About Manakamana Temple


The small but important Manakamana temple is located off the Prithvi Narayan just 6km before Mugling atop a green hill which has a cable car. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Bhagwati who is said to grant wishes to all those that visit her there.

Built in the 17th century the temple, despite its importance, is a small two tiered pagoda styled building. There's a cable car that runs up to the temple which attracts many Nepali. There's also a walking route pilgrims or those who cannot afford the cable car fee use.

Manakamana Temple

The Manakamana Temple

 

Manakamana is popular with Hindus throughout Nepal and India. Many Newari also visit the temple for marriages. On Saturdays, animal sacrifices often take place. For tourists looking to avoid crowds, it's best to avoid Fridays and Saturdays.

Quick look to see if you would like Manakamana Temple

Interests: Revered temple, cable car

Accommodation: Hotels/Guesthouses

Nearby: Gorkha

Time Needed: 1 hour + 5 hours travel to reach


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Where is Manakamana temple?


Manakamana temple is located on a hill 5km before Mugling in Gorkha district, Gandaki province in Nepal. It's 141.3 km west of Kathmandu and 105.3 km east of Pokhara. In terms of nearby sights Manakamana is close to both Gorkha Durbar (12 km) and Bandipur via Dumre.

Map of Nepal showing the location of Manakamana Temple PokharaKathmanduManakamanaTemple

Manakamana sits at an elevation of 1,302 meters which is worth keeping in mind if you decide to take the walk up to it instead of the cable car.


How to get to Manakamana


Reaching Manakamana is relatively easy, though the journey is often much longer than one's stay there.

Gongabu (New Bus Park) in Kathmandu has frequent buses to Kurintar (5 hours). From there, you'll be greeted by a large concrete gate where you can take the cable car up to the temple. Alternatively, you could take a bus and get off at Anbu Khaireni (3.5 hours) and then take the 2-hour walk up to the temple.

From Pokhara's old bus park, it's 4 hours to Kurintar.

Buses at Gongabhu bus park in Kathmandu going to Kurintar
Buses at Gongabu bus park in Kathmandu going to Kurintar (Manakamana)

Returning to either Kathmandu or Pokhara should be done relatively early in the afternoon if you are not staying in Manakamana. Frequent local buses and mini vans stop or can be flagged down by Kurintar.

There are plenty of day tours to Manakamana which are overpriced and use mini-vans. Many incorporate Gorkha Durbar into the trip as it is nearby. There's limited time on these tours so unless you are going to/from Kathmandu/Pokhara and want to incorporate these stops, you might prefer to make your own way.

Private jeeps and cars to/from Kathmandu/Pokhara can easily stop off at Kurintar as it's on the main highway.

Tourist buses to/from Kathmandu/Pokhara also pass by Kurintar and will drop you off here but they will not wait for you.

If you are planning to go, do keep in mind that the temple and cable car are packed on a Saturday with locals. If you are looking for a quieter experience, go on a weekday.

 

Manakamana Map


This map shows you the main area of Manakamana, bus stops and the temple location.



Manakamana Temple


Manakamana's history dates back to the 17th century when it was founded. It's based on a legend from the Gorkha kingdom which ruled the area then.


Gorkha Durbar overlooking a hill that saw the conquest of Nepal take place

A queen with divine powers

In the 17th century king Ram Shah ruled the area. His queen was said to have divine powers which only her devotee Lakan Thapa knew about. However one day the king witnesses these powers  as she transformed in the goddess while Lakan Thapa was transformed into a lion.

The king told the queen what he had seen and promptly died mysteriously.

A queen dies

As was the ritual at that time the queen committed Sati (she threw herself on his funeral pyre). Before doing so she told Lakan Thapa not to worry as she would appear again.

A stone is found

Six months after the queen's death a farmer ploughing his field hit a stone. Upon moving the stone he noticed that it was flowing with milk and bleeding.

Lakan Thapa began the process of several tantric rituals around the stone which then stopped the flow of blood and milk.

The temple is built

The site where the stone was discovered became the foundation for the Manakamana temple. Following its construction the only priests allowed to tend the temple are the descendants of Lakan Thapa. The temple underwent some small renovations in 2020.


The Manakamana Cable Car


If you are not Nepali or Indian then expect a rather disproportionate price hike. Tourists are charge a wallet gauging USD 20 for the 10 minutes ride which include a return fare. 

View from Manakamana Cable Car
View from Manakamana Cable Car

The cable car was the first in Nepal and built by an Austrian company in 1998. It covers 2.8 km over a 10 minute ride.

There are 31 cable cars which can hold 6 people and there are 3 cargo cars. Passengers are allowed only 1 bag weighing no more than 1 kilo.

Views from the cable car of the valley are good on a clear day and also show the Trishuli river below.

Huge queues for the cable car often form, especially on a Saturday which can last up to 2 hours. It's well worth coming down via cable car before 4pm as crowds and queues can often form quickly.

Hours of operation 9am - 5pm. Lunch break 12 noon to 1.30pm.

One aspect of the cable car and Manakamana which has run amok is the proliferation of giant billboard signs that now dot the once pristine hill. Several other cable cars have now been build and are planned to be built in Nepal. In 2022 the cable car was refurbished.


The Manakamana Temple


The Manakamana temple itself is a small two-roofed pagoda style temple. It's small stature is usually a surprise to many given its importance throughout Nepal. The temple is surrounded by several Taleju bells. A lion sits on a stone column at one end.

The Manakamana Temple up close
The Manakamana Temple up close
The temple was badly damaged in the 2015 earthquake but has since been reconstructed. This includes a 1 kilo donation of gold from the Nepali government.

The temple sits across from a huge magnolia tree and a nearby sacrificial alter. Pilgrims visit the temple throughout the year but on Fridays and Saturdays it becomes quite full.

Saturdays are when many of the animal sacrifices occur so this is the best day to avoid if you don't want to see these events.

 


Manakamana entrance fee


Currently there is no entrance fee to visit Manakamana temple. The cable car does however have fees.

  • Nepali/Indian: 640 rupees
  • Child: 350 rupee
  • Foreigner USD $20
  • Luggage 15 rupees per kilo

Best time of year to visit Manakamana


Manakamana can be visited at any time of the year. However monsoon season will mean the that the views from the cable car will be obscured.

Manakamana Weather by month (Gorkha)

  Avg. Temperature
(°C)
Avg. Temperature
(°F)
Precipitation / Rainfall (mm)
January 11.0 51.8 25
February 13.7 56.6 28
March 18.9 66.2 41
April 23.2 73.7 98
May 24.7 76.4 245
June 24.8 76.6 396
July 24.8 76.6 510
August 24.9 76.8 398
September 23.0 73.4 229
October 21.0 69.8 90
November 14.1 57.3 12
December 13.3 55.9 15

There is no weather station on Manakamana nor in Gorkha. The above weather charts is based on nearby averages.


Restaurants in Manakamana


There is a reasonable though pricey restaurant by the cable car in Kurintar. Expect typical bus stop food similar to the Kathmandu to Pokhara bus stops. Dal Bhat, momos and chow mien.

Bowl of egg noodle soup

Aside from local menus near the temple the resort hotels nearby serve good meals like egg noodle soup

There are many small local restaurants around Manakamana itself which again mainly serve local food and light snacks. It's worth looking at each place to see which is popular on the given day you visit.


Accommodation in Manakamana


If you plan to stay in Manakamana then do not many hotels are named "Manakamana" throughout Nepal and many also make reference to the temple.

Around the immediate area are local guest houses and a few high-end hotels.

Gate leading to the Manakamana cable car
the gate leading to the Manakamana cable car is visible from the side of the road and your landmark on where to stop

The best of the bunch in Gorkha is Summit River Lodge located quite close to the Kurintar bus stop. Offering plush air-conditioned rooms that will set you back quite a bit. The service is good as is the restaurants. If you fancy a stay in a nice place in Manakamana this would be it.

Riverside Spring Resort located nearly directly across with cheaper rooms that are also in fine condition. There's a small pool here and the restaurant serves a mix of good meals.

There are several other hotels that randomly appear or change name throughout the year along the road before Kurintar. It's worth calling into them to see if they have what you want in a room. Closer to the temple are a few rough and ready local guesthouses. Do be aware that on Fridays and Saturdays prices rise and so do bookings.


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