hill called
Chisopani. Chiso=cold & Pani=water. The water here is icy
cold most of the year, hence the name. Sundarijal can be reached
by bus but the easiest is to hire a taxi from Jorpati, the area
immediately after Boudha although there is no demarcation to
tell where Boudha ends and Jorpati begins. The hike up passes
through beautiful vegetation, a crystal clear stream and a light
forest if you do not climb straight up the steps.
There are many lodges here and the view is superb stretching
from the Annapurnas past the Ganesh Himal and Langtang. Spring
is the best time to visit as the rhododendrons are in bloom.
Within the forest can be seen some species of orchids.
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| Sarangkot |
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This scenic spot of Sarangkot (1592m) is a short walk from Pokhara
Bazaar and is usually the end or beginning of an extended trek.
It is best to visit in the early hours of the morning to view
the mountains. This itself is a popular trek as the view of
not only the Annapurna range but also the lake below and Pokhara
valley is awesome.
There are many lodges and restaurants so an overnight stay may
be a convenient way of seeing the mountains at dawn. There are
also many routes leading up to Sarangkot, the easiest one passing
by Binda Basini Temple.
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| Poon
Hill |
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Poon Hill is one of the most popular viewpoints along the trekking
routes. The trek starts in Pokhara and from Deurali, Poon hill
is an hour's climb away. Deurali itself is a short distance
further than the famous Ghorepani. Trekkers climb up early in
the morning to the hilltop to catch the first rays of sunshine,
which bathe the distant mountains into a host of vibrant colors.
Poon Hill has been described in guidebooks as one of the best
Himalayan viewpoints in Nepal. Indeed it is, and many posters
and post-cards can be seen being sold around Kathmandu that
highlights the incredibly beautiful view.
There are many places to stay in at both Ghorepani as well as
Deurali. This is also one of the popular treks in Nepal as the
views are great and it leads on to interesting destinations
like Muktinath, a very important pilgrimage site for both Hindus
and Buddhists.
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| Tansen |
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Tansen (1343m) lies on the slopes of Srinagar Danda in central
Nepal. It is a popular resort to spend the summer months. Known
for its panoramic views, Tansen is strategically placed to allow
views of mountains from Dhaulagiri in the west to Gauri Shanker
in the east. Below lie the Tingu River, the Churia hills and
the Terai stretching endlessly. It is only six hours away from
Pokhara.
Tansen also serves as a stopover while visiting Lumbini. There
are hotels in Tansen, so halting overnight may be a good idea
before pushing on to Buddha's birthplace along the Siddhartha
Highway.
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| Kala
Pathar |
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There seems to be no dispute as to where one can get the best
view of Mt.Everest. All agree that the view from Kala Pathar
is unrivaled. Kala=black and Pathar=rock. It lies on the Everest
trek route and is 5545m above sea level. It is in fact a small
peak in the Himalayan context. It would be a major peak in other
parts of the world where they boast of 4000m peaks. You can
either put up at Gorakshep, which is close by or go on to Lobuje
to spend the night in more comfort.
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