Sarangkot, Pokhara: Travel Guide (2024)
Looking for information about Sarangkot, Pokhara? Here is everything you need to know about how to get there, sunrise and sunset views, things to do and hotels in Sarangkot!
Sarangkot is famous for its sunrise Himalayan views and is a popular place to visit from Pokhara.
I visited Sarangkot two times and both times managed to time it very badly and had barely any views of the Himalayas. So, here is everything I learnt and when you should visit Sarangkot for the best views.
Sarangkot is a small village near Pokhara and is most famous for its beautiful sunrise and sunset views. It is a popular destination for those who don’t have much time in Pokhara but would still like to see the sunrise over the Himalayas.
How to Get from Pokhara to Sarangkot
Pokhara to Sarangkot Distance
Sarangkot is around 11 km from Pokhara and can be reached by local buses, taxi, hiking or taking the Annapurna Cable Car.
Pokhara to Sarangkot Bus
The buses go from the Baglung Bus Park in Pokhara to Sarangkot. The bus takes about 1 hours and costs around Rs. 100.
Pokhara to Sarangkot Taxi
There are many taxis in Pokhara so if you prefer to go by taxi to Sarangkot, you can hail or order a taxi.
Currently, InDrive is the only Nepali taxi app that works in Pokhara and it has affordable taxi prices. The taxi from Pokhara to Sarangkot costs around Rs. 900-1,000. If you order a taxi through InDrive, you can also order a motorbike taxi which costs around Rs. 300 from Pokhara to Sarangkot.
Pokhara to Sarangkot Hike
It is also possible to hike from Pokhara to Sarangkot. The hike takes about 1.5 hours to reach Sarangkot.
It used to be popular to hike to Sarangkot before the opening of the Annapurna Cable Car but lately, the most popular way to get to Sarangkot is by the cable car.
Annapurna Cable Car from Pokhara to Sarangkot
Information about the Annapurna Cable Car:
- Annapurna Cable Car Opening Times: 5 am – 5:30 pm
- Annapurna Cable Car Ticket Price: Rs. 700 (Nepali, two-way), Rs. 1,000 (SAARC, two-way), USD 12 (foreigner, two-way, can be paid in Nepali Rupees)
- Annapurna Cable Car Starting Point: Sedibagar, Pokhara
- Annapurna Cable Car Distance and Duration: covers 2.2 km distance in 10 minutes
The Annapurna Cable Car opened in 2022 and has since been a popular way to get up to Sarangkot. The Annapurna Cable Car starts at 5 am in the morning so that people can get up to Sarangkot just in time for the sunrise.
🚠 Want to ride cable cars in Nepal? Check out the 4 best cable cars in Nepal here!
There is a free shuttle bus service in the mornings to transport people from Lakeside to the bottom station of the cable car.
Morning Schedule of the Free Shuttle Bus from Pokhara to Annapurna Cable Car:
| Pick-up Location in Pokhara | Timing |
| Fishtail Gate | 4:25 am |
| Ambot Gate | 4:30 am |
| Gaurighat | 4:35 am |
| Barahi Chowk | 4:40 am |
| Center Point | 4:45 am |
| Hallan Chowk (Lakeside) | 4:50 am |
Transport options can change in Nepal, so to confirm the free shuttle bus in the morning, it is best to contact the shuttle bus operators beforehand on (00977)9802854191 or info@annapurnacablecar.com.np
About once an hour, the shuttle bus also goes back from Sedibagar to Lakeside. You will see the shuttle bus in the parking lot after coming down from Sarangkot by the cable car.
Sarangkot, Pokhara: Travel Guide
Best Time to Visit Sarangkot
Generally, the best time to visit Sarangkot is between October-April. You should get the best, clear views during this time, however, sometimes the weather patterns can be unpredictable.
For example, once I visited in October and had very bad views of the Himalayas in the afternoon, so it is important to visit it in the morning for sunrise.
When I visited on another occasion, there were wild fires and controlled burning in Pokhara around March-April, which made visibility very bad.
So, thus, even if the best times are considered between October-April, you might still not be able to get the best views due to the weather or other factors.
Sarangkot Sunrise
Visiting Sarangkot for the sunrise is the best option.
If you have time to stay for one night in Sarangkot, the best thing to do is to stay there for a night.
You can take the Annapurna Cable Car in the afternoon, see the sunset views, then the next morning, you are already in Sarangkot and just a few minutes away from the sunrise view point.
Sarangkot Sunset
Watching the sunset in Sarangkot can be beautiful, however, usually it gets cloudy in the afternoon and you won’t be able to see the Himalayas.
You can still see the sunset over the hills around Pokhara but it is not as great as the sunrise views of the mountains.
The first time I visited Sarangkot I thought I would be able to see the Himalayas in the afternoon and to my disappointment, it was very cloudy (in late October). So, due to this, I don’t recommend visiting Sarangkot in the afternoon, except if you will stay the night there to see the sunrise the next morning.
Sarangkot Sunrise vs Sunset?
- Best for: Sunrise
Sarangkot is popular for both sunrise and sunset views over the Himalayas. However, the weather can get cloudy in the afternoon so the views might not be so great during sunset.
In my experience, the sunrise in Sarangkot provides much better views than the sunset. A lot of people hike or take the cable car up to Sarangkot early morning to see the sunrise – but for this, you will have to wake up around 4 am.
If you have an extra day, the best thing to do is to stay the night in Sarangkot. Sarangkot is a peaceful and quiet place to stay.
It is a great option to take the cable car up in the afternoon, watch the sunset in Sarangkot and then be already in Sarangkot for the sunrise the next day.
Things to Do in Sarangkot
1. Visit the Sarangkot View Tower
The Sarangkot View Tower was built recently and the construction is yet to fully complete. It has an entry fee of Rs. 60 for foreigners.
If the weather is clear, you get great views of the Himalayas and hills from the View Tower.
2. Paragliding
The paragliding is popular in Pokhara and the starting point is in Sarangkot.
Many hotels in Sarangkot can arrange paragliding, so if you are staying in Sarangkot, you can ask at your accommodation about paragliding.
After watching the sunrise, you may be able to paraglide your way back down to Pokhara.
If you organize the paragliding starting from Pokhara, it costs around Rs. 8,000 for a 30 minutes flight. If you are already in Sarangkot, you may be able to get a deal for Rs. 4,000-5,000 for paragliding to Pokhara.
3. Visit the Shiva Temple
The Shiva Temple was completed recently and it is a brand new temple in Sarangkot. As it is a newly built temple, I found it does not have the charm and history like other temples in Nepal.
It is near the View Tower and you will easily spot it on your way to the sunrise view point.
4. Ziplining
There is also an option to try ziplining in Sarangkot. There is regular zipline or even an bicycle zipline.
I tried the bicycle zipline and it is a quick, fun round. There are two zip lines and sometimes the staff also rides along on the other side of the zipline for safety.
Hotels in Sarangkot
📍 Best Budget Hotel: High Ground Inn and Rooftop Restaurant
📍 Best Mid-Range Hotel: Bhanjyang Village Lodge and Restaurant
📍 Best High-End Hotel: Sarangkot Mountain Lodge
BONUS: Things to Do in Pokhara
Looking for other things to do in Pokhara? Here are some of my top recommendations:
- Boating of Fewa Lake
- Hiking to the World Peace Pagoda
- Visit the caves in Pokhara
- Museums in Pokhara
- Day trip to Begnas Lake
FAQs: Sarangkot, Nepal
What is Sarangkot famous for?
Sarangkot is nearby Pokhara and is famous for the beautiful sunrise views of the Himalayas.
Is Sarangkot worth it?
Sarangkot is definitely worth visiting, especially for the sunrise. The sunrise views of the Himalayas are much nicer than going for the sunset views. Often the weather gets cloudy by the afternoon and you won’t be able to see the Himalayas.
Which is better, Sarangkot or Nagarkot?
Both Sarangkot and Nagarkot are a great place to visit for sunrise views of the Himalayas.
Sarangkot is close to Pokhara, while Nagarkot is close to Kathmandu. Thus, if you are in Kathmandu, visiting Nagarkot is your best option and if you are staying in Pokhara, you should check out Sarangkot.
How to reach Sarangkot from Pokhara?
You can get from Pokhara to Sarangkot by taxi, bus, cable car or by hiking. It used to be popular to hike to Sarangkot early morning but since the opening of the Annapurna Cable Car in 2022, the cable car provides a quick, scenic ride to Sarangkot.
What is the altitude of Sarangkot?
The altitude of Sarangkot is 1,600 metres from sea level.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sarangkot is a small village near Pokhara and is most famous for its beautiful sunrise and sunset views.
It is a popular destination for those who don’t have much time in Pokhara but would still like to see the sunrise over the Himalayas.
Sarangkot is around 11 km from Pokhara can be reached easily by public bus, taxi, Annapurna Cable Car or even by a 1.5 hours hike from Pokhara.
The best time to visit Sarangkot is for the sunrise views as often it gets cloudy in the afternoon. Once it gets cloudy in the afternoon, you may not have any views of the Himalayas. You will still get some views of the hills for the sunset but it won’t be as great as the sunrise.
