Sarangkot

Introducing Sarangkot

The view of the Annapurna Himalaya from Sarangkot (foreigner/Nepali Rs 25/10) is almost a religious experience. From here, you can see a panoramic sweep of Himalayan peaks, from Dhaulagiri (8167m) in the west to the perfect pyramid that is Machhapuchhare (6997m) and the rounded peak of Annapurna II (7937m) in the east. Most people come here at dawn or dusk, when the sun picks out the peaks in brilliant colours.

The main village is just below the ridge, but a set of steps leads uphill to a dramatic viewpoint in the ruins of an ancient kot (hill fort). It is currently occupied by the army, but photography is fine, as long as you don't take pictures of the soldiers.

There's another ruined fort at Kaskikot (1788m), a one-hour walk west of Sarangkot along the ridge road, with similarly jaw-dropping views.

Last updated: Sep 25, 2008