One Day Independent Nagarkot Sunrise and Hiking Trip

Located 32 kilometers (19.8 miles) away from Kathmandu, and 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) from Bhaktapur, Nagarkot is a very popular tourist destination for both the amazing sunrise and sunset views over the Himalayan peaks and the panoramic hiking trails all around. In this independent day trip, you will first visit the Nagarkot sunrise and then take an about 4-hour hike from Nagarkot to the Changgu Narayan Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

To enjoy the sunrise view, an early morning start is necessary. If you stay in the hotel of Kathmandu, you are advised to get up very early at around 04:30 to depart to Nagarkot. It is better to rent a car and fix the deal the day before. Usually, it takes 1.5 hours’ drive to the top of Nagarkot at an altitude of 2,100 meters. The road up to the mountain are quite bumpy and sometimes muddy, so driving carefully is very important, especially in the dawn time. While, if you stay in the hotel of Nagarkot, that will be much better. You can ask for the sunrise information from the hotel staff and get up at the right time.

In different seasons, the sunrise time differs a little bit. In the winter months of Kathmandu (November to March), the sunrise time is mostly from 06:30 to 07:00; in the summer time of April to October, it is mostly from 05:30 to 06:00, which needs a much earlier start from Kathmandu.

Now get ready to appreciate the extremely beautiful and impressive sunrise over the snow-capped Himalayas. On the observation deck, you can see the sun gradually rise from the far Himalayas and also overlook the Gosainkunda, the Manaslu, the Ganesh Himal and the Annapurna mountains. In Nepal, sunny days mostly occur from October to December. After appreciating the sunrise, you can have breakfast in Nagarkot.

Some Tips:
• To the north side of Thamel, Kathmandu, there is a bus station named the Lekhnath Marg, from where you can take a direct local bus to Nagarkot. The fare is NPR 150 per person. It usually departs at 1 o’clock in the afternoon and needs about 2 hours on the way. 
• In some seasons, this bus will stop. You can also take a local bus to Bhaktapur first, and then change to another bus at the Bus station kamalbinyak to Nagarkot, 2 hours in total. The bus from Bhaktapur to Nagarkot is always full and crowded, so a light pack is recommended.  
• Direct Tourist Bus from Kathmandu to Nagarkot is also available and leaves every day from the Tourist Bus Park in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. The fare is NPR 400 per person. 
• If you hire a car to Nagarkot, it is usually USD30 for the single way. If you want the car to wait or pick you up at the end of the trip, you need to pay more. 
• For accommodation in Nagarkot, the Hotel Country Villa is a nice place to stay, which offers a spectacular view of the Himalayas, even in the hotel room.

After breakfast, you can go to the Bus Stop of Nagarkot. The path next to the stop is your hiking start point, from where you will walk 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) for about 4 hours to the 5th century Changgu Narayan Temple. The path along the way is actually ordinary dirt road, which is relatively flat, and you can enjoy the scenery of the local countryside and farmlands. This hiking route is mostly downhill and suitable for most travelers.

There are not many forks in the road up ahead. If you feel confused sometimes, ask the local people for help. They are very friendly and warm-hearted. Just tell them the name of the Changgu Narayan Temple, they will show you the right direction. During the hike, you will pass the Brahmin and Tamang villages, visit the traditional houses, see the local lifestyle, enjoy the terrace views and overlook the Kathmandu Valley and the Himalayas. It is a good chance to relax and breathe fresh air in the lush mountain scenery.

In around 4 hours, you will come to a small Newari village of the Changgu Town, where the famous Changgu Narayan Temple is located on a high hilltop. It is a two-story pagoda-style temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is considered to be the earliest Hindu temple in Nepal. Adorned by some of the best stone carvings, wood carvings and metal handicraft in the Kathmandu valley, the statues and the temple itself are genuine works of art. An exquisite image of Vishnu astride the Garuda in the northeast corner of the compound is majestic, which is illustrated on the 10 rupees banknote.

The opening time of the temple: 08:00-18:00 
Admission: NPR 300 per person

After the temple visit, you can have a simple lunch at one of the restaurants in the village. Here comes to the end of your hiking trip. You can book a car beforehand to pick you from the temple and transfer you for one hour back to Kathmandu. The local bus to Bhaktapur is also available in the village. We wish you a pleasant day trip!