Sarangkot

सराङकोट

A hilltop viewpoint at 1,600 m, where Annapurna and Machapuchare glow gold at sunrise, and a world-famous paragliding takeoff site.

Sarangkot sits on a ridge about 10 km northwest of Pokhara, at roughly 1,600 m, and is a classic spot for watching sunrise over the Annapurna range. Before dawn, the snowy peaks catch the first light one after another, turning pink and then gold. Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Annapurna I (8,091 m) and Machapuchare (Fishtail) line up across the horizon, with Phewa Lake and Pokhara city spread out below. Most visitors leave Lakeside around 5 a.m. by hired jeep (round trip roughly NPR 1,500–2,000), a 30–40 minute drive, then walk 10 minutes to the summit viewpoint (entry about NPR 100). You can also stay overnight at a guesthouse in Sarangkot to avoid the early start. The Annapurna Cable Car, opened in 2022, runs from the foot of Pokhara straight up to Sarangkot (round trip about NPR 1,200), which is more convenient during the day.

Sarangkot is also one of the world's best paragliding sites. The air is most stable in October and November. A tandem flight lasts about 30 minutes and costs roughly NPR 8,000–10,000 (including transfers and photos and video). You take off from the ridge, fly over Phewa Lake and land on the lakeshore. 'Eagle-style gliding,' where you fly alongside eagles, also launches from here.

Note: the summit is cold in the early morning, so bring a jacket. In monsoon season and on foggy days, the snowy peaks are often invisible, so check the weather forecast before deciding. Choose a licensed, reputable paragliding company.

Sarangkot

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