By air
Tribhuvan (KTM), ~1.5 h by road
Nepal & Bhutan · Nepal
Nagarkot, Nepal
A Himalayan sunrise from the valley rim
Getting there
Best time to visit
October to December — the clearest skies
Don't miss
The Nagarkot View Tower
The Changunarayan Temple
Things to do
Sunrise over the Himalaya
Village walks along the ridge
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: NSaad (WMF) · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Warm layers for the dawn
A quieter corner
Changunarayan, Nepal's oldest temple, a walk downhill
Questions travellers ask
When does Nagarkot have the clearest skies?
October to December. Bring warm layers for the dawn.
How far is Nagarkot from Kathmandu airport?
About 1.5 hours by road from Tribhuvan (KTM).
What is there to do in Nagarkot besides the sunrise?
Take village walks along the ridge, then settle into a hearty breakfast at one of the ridge-top lodges.
Can I walk to Changunarayan from Nagarkot?
Yes, Changunarayan, Nepal's oldest temple, is a walk downhill.
About Nagarkot
- Hills
Where it is
Nagarkot is a hill village on the eastern rim of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, above 2,000 m in Bhaktapur district, with wide views along the Himalaya that take in Everest on clear days.
History
Nagarkot is said to have been a hilltop fort from which the valley's rulers watched the approaches to their kingdoms. Today it is a hill station renowned for its panoramic views of the Himalaya.
People
The villages around Nagarkot are home to Tamang and other farming families who work terraced slopes; the Tamang speak their own language as well as Nepali and are mostly Buddhist. Many now also run guesthouses and teahouses along the ridge.
Known for
- Sunrise over the Himalaya
- Views of Everest on clear days
- Ridge walks through pine forest
- The walk down to Changu Narayan Temple
- The Nagarkot view tower
Did you know?
Not far away, the Changu Narayan temple holds a pillar inscription of the Licchavi king Manadeva from the 5th century AD, one of the oldest in Nepal.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.