Manakamana Temple & Cable Car: Ultimate Travel Guide
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Are you planning a trip to the Manakamana Temple and Cable Car?
You’ve come to the right place. I live in Nepal and loved my visit to the Manakamana Temple and Cable Car. Here is all the information you need to plan your visit.
The Manakamana Temple and Cable Car are located in the Gorkha District of Nepal. It is about halfway between Kathmandu and Pokhara and is easy to get there by taking a bus or minivan.
The Manakamana Temple is a sacred Hindu temple and is an important place in the Hindu religion. The Manakamana Cable Car was built in 1998 primarily to transport people to the temple as beforehand, it was only possible to reach it by hiking.
Manakamana Temple and Cable Car: A Quick Guie
Are you in a hurry? Don’t worry, here is a quick list of the information you need:
✅ Manakamana Cable Car Opening Time: 8 am – 5 pm (with a break at 12-13:30 pm)
✅ Manakamana Cable Car Ticket Price: Rs. 2,700 for foreigners (two-way), Rs. 770 for Nepalese (two-way), Rs. 1,000 for Indian citizens (two-way)
✅ Manakamana Cable Car Distance: The cable car covers 3 kms in 10 minutes (one-way).
✅ Best Time to Visit: on weekdays (it can get extremely busy on holidays or weekends)
How to Get to the Manakamana Cable Car
The bottom station for the Manakamana Cable Car is located along the Prithvi Highway about halfway between Kathmandu and Pokhara.
You can get there either by taking a bus or minivan. It takes about 4-5 hours to reach it from Kathmandu.
Tourist Bus
All the tourist buses operating between Kathmandu-Pokhara or Kathmandu-Chitwan pass by the Manakamana Cable Car.
Tell the driver that you are going to the Manakaman Cable Car and they will drop you off at the right location. Ticket price for a toruist bus is around Rs. 1,200.
Minivan (Hiace)
Same as with the tourist bus, any minivan (Hiace) operating between Kathmandu-Pokhara, Kathmandu-Chitwan or Kathmandu-Gorkha will pass by the Manakamana Cable Car. The price for the minivan is between Rs. 600-800.
Map of Manakamana Cable Car (Bottom Station)
Manakamana Cable Car
- Opening times: 8 am – 5 pm (with a break at 12-13:30 pm)
- Price: Rs. 770 for Nepalese (two-way), Rs. 1,000 for Indian citizens (two-way), Rs. 2,700 for foreigners (two-way).
- Best time to visit: on weekdays. It can get extremely busy on public holidays and weekends with queues up to 2-3 hours
The Manakamana Cable Car is one of the top 4 cable cars in Nepal. It was built mainly as a way to transport visitors to the Manakamana Temple, however, the cable car ride offers really scenic views.
The ride takes about 10 minutes and you pass by the Trishuli River, hills and villages along the way. Some of the sections are very steep so sometimes it is best not to look down.
As the Manakamana Temple is very popular for devotees and the cable car is the most common way to get there, the queues to the cable car can get very long. If you come here during a public holiday, expect to queue as long as 2 hours.
Manakamana Temple
How to Get to the Manakamana Temple
Take a bus/minivan from major cities (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan) to the Manakamana Cable Car (bottom station) or Aanbu Khaireni. From there, you have two options to reach the Manakamana Temple:
- Manakamana Cable Car: The Manakamana Cable Car takes you up to the temple in 10 minutes. After the scenic ride, you arrive to the Manakamana Bazaar, which is full of restaurants and souvenir shops selling items for praying ceremonies at the temple.
- Hiking from Aanbu Khaireni: There is a hiking trail starting from Aanbu Khaireni to the Manakamana Temple. It is an uphill hike that takes about 3 hours. This hiking route used to be the only way to the temple before the cable car was built.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit the Manakamana Temple is on weekdays. It can get extremely busy on public holidays or on weekends, with queues to the cable car taking as long as 2-3 hours.
Don’t miss your chance and book a day trip from Kathmandu to the Manakamana Temple and Cable Car here!
Manakamana Temple: Significance
The Manakamana Temple is a sacred Hindu site where thousands come each year to perform prayers and offer animal sacrifices (goats).
It is dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati and was built in pagoda style in the 17th century. ‘Mana’ means ‘heart’ and ‘kamana’ means ‘wish’, so it is believed that if you make a wish here, the wish will be fulfilled.
On a clear day, you also get nice views of the Himalayas. If you want to see the Himalayas it is better to visit in the morning (between October-April) as it gets cloudy in the afternoon.
FAQ: Manakamana Temple and Cable Car
Why is the Manakamana Temple famous?
The Manakamana Temple is a sacred Hindu temple and many people come here to do worshipping and praying ceremonies.
‘Mana’ means ‘heart’ and ‘kamana’ means ‘wish’, and it is believed that if you make a wish here, the wish will come true.
How much is the ticket for the Manakamana Ropeway?
The ticket prices for the Manakamana Cable Car varies based on nationalities:
- Rs. 770 for Nepalese (two-way)
- Rs. 1,000 for Indian citizens (two-way)
- Rs. 2,700 for foreigners (two-way)
How long is the Manakamana Cable Car ride?
The Manakamana Cable Car covers the 3 km in distance and it takes about 10 minutes’ ride.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Manakamana Temple is a sacred Hindu Temple that is popular to visit as a day trip from Kathmandu. The easiest way to get there is to take a bus or minivan to the bottom station of the Manakamana Cable Car and take the cable car up to the temple.
When you are there, don’t forget to make a wish as they say that if you make a wish at the Manakamana Temple, then your wish will come true!
