Manakamana Cable Car
Add Manakamana Temple darshan to your Muktinath trip. A popular cable car stop between Pokhara and Kathmandu.
Manakamana Temple. Goddess of Wishes
Manakamana Temple in Gorkha district is one of Nepal's most revered shakti pithas, dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati. A fierce form of Parvati and consort of Lord Shiva. The name "Manakamana" derives from the Sanskrit "Mana" (heart/mind) and "Kamana" (wish/desire), reflecting the belief that sincere prayers here are granted. The temple sits at 1,302m atop a forested ridge, accessible only by the cable car or an arduous 3-hour trek from the valley floor.
Historical records trace the temple's establishment to the 17th century during the reign of the Gorkha kingdom. The current sanctum is a pagoda-style structure with a gilded roof. Inside, the main deity is a manifestation of Bhagwati fashioned in stone. The temple is especially popular with newly married couples seeking marital blessings, students seeking success in examinations, and pilgrims combining the visit with a broader circuit of Nepal's shakti shrines. Making it a natural companion to Muktinath on the same pilgrimage journey.
The Cable Car Experience
The Manakamana Cable Car opened in 1998, built by the Austrian company Doppelmayr. The same firm behind several European Alpine systems. It was the first aerial tramway in Nepal and remains the most famous. The base station at Kurintar sits at approximately 420m on the Prithvi Highway; the upper Manakamana station is at 1,302m. An ascent of 882m in approximately 10 minutes. Each gondola carries 2 passengers with limited luggage space.
During the ride, you glide over a lush subtropical gorge carved by the Trishuli River. On clear days the Ganesh Himal and Manaslu ranges are visible to the north. The return descent offers an equally spectacular view looking south across the Terai plains. Cable car timings: 9 AM–12 PM and 1:30 PM–5 PM daily. Tickets for SAARC nationals (including Indians): INR 469 one way, INR 940 return. Budget 2 hours total for the round trip including temple darshan.
How to Combine with Your Muktinath Trip
Manakamana is located at Kurintar, approximately 100km from Kathmandu and 90km from Pokhara on the Prithvi Highway. Essentially the midpoint of the Kathmandu–Pokhara road. The cable car base station is right on the highway, making it a natural 2-hour break on any road journey between the two cities. We strongly recommend combining the stop on the return leg (Pokhara to Kathmandu) so you can enjoy the cable car in the afternoon light.
The stop does not work if you are flying between Kathmandu and Pokhara. For road journey packages. Whether you took the bus or a private car. Instruct your driver or tour leader to include the Kurintar stop. Arrive at Kurintar by 10 AM or by 2 PM to avoid queues on busy festival days. Avoid visiting on Tuesdays and Saturdays (especially during Navratri and Dashain) when queues for the cable car can extend to 3–4 hours of wait time.
Temple Darshan & Timings
The temple opens for darshan at 6 AM and closes at 7 PM. The cable car operates from 9 AM, so early morning walk-up darshan (via the 3-hour trek) is possible for the most devoted pilgrims, but the vast majority use the cable car. Once at the upper station, the temple is a 5-minute flat walk through a market lane selling prasad, marigold garlands, and ritual items. Standard puja items (flowers, sindoor, oil lamp) can be purchased at the temple gate for INR 32–63.
The inner sanctum queue moves steadily; darshan itself takes 5–10 minutes. Special puja bookings (including Rudri puja and havan) can be arranged with the temple priests for INR 315–1,250 depending on the ritual. Animal sacrifice (primarily goats and pigeons) is practiced at this temple. If you find this culturally sensitive, the main darshan queue bypasses the sacrifice area. Most Indian pilgrims focus on Bhagwati darshan, offer prasad, and proceed.
Practical Details: Cost, Hours & Location
Cable car location: Kurintar, Gorkha District. GPS coordinates: 27.9°N, 84.6°E. Nearest town: Mugling (5km), where the Prithvi and Trishuli highways meet. Cable car operating hours: 9 AM–12 PM and 1:30 PM–5 PM, daily including holidays. Ticket cost for Indian (SAARC) nationals: INR 469 one way, INR 940 return (children under 5 free; 5–10 years at half price). Total visit duration including cable car rides and darshan: 1.5–2 hours.
The cable car station has a small snack counter and restroom facility at the base. At the top station, a handful of restaurants and dal bhat stalls serve pilgrims. Avoid carrying large backpacks into the gondola. Storage space is minimal. Valuables should be kept in a small shoulder bag during the visit. No separate photography fee is charged inside the temple, but photography inside the inner sanctum is prohibited.
Yes! The cable car station at Kurintar is right on the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway. Plan a 2-hour stop for the cable car ride and temple darshan.
Very safe. It was built by an Austrian company and is regularly maintained. The ride is smooth and offers spectacular views.
Tuesdays, Saturdays, and all days during Navratri and Dashain festivals are the busiest, with cable car queues of 2–4 hours. For a smooth visit during your Muktinath trip, aim for a weekday (Sunday–Friday) in the off-peak months of January–February or June. Arrive at Kurintar by 10 AM for the shortest queues.
Gorakhkali Temple, located 10 minutes from the cable car upper station, is a secondary shrine dedicated to Gorakhkali Devi and visited by many pilgrims after Manakamana darshan. Mugling, 5km away at the highway junction, has a small Shiva temple on the riverbank. None require significant extra time on a Muktinath trip stopover.
October–November and March–May are ideal. Clear weather for Himalayan views from the cable car, comfortable temperatures at 1,302m, and manageable crowds. These windows align perfectly with the best Muktinath pilgrimage season, making the combined itinerary naturally well-timed.
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