Manakamana Temple
मनकामना मन्दिर
A hilltop temple dedicated to the wish-fulfilling goddess Bhagwati, accessible by one of Nepal's most scenic cable car rides.
Dedicated To
Goddess Bhagwati (Manakamana)
Period
17th century CE (current structure post-1934)
Hours
5:00 AM – 7:00 PM (cable car 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
Entry Fee
Free
Neighborhood
Manakamana Village
Location
Gorkha, Gandaki
Visiting Etiquette
Remove shoes at temple entrance. Long queues on Saturdays — go weekdays. Cable car may close in bad weather.
Manakamana Temple sits at 1,302 meters on a ridge in the Gorkha district, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Bhagwati (Manakamana), believed to fulfill the wishes of devotees. The temple is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Nepal.
The original temple dates to the 17th century, built where Queen Bhagwati Devi of King Ram Shah is said to have demonstrated her divine powers. The current pagoda-style temple was rebuilt after the 1934 earthquake.
Since 1998, an Austrian-built cable car (the Manakamana Cable Car) connects the temple to the highway at Kurintar, offering a 10-minute ride with spectacular views of the Trishuli River gorge, terraced hills, and on clear days, the Himalayan range including Manaslu and the Annapurnas. Before the cable car, pilgrims would trek for a full day uphill.
Animal sacrifice is practiced here by some devotees, particularly during Dashain. Saturday is the busiest day, with long queues for the cable car.