Reconstruction Fund
Rebuilding a sacred landmark of the Arun Valley
Help restore the historic three-tiered copper-roofed pagoda of Manakamana Temple in Khandbari — a shared heritage for devotees at home and across the diaspora.
Raised so far
Rs 100,000
Goal
Rs 21,600,000
Updated by the committee. Target: NRs 2,16,00,000 from 13,239 donors (project report).
01 Foundation
It begins with a stone
On the eastern bank of the Arun river, in ward 9 of Khandbari, the ground is cleared and blessed. Local legend tells of a Kumal potter whose pregnant cow went missing — and of a maiden who appeared in his dream, naming herself Manakamana Devi and leading him to a stone by the water. Where she was found, the temple rises again.
Khandbari · Sankhuwasabha · the eastern bank of the Arun
02 The sanctum
A home for the goddess
At the centre stands the garbhagriha, built around the original stone idol of Manakamana Devi — the wish-fulfilling form of Bhagwati. “Mana” means the heart; “kamana”, a wish. For generations devotees have carried theirs here, and walked home lighter.
गर्भगृह · 3.8m × 3.8m · the original idol, never moved
03 The craft
Carved by local hands
Saal-wood columns and a veranda wrap around all four sides — cut, seasoned, and carved by craftsmen of the Arun valley in the traditional way. Every joint is shaped to outlast the generation that makes it.
Saal timber · four-sided veranda · hand-carved
04 तामा दान
Your copper becomes its roof
The great roofs are clad in copper — and the copper is you. Donated utensils and heirlooms are gathered, melted, and beaten into sheets: about 170 kilos of vessels yield 95 kilos of roofing. In all, the temple will wear close to two tonnes of it.
~2,000 kg copper · 170:95 conversion · तामा दान
05 Rising
Tier upon tier
The pagoda narrows as it climbs — the classic three-tiered silhouette of the Nepali hills returning to the skyline. Around the main shrine, three smaller ones for Kali, Ganesh, and Bhairav complete the sacred whole.
Three tiers · sub-shrines: Kali · Ganesh · Bhairav
06 Toward the sky
Reaching the Himalaya
The final tier settles. This is the Arun valley — the south-eastern gateway to Makalu Barun National Park and, beyond it, Makalu, the fifth-highest mountain on earth. The temple stands where the lowlands begin their climb to the Himalaya.
Gateway to Makalu Barun · Mt. Makalu, world’s 5th-highest
07 The crown
Crowned in gold
At the summit rises the gajur, the golden finial. More than ornament, it is the sacred axis that draws divine energy down through the temple to the idol in the sanctum below. At dawn it catches the first light over the valley.
The gajur · axis mundi · gilded finial
08 Aarti
The temple breathes again
Diyas are lit, bells ring, and prayer flags lift in the valley wind. The reconstruction is planned to complete for Ram Navami — a temple returned to its people. This is what your gift builds.
Planned inauguration · Ram Navami
Our vision
Manakamana — the wish-fulfilling goddess — has been worshipped in Khandbari for generations. The committee is reconstructing the main temple, its subsidiary shrines, and the surrounding grounds so that this centre of faith and culture endures for the future.
Read the temple’s story →Donate copper — तामा दान
The traditional pagoda roof and pinnacle are clad in copper. You can donate unused copper utensils and items — every kilogram helps clad the temple.
Latest updates
All news →अरुणको जन्मकथा
पहाडहरू अजैँ कच्चा थिए, हिमालले अजैँ श्वास लिन सिकिरहेका थिए,त्यसै बेला पूर्वी आकाश चिरिँदै एउटा चाँदीको धार बग्यो।त्यो धार नै अरुण हो —हिमालको छातीबाट जन्मिएको,युगभन्दा कान्छो, तर आत्मामा अनन्त। मुन्धुमका पुराना वचन भन्छन्— “अरुण उपत्यका संसारकै कान्छो,तर यसको आत्मा सबैभन्दा पुरानो।” अरुणको पश्चिम माझ किरात,अरुणको पूर्व पल्लो किरात,तर दुवैको आकाश एउटै,दुवैको देवी एउटै।