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Sunrises
& Sunsets |
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Guide > Adventure
& Nature > Sunrise & Sunsets |
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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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| Nagarkot |
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Nagarkot at 2,175m is the first place tourists get to hear about
when in Kathmandu. With a view of five of the top ten mountains
in the world Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Makalu and Manaslu, it
is the favourite mountain-view destination. Besides these there
are countless other peaks lining the horizon to give you a fabulous
panoramic view. As if this is not enough the view at sunrise
or sunset can be truly awe inspiring.
It lies 30 km east of Kathmandu, high on the surrounding mountains
of the valley. It is best to drive by car but there are also
buses going up to Nagarkot. The trip can be combined with a
stop at Bhaktapur as the major road goes by this old city. A
few nights stay at this hill resort can also be rewarding, as
there are many resorts and no shortage of activities to keep
you busy. In Nepal trekking is the major tourist attraction.
You can walk about the hills - go bird watching - go mountain
biking, which is an excellent way to see the surrounding hills
and mountains. It is also possible to trek down to the famous
5th century Lichhavi era temple of Changu Narayan. This is the
oldest temple in the valley and lies close to Bhaktapur. Around
Bhaktapur and Changu are interesting old towns that once lay
along the Tibet trade route. They are Banepa and Sankhu. An
excursion can also be made to mysterious Nala.
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| Dhulikhel |
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Dhulikhel another popular destination for mountain viewing and
spectacular sunrise or sunsets, is 32km east of Kathmandu. This
is an old Newari town that once served as a trading center between
Kathmandu and Lhasa. At 1,440m this little town is the viewing
point for Himalayan peaks like Annapurna, Ganesh, Phurbi Chyachu,
Langtang, Gauri Shanker and Lhotse. Besides views, the rich
cultural heritage is worth checking out.
The old pagoda style temples, narrow streets and brick houses
retain what Kathmandu has lost with modernization and concrete
buildings. Enjoy a stroll through the tiny lanes with children
running about and women going about their daily chores. This
is life in rural Nepal.
Outside Kathmandu 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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