Manakamana is the famous temple lies at the gorkha district.
According to the erlier legend, that Queen of Gorkha King Ram Shah (A. D. 1614 – 1636) infatuated divine powers known only to her disciple Lakhan Thapa. On this legend ,one day, the King found his Queen as deity.
Following the disclosure, he mention it to his Queen and suddenly died.And his Queen dedicated sati on his funeral, as per the tradition. She consoled her sad follower Lakhan saying she would come back near his home. Six months later, a farmer ploughing his field instantly hit a stone, cleaved it and blood and milk flowed which ceased when Thapa worshipped it with his tantric.The spot became foundation of the present holy place. From that day the present pujari(priest) is the 17th generation descendent of Lakhan Thapa.
The Shrine of Manakamana renovated many times over the centuries has four story pagoda style roofs with entry from the South-west. The pujari performs daily prayers and formal procedure in the temple behind closed doors by offering eggs, oranges, rice, red powder and flooring of cloth to the deities. On completion of the pooja of the shrine by the priest, the turn of the civic begins.
Manakamana temple lies 12 Km south of a bravy historic town Gorkha and located on a famous point (1302 m above sea level) overlooking the river valleys of Trisuli (south ) and Marshyangdi (west). The unique location of the place is dramatic during winter when the point appears as an island above the sea of morning mist.
People believe Manakamana Devi fulfills the desires of her devotees, thus she called the wish fulfilling goddess. The reward on reaching the shrine is both spiritual and physical high spirits. brilliant views include deep valleys, terraced fields and the Manaslu-Himalchuli and Annapurna ranges. In the past, the only access to the region was by difficult climb of over five to six hours but one can now visit the shrine in comfort by Manakamana cable car,it starts from kurintar lies at Dhading.
