Manakamana Temple
मनकामना मन्दिर
The wish-fulfilling goddess of Gorkha. Manakamana ('mana' = heart, 'kamana' = wish) is believed to grant the heartfelt wishes of devotees, who flock here by Nepal's first passenger cable car.
Deity
Goddess Bhagwati (Manakamana)
Location
Gorkha
Gandaki
Altitude
≈1,300 m
Main festival
Dashain
Perched on a ridge above the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers, Manakamana is one of central Nepal's most visited shrines. The 17th-century temple honours an incarnation of Parvati and has drawn pilgrims for centuries.
Since 1998 the Manakamana Cable Car has carried visitors up from Kurintar on the Prithvi Highway in about ten minutes, turning a long climb into an easy day trip from Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Highlights
Wish-granting goddess Bhagwati
Ride on Nepal's first cable car from Kurintar
Panoramic Himalayan and river-valley views
Animal-sacrifice offerings, especially on Saturdays and during Dashain
How to reach
Kurintar on the Prithvi Highway (≈3 hrs from Kathmandu, ≈2.5 hrs from Pokhara), then the cable car up.
Best time to visit
Year-round; busiest on Saturdays, Tuesdays and during Dashain.
Manakamana Temple, answered
Which deity is worshipped at Manakamana Temple?+
Manakamana Temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati (Manakamana) (a Hindu site) in Manakamana hilltop, Gorkha, Gorkha, Gandaki Province.
How do I reach Manakamana Temple?+
Kurintar on the Prithvi Highway (≈3 hrs from Kathmandu, ≈2.5 hrs from Pokhara), then the cable car up.
What is the best time to visit Manakamana Temple?+
Year-round; busiest on Saturdays, Tuesdays and during Dashain.
What is the main festival at Manakamana Temple?+
The main festival at Manakamana Temple is Dashain.
Other temples & pilgrimage sites
Sources & data note
Temple histories, deities and festival associations are drawn from the Nepal Tourism Board, temple trusts and the Department of Archaeology. Altitudes and coordinates are approximate. Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and shift each year. Several sites (Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Lumbini) are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List — see the heritage section for the formal listing.