Dhaulagiri at sunrise
Pink, then brilliant white.
Kandel52 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nir gurung — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gerd Eichmann — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gerd Eichmann — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gerd Eichmann — CC BY-SA 4.0
Poon Hill is a famous viewpoint above the village of Ghorepani, on the border of Myagdi and Kaski districts, looking across the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. It is the goal of Nepal's best-known short trek, and walkers climb before dawn to watch the sun light the summits. It suits anyone without time for the base camp route. The place has no written history of note, as its fame comes from the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek linking it with nearby villages inside the Annapurna Conservation Area. It stands at about 3,200 m, and from here you can see Annapurna, Annapurna South, Dhaulagiri, Machapuchare and many other peaks, making it a broad platform for viewing two great ranges at once. You climb stone steps in the dark to a white wooden tower and small platform, surrounded by other visitors, prayer flags and golden grass. At sunrise the peaks turn pink and then brilliant white, with Dhaulagiri spreading broadly before you. In spring the forest below fills with red rhododendron blossom, a sight worth timing your trip for. It is about 36 km in a straight line from Pokhara, and the trip from Pokhara takes two to three days according to Wikipedia, though many companies prefer 3 or 4 days. Bring a torch and warm clothes, as dawn is very cold, and sturdy shoes for the many steps. March to May and October to November suit it best.
Pink, then brilliant white.
A platform on the hilltop.
A red forest in spring.
Above Ghorepani, on the border of Myagdi and Kaski districts, Nepal
Two to three from Pokhara according to Wikipedia, or 3 or 4 at a more comfortable pace.
Early enough before dawn to see sunrise from the top, with a torch and warm clothes.