We leave the hotel about 45 minutes before sunrise, which comes at around 5:10 am in June and close to 7 am in late December. The drive to the tower takes about 15 minutes, while walking up from the bazaar area takes roughly an hour in the dark, so bring a torch. The tower stands on a hilltop at about 2,195 m, a little above the ridge, and gives an open view all round. Arrive early enough to find space on the top platform, which fills with Nepali families and photographers on October weekends.
First light shows the peaks as dark shapes against a pale sky. Then the summits turn pink and gold one after another: Gauri Shankar (7,134 m) and the Rolwaling peaks, the Jugal range, Dorje Lakpa and Langtang Lirung (7,227 m), and Ganesh Himal to the north-west. Everest appears as a small grey point well to the east on very clear mornings, and your guide will point it out. Below, the Kathmandu Valley often lies under a lake of cloud for the first hour after dawn.
The show lasts about 30 minutes from first light to full sun, so we stay for a flask of tea we bring along, then walk back through the pine forest or drive down for breakfast. From October to February the odds of clear peaks are high, in March and April haze often limits the view to the first hour, and in the monsoon months the tower is frequently in cloud. Dress warmly, because dawn temperatures in December and January are often around 0 °C and the wind on the platform bites.
Good for
- Couples
- Photographers
- Families
- First-timers
- Seniors
Questions travellers ask
Can you see Everest from Nagarkot?
On very clear mornings, yes, but only as a small grey point far to the east, best picked out from the view tower with a guide or through a zoom lens. The main view is closer: Langtang Lirung, Dorje Lakpa, the Jugal range and Gauri Shankar fill the skyline. October to January gives the best chances.
What time is sunrise in Nagarkot?
Sunrise ranges from about 5:10 am in June to just before 7 am in late December. In October and November, the best viewing months, it falls between about 5:55 and 6:40 am. Leave your hotel 45 minutes before sunrise to reach the view tower in time, and ask hotel staff for the exact time the night before.
Is the Nagarkot view tower suitable for older travellers?
Mostly yes. The car drops you close to the tower, and the views from the ground beside it are nearly as good as from the top. The tower steps themselves are steep and narrow, so older travellers and small children should take them slowly or stay below. A small local entry fee may apply; check current status before you travel.
