Due to the massive reduction in air pollution during the COVID-19 lockdown, an image of Mount Everest from Kathmandu went viral. However, it only drew people’s attention once the image went viral. On a clear day, Mount Everest can be seen from a hill station (Nagarkot, Chovar, Champadevi, Daman) near Kathmandu.
Now, a very curious question among holiday makers: Is there a way to see Mount Everest from Kathmandu on a regular visit? Understandably, not all of us are born with the desire or at least the resources to climb the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest. But a good majority of those who travel to Nepal would likely want to catch a glimpse of the highest peak and cross it off their bucket list! And in everyone’s mind, this is only possible if you go on a trek to Everest Base Camp for at least two full weeks, which is what the internet says.
Unknown to many, you actually don’t have to travel that long to see Mount Everest. Not all travelers will have the budget, time, or physical fitness to go on a high-altitude trek to Everest Base Camp. For those who like to see a glimpse of Everest in the distance. There are a few options to observe Mount Everest from Kathmandu as well.
Don’t get me wrong, it is still a wonderful lifetime adventure to walk through the Himalayan ranges for at least 10 days and see these mountains up close! Nothing beats the experience of waking up early in the morning and seeing these ranges towering in front of you – one client of mine literally shed tears when we were crossing a town called Pheriche because of the trail’s majestic and natural beauty!
So I would certainly recommend EBC to anyone visiting Nepal. But as mentioned, there are other ways to see Mount Everest if you just want to see it from afar and have limited time. You don’t have to go anywhere; this is literally viewing Mount Everest from the capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu, and it’s a neighboring hill station.
Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour
If you are among those who would like to have a memorable Mount Everest experience that doesn’t involve hiking for two weeks, the Everest Helicopter Tour may hold the answer. This is probably the best option for someone who doesn’t have the time or physical fitness to climb for two weeks but is willing to make a trip of a lifetime.
Everest Helicopter Tour offers magnificent views of the Himalayas. A local travel company that operates a helicopter service in Nepal organizes group flights to Everest Base Camp every day. This 4-hour trip is as cheap as trekking for 2 weeks. Does it sound interesting to you? Here is the full article. You should know everything about the Everest flight. Check the link below.
Read more: Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour
Mount Everest View From Mountain Flight
Every morning at 6:30 AM from the domestic terminal of Kathmandu airport, a local airline flies over Mount Everest. During the one-hour flight, each passenger gets a window seat, as only the smaller aircraft are used. A crew member on board also acts as a guide, telling you about all the different mountains you see. The airlines also offer an opportunity to see the mountains and Mt. Everest from the cockpit.
From Kathmandu to Mount Everest, it is roughly about 100 miles (160 km). Buddha Air flies as close as 20 miles (32.19 km) away in order to show the 360-degree view of Mount Everest. You will be able to see four of the tallest mountains in the world. Cho Oyu (8,188 m), Everest (8,848 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Makalu (8,485 m), and many other smaller peaks below 7,000 m, and hundreds of green hills along the way.
Getting on a flight from Kathmandu to Mountain is probably the best option to see Mount Everest from Kathmandu. It is not the cheapest option, costing roughly USD 235 per person. But ultimately, the best choices are among all other options.
Everest From Chandragiri View Tower
Contrary to everyone’s belief, Mount Everest can actually be seen from Kathmandu. The Chandragiri Hills in Kathmandu offer a panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges and Mount Everest on a clear day. There are also viewpoints and hill stations just outside Kathmandu– Daman, Nagarjun, and Nagarkot, where the mountains are visible. Please note that the 160 km (100 miles) between Kathmandu and Mount Everest means it will not be a close-up view.
Another option, if you are short on time but would like a close-up view of Everest, is to take a short flight over it. This is not for the budget traveler, as it will cost at least five times as much (roughly USD 235) as going to Chandragiri Hills. For those interested in going to Chandragiri Hills, please read on.
Highlights of Chandragiri Hills
- Closest Mount Everest viewpoint from Kathmandu valley or from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) if you only have a few days in the country.
- It offers the best views of the Kathmandu Valley and a 180-degree panorama of the Himalayan ranges. 9 Himalayan ranges can be seen from here (out of the 13 ranges we have in Nepal)!
- You can ride a cable car from here. The cable car will take you from the base of the hill to the top! A round-trip ticket for foreigners will cost USD 23.
- Magnificent views of neighboring hills, including Chitlang, Daman, Naghdhunga, Gorkha, Nuwakot, and Chitwan, make it one of the best hiking, biking, sightseeing, and day-tour destinations.
- The viewpoint of Gorkha’s King, Prithivi Narayan Shah, made Kathmandu the capital city of unified Nepal.
- Holy temple of God Shiva “Bhaleshwor Mahadev.”
Chandragiri View Tower
Just 15 km from the tourist hub of Thamel, Chandragiri Hills lie to the south-west of the Kathmandu Valley. At an elevation of 2,551 m, the view tower was officially opened to visitors on August 11, 2016. During the first week, over 20,000 visitors went up the tower and the temple on top of the hill. On a clear day, Chandragiri offers one of the best views of the Kathmandu Valley, Shivapuri National Park, as well as nine of the Himalayan ranges in Nepal- Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Jugal Himal, Rolwaling, Kanjirowa, and the Mahalangur Range (Everest Range)! There is also a viewing scope that offers a magnified view of the Himalayan ranges.
How to Reach Chandragiri Hills?
By Local Bus: If you are staying in Thamel or a nearby town, you will need to travel first to Ratnapark or RNAC, a bus station. From there, you can take a direct bus (Chandragiri Yatayat) that goes all the way to the Chandragiri Cable Car Station, or local buses to Thankot depart every 10 to 15 minutes. If you take a local bus to the Thankot route, you need to walk 20-30 minutes from the last stop. This is not the most convenient way, but it is certainly the cheapest option.
By Private Car or Taxi: Travelling to Chandragiri Hills station is much easier by private car or taxi. Any car rental company will offer this package. You can book the car for the half-day tour, which would last approximately 3 hours. This includes pickup and drop-off. For groups of 2 or more individuals, this option is not very expensive. The cost of the car averages around USD 30-35.
By Cycle or Motorbike: If you know how to ride a motorbike, this is probably the best option for you! Not only does it give you your own time to explore, not just the hill but also nearby places, but it is also less expensive than hiring a car. You can rent a motorbike for USD 10-15 per day. They also provide free parking in Chandragiri. But please make sure you know very well that how to ride on the roads in Nepal is not as flat or as safe as you would see in other countries. Be prepared for traffic and, in some cases, winding and unpaved roads. If cycling is your thing, it takes about 45 minutes to an hour.
Chandragiri Cable Car Price and Discount
If you don’t like hiking for three hours up the hill and probably a bit less down, here are the prices for the cable car up and back. The rates below include the round-trip fare and taxes.
| Nationality | Price |
| Nepalese | NPR 825 |
| SAARC Countries | NPR 1,320 |
| Chinsese | USD 16 |
| Foreigners | USD 23 |
Discount Policy
Only Nepalese people can get a discount on cable car rides. However, they must show a valid ID card. Here are the conditions: you are eligible to get a discount or not.
| Category | Discount |
| Children (up to 3 feet) | Free Entry |
| Children (3 feet–4 feet) | 40% Discount |
| Differently Abled Person | 50% Discount |
| Elderly (over 60 years) | 25% Discount |
| Students | 25% Discount |
| Locals | 25% Discount |
| Expats | 25% Discount |
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Sunday – Saturday)
Age Limit: Children 11 years old or younger must be accompanied by an adult 15 years old or older.
Everest View From Nagarkot
On a clear day, Mount Everest can be seen from Nagarkot. Remember, Mount Everest is about 143 km by air distance from Nagarkot. So, the shape of the mountain view might be very small. However, Nagarkot offers some of the closest views of Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Manaslu, and the Everest Range. You can see eight-thousand-meter mountains, including Everest (8,848m), Cho Oyu (8,188m), Mount Shishapangma (8,027m), Mount Manaslu (8,163m), Mount Annapurna (8,091m), and Mount Dhaulagiri (8,167m) from Nagarkot. You will also have a chance to view many other mountains below 8,000 meters, such as Numbur Peak (6,958 m), Melungtse (7,200 m), Gauri Shankar (7,134 m), Dorje Lakpa (6,966 m), Langtang Ri (7205 m), Phurbi Chyachu (6,722 m), Ganesh Himal(7,422 m), Himalchuli (7,900m), Gur Karpo Ri (6,874 m), Gyaltzen Peak (6,705 m), etc.
Read More: Mount Everest from Nagarkot
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