{"id":5504,"date":"2021-06-05T20:08:03","date_gmt":"2021-06-05T14:23:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/honeyguideapps.com\/blog\/?p=5504"},"modified":"2022-01-10T14:18:27","modified_gmt":"2022-01-10T08:33:27","slug":"kala-patthar-place-with-the-best-mount-everest-view","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/honeyguideapps.com\/blog\/kala-patthar-place-with-the-best-mount-everest-view","title":{"rendered":"Kala Patthar: Place with the Best Mount Everest View"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kala Patthar is the spot for those who wish to see an up-close unobstructed view of Mount Everest. And at 5,643 meters, Kala Patthar is more than just a viewpoint. Given that it is higher than four of the seven summits, a trek to Kala Patthar is a journey that you will cherish for the rest of your life. And if you are planning to go, here is how you can get the best of it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quick Facts about Kala Patthar<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Elevation<\/span><\/td>\n5,643 m \/ 18,373 ft<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Region<\/td>\nEverest Region, Nepal<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Difficulty<\/td>\nModerate to Strenuous<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best Season<\/td>\nSeptember to December & March to May<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nearest Airport<\/td>\nLukla<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
How to get there?<\/td>\n12 Days trek from Lukla or Helicopter Tour from Lukla \/Kathmandu<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Comparable Viewpoints<\/td>\nGokyo Ri, Renjo La Pass<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Mountains seen from Kala Patthar<\/span>\"\"<\/h2>\n

The 360-degree mountain view from Kala Patthar is absolutely stunning! Some of the mountains you can see from there are the:<\/span><\/p>\n

Above 8,000 meters: Everest and Lhotse
<\/span>Above 7,000 meters: Nuptse, Changtse, Pumori
<\/span>Above 6,000 meters: Ama Dablam, Chumbu, Thamserku, Kangtega, Taboche & Lobuche.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kala Patthar is actually one of the few spots from which you can see an unobstructed view of Mount Everest. Because of the topography, the Lhotse wall blocks Everest from most vantage points. For the first few days of EBC Trek, you see a little tip of the peak, and once past 4,000 meters, you stop Everest altogether. It actually comes as a surprise to most people that you cannot see Mount Everest from Everest Base Camp!! Kala Pattar is indeed an extraordinary place in that regard.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Click “Open Image in New Tab \/ Save Image” for the best view. PC: Google Earth<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a bonus, you also get to see Khumbu Icefall, Khumbu Glacier, and Everest Base Camp<\/a> from there.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Naming of Kala Patthar<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Kalapatthar\"<\/p>\n

The strange thing about Kala Patthar’s name is that it neither comes from the local Sherpa language nor from Nepali. And as you might have guessed, it definitely doesn’t come from English. Surprisingly, Kala Patthar’s name comes from Hindi and literally means Black (Kala) Rock (Patthar). To be fair, it is an apt name as there are quite a few black rocks at the top.<\/span><\/p>\n

We couldn’t find who named it or when. But we did find that this viewpoint did not have a name till the 1950s. On the other hand, it did have one by 1980. We know this as there is no mention of the viewpoint as Kala Patthar in Tilman’s 1953 book<\/a>, while Harka Gurung mentions it in the 1980 book Vignettes of Nepal<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

What happened between those years? Perhaps a map by the Survey of India or perhaps a movie called Kala Patthar<\/a>. Your guess is as good as ours.<\/span><\/p>\n

Everest Base Camp vs. Kala Patthar<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

While most people go to both, you might have to choose between the two in case of bad weather or some other constraints. Here are some factors you might want to consider. Also, please note that there are no tents at Everest Base Camp outside of the climbing season from March to May. And no, you can’t see Everest from base camp.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/td>\nKala Patthar<\/b><\/td>\nEverest Base Camp<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mountain Views<\/strong><\/td>\nOut of this world, including Everest<\/td>\nSo So. Everest not visible.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bragging Right Level<\/strong><\/td>\nSo so.<\/td>\nDonald Trump<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Time from Gorakshep<\/strong><\/td>\n4-5 hours total<\/td>\n4-5 hours total<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Distance from Gorakshep<\/strong><\/td>\n3.7 km both ways<\/td>\n8.8 km both ways<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Altitude<\/strong><\/td>\n5,644 meters (+480 m from Gorakshep)<\/span><\/td>\n5,364 meters (+200m from Gorakshep)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Difficulty Level<\/strong><\/td>\nShort but hard climb.<\/td>\nLong but easy walk.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Risk<\/strong><\/td>\nSlipping and falling.<\/td>\nGlacier walk.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Experience<\/strong><\/td>\nA huge sense of achievement at the summit<\/span><\/td>\nAmazing experience, but not comparable to the one at Kala Patthar.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sunrise vs Sunset View at Kala Patthar<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Everest from Kala Patthar PC: Samyak Shakya<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another very commonly asked question is whether to go to Kala Patthar for sunrise or sunset. In most cases, the answer is sunrise because mornings have the highest chances of being clear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, if you have a clear evening at Gorakshep<\/a>, we insist you make your way up. The surreal pinkish-blue alpenglow is something you never forget for the rest of your life. Check out <\/span>our homepage<\/span><\/a> to see what we mean, or check out the video below and fast-forward to the 35 minutes mark.<\/span><\/p>\n