Travel Photography | Pokhara To Sarangkot | Getting There and Away

© 2012 Ahmad Shukri | With Friends at Sarangkot | Overlooking The Annapurna Range

Visiting Nepal will never be completed if you never have a chance to view the great Himalayas, yes off-course you can get a peek of Himalayas from Kathmandu, you can also get a glimpse of Himalaya on your way to Monkey Temple and you can also get a glimpse of Himalaya from Boudhanath, but those places doesn’t offer you a great view, you just get a glimpse of it, you need to get out of town to get a better view.

Among the most popular destination to have a great Himalayas view is in Nagarkot and Sarangkot in Pokhara.  Nagarkot located 32 kilometres east of Kathmandu, is one of the most scenic spots in Bhaktapur district and is renowned for its spectacular sunrise when the weather is clear. Visitors often travel to Nagarkot from Katmandu to spend the night there so that they can then get up early and observe the breathtaking sunrise.

Anyway from my experience, Pokhara will get you a better view, I mean a close up view of the Himalayas, yes Nagarkot will give a grand sweeping panoramic view of the Himalayas but it is a little bit far to to the naked eyes, you need at least a telephoto lens of 70-200 mm if you want to photograph it closer to have an impact, but if you wanted to enjoy the view, Nagarkot is among the best and will take you there from Kathmandu in less than one hour.

The most visited place to get a better view of the Himalayas especially the Annapurna Range is in Sarangkot Pokhara. If you go there by the road, it will take you approximately between six to seven hours drive depending on road condition, the next best option to get there is by flight, you need to pay around USD 200 for a return flight ticket to  Kathmandu – Pokhara – Kathmandu, in less than forty five minutes you will get there.

Most people stay at the Lake Side, next to the Phewa Lake. You can trek to Sarangkot if that is your choice. Take a walk two wards North Lake side cross The Green Peace Resort , turn to the right, there is also a mark says, way to  Sarangkot, then another one hour after the forest walk you will be getting on a highland, so you start getting the views of the beautiful paddy field lovely Pokhara city & excellent lake view. First village you met is Haredanda. It will take you with very slow tourist speed about two to three hours to reach to the top,  once you arrive in Sarangkot.

Another option is to begin your path on the highway opposite the Baglung bus park. The trail runs west across the fields and up the side of Gyarjati Hill, meeting the dirt road at Silangabot, about 1 km east of the Sarangkot turning.

© 2012 Mhilmi | Road to Sarangkot | You Need To Hike a Bit Along This Trail

Actually, most people, usually don’t trek to get to the top of Sarangkot, most people get here by tourist bus, taxi or private vehicle. Even from the parking lot, you will get a breathtaking view of the Annapurna Range, but to get a better view, less crowd, then you need to hike a bit from the parking lot, where the tourist bus park, you can see the photograph above, it is quite steep but will take you no more than half and hour to you get to the top, but most people never get to the top, simply because, you don’t have to, there are  plenty of look up point that will give you a nice view, unobstructed view of the Himalayas.

*For more information, you may refer to my previous article about about Sarangkot Here