Start from the bazaar just north of the museum and climb the stone stairway of about 1,500 steps to Gorkha Durbar, which Nepal Traveller gives as 30 to 45 minutes and another guide as about 45 minutes with rest stops. On our map the round trip is 2.3 km with about 270 m of climbing. Carry water, since nothing is sold at the top. In the compound, look in at the Kalika temple (usually closed to non-Hindus), the Gorakhnath shrine and cave, and the viewpoints for Manaslu, Himalchuli and Annapurna. Come down to the Tallo Durbar museum, which charges NPR 100, if it is open.
Gorkha Durbar and Manakamana Walk
A two-day walk around Gorkha: the 1,500-step stairway to Gorkha Durbar, birthplace of Prithvi Narayan Shah, and the 6.8 km pilgrim climb from Anbu Khaireni to Manakamana temple, with no permit.
- Days2
- Max altitude1,300 m
- Distance9.1 km
- Ascent1,300 m
- Difficultyeasy-moderate
- Best monthsOct–Dec, Mar–Apr
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Photo: Shadow Ayush · CC BY-SA 4.0
This itinerary is a draft and hasn't been verified yet. Always confirm stages with your guide.
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Gorkha Durbar and Manakamana Walk is a 2-day trek in the Gorkha region of Nepal that climbs to 1,300 m. Foreign trekkers can find a partner for it on FindTrekkingPartner by posting a trip with their dates, budget and pace. Matches stay private until both trekkers agree, and the service is free. At mid-range rates a licensed guide costs about USD 19 per person over 2 days when four trekkers share, against USD 75 for one trekker alone. The best seasons are Oct–Dec, Mar–Apr. The Nepal Tourism Board April 2023 rule requires a licensed guide in national parks and conservation areas. Local practice differs (checked 19 October 2026): the Khumbu municipality opted out and issues its own trek card, and day hikes are rarely checked, but follow the rule and hire a guide; confirm with your agency. Last verified: October 19, 2026. Sources: Nepal Tourism Board, DNPWC, Department of Immigration.
Sources:Department of Immigration, NepalNepal Tourism BoardDepartment of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation
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Overview
Starts from Gorkha Bazaar2 days · max 1,300 m
Best seasons: Oct–Dec, Mar–Apr
The Gorkha Durbar and Manakamana walk is a two-day plan around the hill town of Gorkha: the 1,500-step stairway from the bazaar to the hilltop palace where Prithvi Narayan Shah was born, and the pilgrim climb from Anbu Khaireni to Manakamana temple on Kafakdada hill (about 1,300 m). On our map the first day is 2.3 km with about 270 m of climbing and the second is 6.8 km with about 1,030 m of climbing, mostly on a track beside the cable car line. Guides give 30 to 45 minutes up to the palace and about 3 to 4 hours up to the temple, and the cable car is the way down. No permit, flight or altitude is involved, the walks suit families and anyone resting between bigger treks, and October to December and March to April are best.
What the walk is like
Day one is a short, steep morning on stone steps from Gorkha bazaar to the palace compound, with the Kalika temple, the Gorakhnath cave shrine and wide views of Manaslu, Himalchuli and Annapurna on a clear day. Day two is a drive to Anbu Khaireni on the Prithvi Highway and a long climb in the open on stone steps and a track to Manakamana, where pilgrims queue at the Bhagwati shrine. You can come down on foot to Kurintar or take the cable car, which opened in 1998.
Day by day
Day one: 2.3 km, 1.5 to 2 hours round trip with time at the temples, plus the Gorkha Museum in the lower palace if it is open. Day two: 6.8 km up, 3 to 4 hours, then the cable car or the steps down.
Getting there and away
Buses from Kathmandu take about 6 hours to Gorkha, or a tourist bus to Anbu Khaireni takes 3.5 hours and a local bus about 1 hour more. From Pokhara it is about 4 hours. Gorkha is also an easy overnight between Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Permits, guides and costs
No trekking permit or TIMS card is needed, and the walks lie outside any national park, conservation area or restricted area, so no guide is required; one is optional. Gorkha Durbar is free at present according to one guide, the museum charges NPR 100, and the cable car fare is not listed in our sources, so see the cost section for ranges.
Season and safety
October to December has the clearest views. Heat is the main hazard on the Manakamana climb, and worn stone steps are uneven and slippery in the monsoon. See our guide rule page for the rule in full.
Highlights
- The 1,500-step stairway to Gorkha Durbar, 30 to 45 minutes from the bazaar
- Kalika temple, the Gorakhnath cave shrine and views of Manaslu, Himalchuli and Annapurna
- Manakamana temple on Kafakdada hill at about 1,300 m, 3 to 4 hours on foot from Anbu Khaireni
- Cable car down, opened in 1998, or a walk beside its line to Kurintar
- No permit, no flight and no altitude
Route map
Route data from OpenStreetMap, not yet checked by our team. Use it for planning, not navigation.
Day by day
Take an early bus or taxi to Anbu Khaireni on the Prithvi Highway and start up the mapped track beside the cable car line. Wikipedia gives about 3 hours up and a 2009 trip report about 4 hours; our map shows 6.8 km with about 1,030 m of climbing, mostly on a track and stone steps in the open. A 2007 report describes full sun, stony steps and donkeys carrying loads. At 1,300 m the two-tier Bhagwati temple has views over the Trishuli and Marsyangdi valleys. Ride the cable car down, or walk down to Kurintar beside its line, and take a bus back to Gorkha, Pokhara or Kathmandu.
What it costs
Estimated all-in cost per person: lodge and food by altitude, transport, permits, and the guide and porters. The more trekkers share a guide and porters, the less each person pays. As of October 2026.
| Style | 1 trekker | 2 trekkers sharing | 4 trekkers sharing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $30–$60* | $30–$60* | $30–$60* |
| Mid-range | $130–$220* | $80–$150* | $70–$120* |
| Comfort | $150–$240* | $120–$190* | $100–$170* |
Share a guide, save money
At mid-range, a solo trekker pays about $130–$220; four trekkers sharing one guide and two porters pay about $70–$120 each (44% less at the top of the range).
Breakdown for 2 trekkers sharing
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodge and food | $30–$60 | $40–$80 | $50–$100 |
| Guide | — | $20–$50 | $20–$50 |
| Porters | — | $10–$30 | $30–$60 |
Budget uses public transport and no porter; mid-range shares one porter between two trekkers and a private vehicle; comfort gives each trekker a porter. A guide is included where one is required or the style is mid-range or comfort.
Nightly lodge and food (room and a dal bhat meal)
2 nights Below 2,500 m: room $2–$9, dal bhat $4–$7
Not included
No published price found for: Gorkha to Anbu Khaireni by local bus; Kurintar or Anbu Khaireni back to Gorkha, Pokhara or Kathmandu by bus. Totals marked * leave these out; ask your agency. A short walking trip with no permit: the costs are the nights, meals, bus legs and the cable car if you take it. A guide is optional.
Cost sources
- PriceNepal: Nepal Travel Cost Guide 2026 (2026-05-14)
- Third Rock Adventures: Nepal trek budget planner (2026-05-09)
- Himalayan Partner: Guide and porter price in Nepal 2026 (2026-02-10)
- Shikhar Adventure: Annapurna Circuit trek cost (2026-02-03)
- Nepal Tourism Board: Trekking Permit (2026-10-18)
Estimates from operator guides, not quotes. Tips, insurance, gear and Kathmandu hotels are not included; USD at the platform exchange rate.
Photos
Frequently asked questions
Wikipedia gives about 3 hours from Anbu Khaireni, and a 2009 trip report about 4 hours and 6 km. Our map shows 6.8 km with about 1,030 m of climbing.
One guide counts about 1,500 steps from the bazaar, and the climb takes 30 to 45 minutes. A taxi can reach the rear of the fortress.
Yes. The cable car opened in 1998 and runs to Kurintar. Our sources list no fare, so check at the station.
One guide says none at present, with a rumour that NPR 500 may return; the museum charges NPR 100 plus NPR 200 for a camera. Check on the day.
October to December for clear views and March to April for mild weather. June to August is slippery and hazy.
Sources
- Gorkha Palace (Wikipedia)
- Gorkha Municipality (Wikipedia)
- Manakamana Temple (Wikipedia)
- Gorkha Durbar Nepal: Complete Travel and History Guide (Nepal Traveller, July 2026)
- About Gorkha Durbar (The Longest Way Home, updated October 2026)
- Anbu Khaireni to Manakamana to Kurintar (Everest Uncensored, 2007 trip report)
Along the trail
Stays, medical help, water and sights on each day of the route.
1. Gorkha Bazaar
- Gorkha District Hospital · Medical · 1,061 m
- Dhakal Medical · Medical · 1,047 m
- Hotel Gorkha Bisauni · Stays · 1,060 m
- New Lapu Hotel and Lodge · Stays · 1,057 m
- Bhetghat · Stays · 1,057 m
- Drinking Water · Practical · 1,114 m
- Chhen Bed & Breakfast & Hostel · Stays · 1,081 m
- Ghorka Darbar Pass · Nature · 1,380 m
Show all 23 places
- Hotel Gorkha Bisauni · Stays · 1,060 m
- Gorkha District Hospital · Medical · 1,061 m
- Dhakal Medical · Medical · 1,047 m
- Aryal Pharmacy · Medical · 1,054 m
- Hospital Pharmacy · Medical · 1,055 m
- Shrijana Pharmacy · Medical · 1,055 m
- Baniya Pharmacy · Medical · 1,052 m
- Gorkha pharma · Medical · 1,027 m
- Lion Eye Hospital · Medical · 1,084 m
- New Lapu Hotel and Lodge · Stays · 1,057 m
- Bhetghat · Stays · 1,057 m
- Sagar Pharmacy · Medical · 1,070 m
- Drinking Water · Practical · 1,114 m
- Aama baa hospital · Medical · 1,040 m
- Badri Medical Hall · Medical · 1,075 m
- Chhen Bed & Breakfast & Hostel · Stays · 1,081 m
- Manaslu Hospital · Medical · 1,075 m
- Aryal Medical Hall · Medical · 1,084 m
- Hotel Paradise · Stays · 1,082 m
- Barpaki Obina Hotel · Stays · 1,081 m
- Gorrkha Municipality 7 Primary Health Center · Medical · 1,009 m
- Viewpoint · Viewpoints · 1,240 m
- Ghorka Darbar Pass · Nature · 1,380 m
2. Anbu Khaireni → Manakamana
- Health Post · Medical · 324 m
- Shree Chhimkeswori General Hospital · Medical · 319 m
- Bandipure Hotel · Stays · 312 m
- Palpali MO:MO Restaurant Tallo Bazar · Stays · 311 m
- Bridge · Viewpoints · 284 m
- Hotel and lodge · Stays · 300 m
- River Hotel and Lodge · Stays · 305 m
- Kurintar Heliport · Airports & transport · 264 m
Show all 11 places
- Health Post · Medical · 324 m
- Shree Chhimkeswori General Hospital · Medical · 319 m
- Shree Chhimkeswori Pharmacy · Medical · 319 m
- Koirala Medical Hall · Medical · 321 m
- Bandipure Hotel · Stays · 312 m
- Palpali MO:MO Restaurant Tallo Bazar · Stays · 311 m
- Bridge · Viewpoints · 284 m
- Hotel and lodge · Stays · 300 m
- River Hotel and Lodge · Stays · 305 m
- Aadharbhut swasthye kendra simalgairi · Medical · 314 m
- Kurintar Heliport · Airports & transport · 264 m
Last verified on Oct 19, 2026Report outdated info