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Manakamana Devi YatraDarshan of the Wish-Fulfilling Goddess

The Manakamana Devi Yatra is a 2-day pilgrimage from Kathmandu to Manakamana Bhagwati in Gorkha: about two and a half hours by private vehicle along the Prithvi Highway to Kurintar, then about 10 minutes by cable car up to the hilltop temple at 1,303 m. Darshan on the first afternoon, a night in the Manakamana or Gorkha area, and a second, unhurried darshan the next morning before the road home.

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Journey at a Glance

Altitude
1,303 mManakamana Temple
Duration
2 Days1 night near the temple
Difficulty
EasyCable car, about 10 minutes
Best Season
Spring, autumnRuns year round on request
Group Size
2 to 25
Start and End
KathmanduPrivate vehicle

Package Cost

USD196

per person

(Group of 21 or more)

2 to 11 travellers
$288
12 to 20 travellers
$230
21 and above
$196

Last updated

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Manakamana Bhagwati

What is the Manakamana Devi Yatra?

Manakamana Temple stands at 1,303 metres on a ridge in Gorkha, above the Trishuli valley, and is dedicated to the goddess Bhagwati. Devotees believe that sincere worship of Manakamana fulfils their wishes, and the temple is one of the most visited in Nepal. The Manakamana Devi Yatra takes you there for two darshans: one on the afternoon you arrive and one the next morning.

Local tradition holds that Queen Lilavati, wife of King Ram Shah of Gorkha, was a manifestation of the goddess, and that after her death she reappeared as a stone struck by a farmer’s plough. Her devotee Lakhan Thapa began worship at the spot, and his Magar descendants are still the temple’s chief priests. The goddess is worshipped as a sacred stone, and worship at Manakamana can include animal offerings.

The yatra drives from Kathmandu to Kurintar on the Prithvi Highway, about two and a half hours in normal road conditions, where the cable car climbs from about 258 metres to the temple in about 10 minutes (8 to 12 minutes depending on operation) over a line of about 3 km. For those with the time and the legs, the Bakreshwar Mahadev temple and the Lakhan Thapa cave lie about an hour’s walk from the temple. Groups who want more can add Gorkha Durbar, the birthplace of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, and the Gorkha Kali temple.

“Two darshans, and a night close to the goddess.”

Before You Book

Who the Manakamana Devi Yatra Is For

The Manakamana Devi Yatra is the gentlest of the Devi journeys outside Kathmandu. The cable car does the climb, the temple sits at about 1,300 metres, well below the height where altitude becomes a concern, and the only walking is from the upper station to the temple and around the temple area. It suits Devi and Bhagwati devotees, families, senior pilgrims and first-time visitors to Nepal. Staying the night means the second darshan can be taken early and without hurrying.

The queues are longest on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and the temple is crowded through Dashain. Your group can choose one of those days for the atmosphere or a quieter weekday. In recent years the cable car has closed for three days of Dashain, on Navami, Dashami and Ekadashi, so check the dates before booking a Dashain departure. The cable car normally runs until 5 pm with a break from 12:00 to 1:30 pm, and daily puja at the temple begins at about 8 am.

The cable car can stop for weather, maintenance, technical problems, local decisions or very high visitor numbers, and heavy rain affects the Prithvi Highway most between June and September. If the cable car is not running, Sama Yatra first looks for a practical road arrangement or reschedules the temple visit, and quotes any extra cost to the group before going ahead. When a landslide hit the access road on 27 September 2026, the cable car kept running and vehicles used alternative parking a short walk from the station.

Sama Yatra is the pilgrimage arm of Trek Mania Nepal, based in Kathmandu. It runs Devi journeys to bring local knowledge and proper planning to shrines that are hard to arrange from abroad. The vehicle, hotel and cable car tickets are settled before you set out, and any puja is booked through the temple priests. Sama Yatra gives 11% of the revenue from every journey to education, healthcare and community projects in the regions it travels through.

Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal. Other SAARC citizens receive a free tourist visa of up to 30 days on a first visit in a visa year. Everyone else buys a tourist visa, which cost USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days and USD 125 for 90 days as of September 2026.

Booking works the same way on every Devi yatra. The Manakamana Devi Yatra costs USD 288 per person for 2 to 11 pilgrims, USD 230 for 12 to 20 and USD 196 for 21 or more, and a single pilgrim is quoted on request. A 30% deposit confirms the booking and the balance is due before arrival. Bookings cannot be cancelled, but the journey can be postponed for up to two years at the same cost. Children under 5 who share a room with their parents generally pay only for food and permits, and children aged 5 and over pay the adult price, with the exact child price confirmed on booking. Prices are published in US dollars; Indian pilgrims can receive the price in rupees at the exchange rate on the day of quotation, with any lower Indian rates applied. A single room and hotel upgrades are quoted on request.

Journey Highlights

  • Two darshans of Manakamana
  • Cable car from Kurintar
  • Unhurried morning darshan
  • Lakhan Thapa cave, optional
  • Puja and sankalpa on request

Detailed Itinerary

2 DaysKathmandu, Kurintar, Manakamana

The 2 days at a glance
DayRouteOvernightTravel
Day 01Kathmandu to Kurintar, cable car to ManakamanaManakamana or Gorkha areaAbout 2.5 hours by road to Kurintar, 10 minutes by cable car
Day 02Morning darshan and the drive homeTour ends in KathmanduCable car down, then by road to Kathmandu
  1. Day 01Kathmandu to Kurintar, cable car to Manakamana

    Morning pickup from your Kathmandu hotel, the airport or another agreed point in Kathmandu. Breakfast may be taken at the hotel before departure, depending on the pickup time. The drive west along the Prithvi Highway to Kurintar takes about two and a half hours in normal conditions, through the foothills, terraced farms and villages of the Trishuli valley. At Kurintar, at about 258 metres, the guide handles tickets, boarding and luggage, and the cable car takes about 10 minutes to reach the temple at 1,303 metres. Darshan of Manakamana Bhagwati, with prayer, sankalpa, personal worship and an orientation to the temple, then a vegetarian lunch. Depending on the group’s interest, time and walking ability, walk about an hour to the Bakreshwar Mahadev temple, or towards the Lakhan Thapa cave if the weather allows. The evening is for rest, prayer and the temple area, with optional bhajan, kirtan, satsang and Devi prayer before a vegetarian dinner. Overnight in the Manakamana or Gorkha area. Lunch and dinner included.

  2. Day 02Morning darshan and the drive home

    An early start and breakfast, then a second darshan at Manakamana if crowds and temple conditions allow, a chance to pray without hurrying. Daily puja begins at about 8 am. The cable car takes you back down to Kurintar, where the vehicle is waiting, and a vegetarian lunch on the way. The drive back to Kathmandu varies a good deal with road and traffic conditions, and ends with a hotel drop, an airport transfer or an onward connection. Groups who add the Gorkha extension continue to Gorkha Durbar and the Gorkha Kali temple before returning. Breakfast and lunch included.

What's Included

  • Pickup and drop-off in Kathmandu
  • Private tourist vehicle with a professional driver from Kathmandu to Kurintar and back, and local transport at Manakamana, including fuel, parking and road costs
  • Manakamana cable car return journey at the fare that applies to you: currently USD 20 return for foreign visitors and USD 10 for SAARC and Chinese visitors, with the Indian fare used for Indian pilgrims. Fares follow the operator’s rates at the time of travel
  • 1 night in a standard 3-star hotel or lodge in the Manakamana or Gorkha area, twin or double sharing, with breakfast. Hotels are not fixed in advance, and you stay in one of a similar standard
  • English-speaking pilgrimage guide, with Manakamana temple orientation, darshan assistance and cable car and group coordination
  • Vegetarian lunch and dinner as listed in the itinerary, and drinking water on the road
  • Temple visit coordination, with puja and local priest coordination on request

What's Not Included

  • Nepal tourist visa
  • International airfare
  • Travel insurance
  • Manakamana special puja, sankalpa, abhishek, flower offerings, homa, yagna, prasad and priest fees, arranged on request and charged separately
  • Temple donations and personal religious offerings
  • Animal sacrifice
  • The Gorkha Durbar and Gorkha Kali extension, quoted on request
  • Any extra transport if the cable car is not running, quoted before going ahead
  • Single-room supplement and hotel upgrades, quoted on request
  • Porter or personal assistance
  • Laundry, alcoholic drinks, personal shopping and other personal expenses
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Camera and video fees where charged
  • Medical expenses and emergency evacuation
  • Any service not specifically listed as included

Before you book

Questions Travellers Ask

How do you reach Manakamana from Kathmandu?

The Manakamana Devi Yatra drives about two and a half hours from Kathmandu to Kurintar on the Prithvi Highway, in normal road conditions, then takes the cable car for about 10 minutes up to the temple at 1,303 metres.

Is the Manakamana cable car running?

It was running as of 29 September 2026. After a landslide on the access road on 27 September 2026, vehicles used alternative parking a short walk from the station while the cable car kept operating. It has also closed for three days of Dashain in recent years.

What happens if the Manakamana cable car is closed?

Sama Yatra first looks for a practical road arrangement or reschedules the temple visit. Any extra cost is quoted to the group before going ahead.

Is the Manakamana cable car ticket included in the price?

Yes. The return cable car journey is included at the fare that applies to you, currently USD 20 for foreign visitors and USD 10 for SAARC and Chinese visitors, with the Indian fare used for Indian pilgrims.

How much does the Manakamana Devi Yatra cost?

The Manakamana Devi Yatra costs USD 288 per person for 2 to 11 pilgrims, USD 230 for 12 to 20 and USD 196 for 21 or more. The price includes the return cable car fare that applies to each pilgrim, and Indian pilgrims can receive it in rupees. A single pilgrim is quoted on request.

What are the Manakamana cable car and temple timings?

The cable car normally runs until 5 pm with a break from 12:00 to 1:30 pm. Daily puja at the temple begins at about 8 am.

What is the best time to visit Manakamana?

Spring and autumn are the clearest seasons for the Manakamana Devi Yatra, which runs year round on request. Heavy rain affects the Prithvi Highway most between June and September, and the cable car has closed for three days of Dashain in recent years.

Which day is least crowded at Manakamana?

The queues are longest on Tuesdays and Saturdays and through Dashain. Your group can choose a quieter weekday or one of the busy days for the atmosphere.

Is the Manakamana Devi Yatra suitable for older pilgrims?

Yes. The cable car does the climb, the temple sits at about 1,300 metres, and the only walking is from the upper station to the temple and around the temple area. The optional walks to Bakreshwar Mahadev and the Lakhan Thapa cave depend on walking ability.

Is animal sacrifice part of the Manakamana Devi Yatra?

No. Worship at Manakamana can include animal offerings, but animal sacrifice is not included in the package. Pilgrims may make their own permissible offerings according to the temple rules and their own tradition.

Can I visit Gorkha Durbar on the Manakamana Devi Yatra?

Yes, as an extension. Gorkha Durbar, the birthplace of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, and the Gorkha Kali temple can be added on request and are quoted separately.

Do I need a visa for Nepal for the Manakamana Devi Yatra?

Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal. Other SAARC citizens receive a free visa of up to 30 days on a first visit in a visa year, and everyone else pays USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days or USD 125 for 90 days, as of September 2026.

What is the booking and cancellation policy for the Manakamana Devi Yatra?

A 30% deposit confirms the booking, and the balance is due before arrival. Bookings cannot be cancelled, but the journey can be postponed for up to two years at the same cost.

Traveller Reflections

The first reflections are still being written.

We publish what travellers tell us in their own words, once they have travelled. Nothing here is borrowed or invented.

By Cable Car to the Wish-Fulfilling Goddess of Gorkha.Plan your Manakamana Devi Yatra.

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