The cable car that saved a three-hour climb

The Manakamana temple sits at 1,302 metres above the Trishuli valley. Until 1998, reaching it meant a three-hour uphill walk from Abu Khaireni. Now it is a ten-minute cable car from Kurintar, directly beside the highway.

The temple is dedicated to Bhagwati, and the name means "wish-fulfilling". Devotees who receive what they asked for return to complete the vow, which is why the queues are longest after examination results and around weddings.

Practical details. The cable car runs from early morning to late afternoon, with a break in the middle of the day. Nepali and foreign fares differ. Expect long queues on Saturdays and during Dashain — if your bus passes on a Saturday morning, consider stopping on the return leg instead.

Worth knowing. Goats travel in their own cabins. If you are travelling with children, this is usually the part of the day they remember.