Sarangkot Sunrise Viewpoint
Hilltop viewpoint (~1,600 m) above Pokhara, famous for sunrise over the Annapurna and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) ranges and views of Phewa Lake. Also Nepal's main paragliding launch.
About this spot
Sarangkot is a hill village perched at roughly 1,600 m on the ridge northwest of Pokhara, and the city's most popular viewpoint. From the summit observation tower you get a sweeping Himalayan panorama spanning Dhaulagiri, the Annapurna range and the distinctive Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) peak, with Pokhara city and Phewa Lake spread out below. It is most famous for sunrise, when the snow peaks light up gold one by one.
Most visitors drive up before dawn (about a 30-minute uphill drive from Lakeside) to catch the sunrise from the view tower; you can also hike up. Beyond the views, Sarangkot is Nepal's premier paragliding launch site, with tandem flights taking off through the morning and a zipline operating nearby. There are toilets and small tea shops at the top.
The viewpoint is open roughly 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM and the observation deck charges only a nominal entrance fee (around NPR 60 per person), so it is essentially a budget outing apart from transport. The best months for clear mountain views are October through December.
Why it's worth it: rated 4.7★ on Google Maps (545+ reviews).
Location
Sarangkot, northwest of Pokhara Lakeside (approx. 1,600 m elevation), PokharaSarangkot, Pokhara Metropolitan City, Kaski District, Gandaki Province, Nepal
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