Car/Jeep 3
hours (104 kms to Kurintar)
Bus 3
hours (104 kms to Kurintar)
3 hours (110 kms to Mugling)
1 hour (13.5 kms Mugling to Mankamana temple by jeep)
Cable car 10
minutes (2.8 kms to Manakamana temple
area)
The temple of Manakamana Mai, popularly
known as the Goddess of Desire, lies in the village of Sahid Lakhan Rural
Municipality in Gorkha district. On the hill
(1,500 m) there is a two-storey temple built in pagoda style. Within the temple
is a formless rock that is believed to have originated by itself.
Hindus worship Manakamana as a Shakti Peeth.
Fairs are held twice a year here on Baisakh
Panchami and Kartik Panchami. Devotees
offer Panchbali of buffalo, sheep, goat, rooster and goose as sacrifice.
Bakreshwor Mahadev and Triveni
Mai temples which are connected with the history of Manakamana Mai are also
located here. After a 45 minute walk from the hill towards the north, one can
reach the Bakreshwor Cave. On the other
side of the Muglin Bazar, Triveni Mai
Temple lies in the junction of Trishuli and Marsyangdi.
The area is rich in natural beauty. You can view the Manaslu, Annapurna, Langtang and Lamjung mountains. The
villages of Betini and Suntalabari in Manakamana area are scenic.
One can reach Gorkha Durbar from Manakamana which lies at a
distance of 36 km. It is the palace of Prithvi Narayan Shah, who
unified smaller kingdoms and states as a single nation.
On the hill lies Gorakhkali palace and statues
of deities. There is also a Gorkha Museum on the base of
the hill.
There are Magar, Gurung, Newar, Dalit, Chhetri and Bahun communities living in
the Manakamana area.
The best time to visit Gorkha is from mid September
to mid February.
How to reach
By road: From
Kathmandu to Kurintar via Prithviraj Marg is 104 km, three hours by bus.
Kurintar - Manakamana is 2.8 km, 10
minutes by cable car and a further five-minute walk.
Kathmandu -
Mugling is 110 km, three hours by bus. From Mugling to Manakamana is 13.5 km via
Triveni Mai Temple which can be covered in an hour by jeep.
मनकामना
मनको इच्छा पु¥याइदिने देवीका रूपमा चर्चित मनकामना माईको मन्दिर गोरखा
जिल्लाको शहीद लखन गाउँपालिकामा पर्दछ । डाँडा (१,५०० मि.) मा प्यागोडा शैलीको दुईतले मन्दिर छ । मन्दिरभित्र निराकार शिला छिन्
जुन आफैं उत्पत्ति भएको मानिन्छ ।
हिन्दू धर्मावलम्बी मनकामनालाई
शक्तिपीठका रूपमा पुज्छन् । यहाँ वर्षका दुई पटक वैशाख पञ्चमी र कात्तिक पञ्चमीमा
मेला लाग्छ । भक्तजनले पञ्चबलि अर्थात् राँगा, भेडा, बोका, भाले र हाँसको बलि चढाउँछन् ।
सेरोफेरोमा मनकामना माईको इतिहाससँग
जोडिएका बक्रेश्वर महादेव र त्रिवेणी माईका मन्दिर छन् । डाँडाबाट उत्तरमा ४५
मिनेट पदयात्रा गरेमा बक्रेश्वर गुफामा पुगिन्छ । त्यस्तै मुगलिन बजारको पारिपट्टि
त्रिशूली र मस्र्याङ्दीको दोभानमा त्रिवेणी माईको मन्दिर छ ।
प्राकृतिक सौन्दर्यका हिसाबले समेत
मनकामना क्षेत्र सुन्दर छ । यहाँको थान डाँडाबाट सूर्योदयको दर्शन पाइन्छ ।
डाँडाबाट मनास्लु, अन्नपूर्ण, लाङटाङ र लमजुङ हिमाल नजिकै देखिन्छ । त्यस्तै मनकामना
क्षेत्रका बेतिनी र सुन्तलाबारी गाउँ आकर्षक छन् ।
मनकामनाबाट गोरखा दरबार क्षेत्र पुग्न
सकिन्छ । मनकामनाबाट ३६ कि.मि. दूरीमा गोरखा बजार छ । स–साना राज्यलाई एकीकरण गरेर नेपाल राज्य निर्माण गर्ने
राष्ट्रनायक पृथ्वीनारायण शाहको दरबार छ त्यहाँ । डाँडामा गोरखकाली दरबार र
देवदेवीका मूर्ति छन् । डाँडाको फेदीमा गोरखा संग्रहालय पनि छ । गोरखा राज्यको
इतिहास बुझ्ने पाठशाला हो गोरखा दरबार क्षेत्र ।
मनकामना क्षेत्रमा मगर, गुरुङ, नेवार, दलित, क्षत्री र
बाहुन समुदायको बसोबास छ । असोजदेखि माघसम्म गोरखा घुम्ने उत्तम समय हो ।
