Manakamana
In Nepali: मनकामना
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Manakamana Bhagawati is believed to grant the wishes (manakamana) of her devotees, and newly married couples, families and pilgrims come from all over Nepal. The two-tiered pagoda temple dates in its present form from after an 18th-century rebuilding, and the priests have traditionally come from a Magar family.
Since 1998 a cable car has climbed about 1,000 m from Kurintar on the Prithvi Highway in ten minutes, replacing a steep three-hour walk. Saturdays and festivals are very busy; weekday mornings are calmer.
What to see and do
Ride the cable car over the forested hillside and the Trishuli valley, visit the temple and join the queue of devotees making offerings, and walk around the small bazaar with views of the Himalaya (Manaslu and Himalchuli on clear days). The old footpath down to Abu Khaireni is a good walk.
Good to know
Queues at the temple can be long on Saturdays and festival days. Animal sacrifices are made in a separate area. The cable car has fixed fares, with separate rates for goats.
Quick answers
- Where is Manakamana?
- Manakamana is in Gorkha district, Gandaki Province, in the Pahad belt of Nepal.
- What is the altitude of Manakamana?
- About 1,302 m (4,272 ft) above sea level.
- How much does it cost to visit Manakamana?
- For a 3-day trip from Pokhara, about NPR 5,000 (≈ US$37) per person on a budget, or NPR 16,000 (≈ US$120) with standard hotels and private transport — for two foreign visitors sharing, including transport, stay, food. Nepali visitors on a budget: about NPR 5,000 per person. These are estimates; adjust them in the trip planner.
- How many days do I need for Manakamana?
- Plan 1 night there; with travel from Pokhara and back, about 3 days in all.
- Do I need a permit or ticket for Manakamana?
- No special permit or ticket is normally needed.
- When is the best time to visit Manakamana?
- Weekday mornings; Dashain and Nag Panchami are busy
- How do I get to Manakamana?
- Cable car from Kurintar, 3–4 hours from Kathmandu or Pokhara. It is about 68 km (straight line) from Pokhara.
- What is Manakamana called in Nepali?
- मनकामना
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