Getting around · Gorkha
Gorkha to Manakamana
How to get from Gorkha town to the Manakamana cable car — the drive to the highway, the base station and combining both in a day.
Getting from Gorkha town to Manakamana means dropping down off the Gorkha hill to the Kathmandu–Pokhara highway, then making a short hop along it to the cable-car base station — a journey of roughly one to one and a half hours each way. From there, the Manakamana cable car lifts you the rest of the way up the ridge to the Manakamana temple in about ten minutes.
The route
From Gorkha town, the road descends south to the highway junction at Abu Khaireni, the same point where the Gorkha spur road meets the main highway. Turn toward Mugling and continue a short distance to the cable-car base station near Kurintar (Cheres). The descent from Gorkha is a winding hill road, so allow more time than the distance suggests, especially in the monsoon when surfaces can be slick.
Combining town and temple
Because the base station sits directly on the main highway, the most efficient plan for many visitors is to ride the cable car on the way into or out of Gorkha, rather than as a separate out-and-back from the town. Arriving from Kathmandu or Pokhara, you can stop at the base station, ride up to the temple, then carry on to Gorkha town to climb the Gorkha Durbar ridge. This folds neatly into the Kathmandu to Pokhara drive.
Transport options
- Hired vehicle or taxi: The simplest choice for a half-day round trip — agree a price for the wait at the base station.
- Local bus and shared jeep: Cheaper but slower; take a vehicle from Gorkha down to Abu Khaireni, then connect along the highway toward Kurintar.
- On a through journey: If you are already driving the highway, the base station is an easy add-on with no detour up to Gorkha town required.
Plan your visit
Allow a couple of hours at the cable car itself for queues, the ride and time at the temple, then factor the hill drive on top. For how to reach the town in the first place, see getting to Gorkha, and for the full picture of the area's shrines and forts, browse the Gorkha temples, cable car and history collection. For wider logistics across the country, our guide to getting around Nepal covers buses, jeeps and private cars.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Manakamana from Gorkha town?+
The Manakamana cable-car base station beside the Kathmandu–Pokhara highway is roughly 30 to 40 kilometres from Gorkha town by road, allowing around one to one and a half hours each way depending on traffic and road conditions on the hill descent.
How do you get from Gorkha to Manakamana?+
Drive or take a bus down from Gorkha town to the highway junction at Abu Khaireni, then head a short distance toward Mugling to the cable-car base station near Kurintar. From there the ropeway carries you up to the temple in about ten minutes.
Can you visit Manakamana on the way in or out of Gorkha?+
Yes, and many travellers do. Because the cable-car base sits on the main Kathmandu–Pokhara highway, it is easy to ride up to the temple as you arrive from or leave for either city, rather than making a separate trip from Gorkha town.
Is there public transport from Gorkha to Manakamana?+
Local buses and shared vehicles run from Gorkha down to the highway, where you can connect toward the cable-car station, though timings can be slow and indirect. For a half-day round trip, a hired vehicle or taxi is far more convenient.
