George Everest Peak

George Everest Peak is a breathtaking exposed hilltop with an almost 360° panorama. A wide view of the Doon Valley and Dehradun spreads out on one side of the hilltop and the snowy Garhwal Himalayas, including Bandarpunch, lines up beautifully on the other. You can shoot the valley glowing at one end of the day or the mountains catching light at the other, so both sunrise and sunset are great times to work with. The summit is rocky and open with strings of Tibetan prayer flags adding unique pops of colour, and just below sits the roofless old George Everest House from 1832, its stone walls and arched window frames worth a few frames as you pass it on the way up. If you visit between mid-October and January you might get lucky enough to capture the Winterline, a band of light that settles over the horizon after sunset for a few minutes after the sun drops below the horizon. Getting there means a steep uphill walk (roughly 30 minutes) from the Hathipaon parking area, and the estate charges an entry fee with a separate ticket for the small cartography museum partway along. Winter days, after monsson season, give you the sharpest mountain views so aim for a clear afternoon and stay through to dusk. (Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, India)