Valley or region
Rolwaling Valley
A remote Sherpa valley under Gaurishankar in Dolakha, trekked to the glacial lake Tsho Rolpa, with a technical pass to the Everest region.
Dolakhaकालिञ्चोक भगवती
Kalinchowk Bhagwati
A Hindu shrine on a 3,842 m ridge in Dolakha, reached from Kuri on foot or by cable car, known for winter snow and mountain views.
This is the ridge-top Kalinchowk Bhagwati shrine above Kuri village in Dolakha, not the wider Kalinchowk Rural Municipality.
- Altitude
- 3,842 m
- Best months
- Oct-Mar
- Type
- Temple, monastery or heritage site
- District
- Dolakha, Bagmati
- Permit
- Permit required
Higher seasonal exposure: snow (Dec-Feb), road blockages (Dec-Feb), landslides (Jun-Sep), road blockages (Jun-Sep), cold (Dec-Feb).
Why go
Kalinchowk Bhagwati is an open-air shrine to the goddess Bhagwati on a rocky ridge top at 3,842 m in Dolakha District, inside the Gaurishankar Conservation Area. It is one of the most visited winter destinations for Nepali travellers, many of whom see snow here for the first time. From the top, clear days show Gaurishankar, the Rolwaling peaks, Jugal and Langtang ranges and long ridges falling towards the Sun Koshi and Tamakoshi valleys.
The base is Kuri village, a cluster of lodges and homestays at around 3,300-3,400 m on yak pastures below the summit. From Kuri, a stepped trail climbs to the shrine in about 1-2 hours; since 2018 a cable car also carries visitors most of the way, leaving a short walk and stairs to the top. In snowy months people sled and play in the snow around Kuri.
As part of the Dolakha hub, Kalinchowk is usually combined with a stop in Charikot and a visit to the Dolakha Bhimsen temple.
History and culture
Kalinchowk Bhagwati is a form of the goddess Durga, and the shrine is unroofed, with bells, tridents and prayer flags packed around the image. Hindu pilgrims come throughout the year, with the largest crowds during Janai Purnima in August and during Dashain; animal sacrifice is part of some rituals. Buddhist prayer flags beside Hindu offerings reflect the mixed Tamang, Sherpa and Hindu communities of the area.
Local belief holds that the ridge is the source area of the Sun Koshi and Tamakoshi rivers' tributaries. Yak herding, cheese and churpi (hard dried cheese) are part of the local economy, and the growth of domestic tourism since the 2010s, with the road to Kuri and then the cable car, has made it a weekend trip from Kathmandu.
Things to do in Kalinchowk Bhagwati
Climb to the shrine
Walk the stepped trail from Kuri in about 1-2 hours, or take the cable car and finish on foot.
Sunrise at the top
Start from Kuri before dawn for the clearest mountain views; carry a torch and warm clothes.
Snow play at Kuri
In snowy winters, the slopes around Kuri are used for sledging and simple skiing.
Weather and the best time to visit Kalinchowk Bhagwati
Weather in Kalinchowk Bhagwati
Forecast for 3,842 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Oct-Mar
- Good month: Jan
- Good month: Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Good month: Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- Clear skies and the best views; nights already cold near freezing.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- Snow season from about December to February; very cold, and roads to Kuri can be blocked or icy after heavy snowfall.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- Rhododendron forests flower on the way up; views become hazier in April and May.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- Cloud and rain most days, slippery steps and landslides on the access road; Janai Purnima pilgrims still visit in August.
Where to stay
LodgesHomestaysHotels
Lodges, small hotels and homestays at Kuri; heating is limited, so bring warm layers.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Drive from Kathmandu to Charikot and on to Kuri, then walk or take the cable car to the shrine.
Nearest hub: Charikot
- roadKathmandu to Kuri via Charikot, roughly 150-170 km and 6-8 hours by bus or jeep.
- walkKuri to the shrine on a stepped trail, about 1-2 hours up.
- cable carCable car from near Kuri towards the ridge, followed by a short climb; operations depend on weather.
Getting to Kalinchowk Bhagwati, by mode
Nearest hub: Dolakha. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By busfrom Kathmanduabout 5-7 hTourist and local buses
Buses go as far as Charikot (133 km, about six hours); jeeps then cover the 17 km to Kuri in about two hours.
When to set off: Charikot buses leave Kathmandu in the morning; aim to reach Charikot in time for a jeep up to Kuri the same day.
Kalinchowk destination guide (Government of Nepal, film.gov.np)
By car or jeepfrom Kathmanduabout 6-8 h
By car or jeep it is roughly 150 km and about seven hours from Kathmandu: sealed road to Charikot, then 17 km and about two hours of steep climbing to Kuri. A cable car runs from Kuri towards the ridge in about four minutes, and it is weather dependent.
Road: Sealed as far as Charikot, then a steep, rough 17 km climb to Kuri where a jeep or 4WD is normally needed; snow and ice make the top section hard in winter.
When to set off: Leave Kathmandu by about 06:00 and sleep at Kuri if you want the sunrise from the ridge.
Kalinchowk destination guide (Government of Nepal, film.gov.np)
By motorbikefrom Dolakhaabout 2-3 hExperienced riders only
The Kuri climb is steep, loose and often wet; experienced riders only, and not sensible on snow or ice.
Road: Steep 17 km rough climb from Charikot to Kuri, slippery in rain and icy after snow.
Kalinchowk destination guide (Government of Nepal, film.gov.np)
On footfrom Dolakhaabout 1-2 hAbout 1-2 h up a stepped trail from Kuri to the shrine at 3,842 m
From Kuri village a stepped trail climbs to the shrine in about one to two hours. The alternative is the cable car, which takes about four minutes.
When to set off: Walk up early for sunrise from the shrine; the steps are icy on winter mornings.
Where people go next
- Dolakhaby car or jeep, about 1.5-3 hBack down to Charikot, the district hub.
- Dolakha Bhimsen Templeby car or jeep, about 1.5-3 hThe old Dolakha bazaar temple near Charikot.
- Sailungby car or jeepThe other high ridge viewpoint in the district.
Permits and fees
Permit required
Kalinchowk lies in the Gaurishankar Conservation Area; foreign visitors may need the conservation area permit. Check the latest rules before travel.
- Gaurishankar Conservation Area permit: Check whether it is required and checked for foreign visitors to Kalinchowk.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Kalinchowk Bhagwati Temple (Wikipedia).
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Kalinchowk Bhagwati
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Snowhigh in a typical yearDec-Feb
Snow falls on the ridge from about December to February, which is the main reason people come; it also makes the stepped trail and the top of the Kuri road slippery and cold.
Kalinchowk destination guide (Government of Nepal, film.gov.np)
Road blockageshigh in a typical yearDec-Feb
After heavy snow the steep final section of the Charikot to Kuri road can be icy or blocked, and vehicles may not get all the way up.
Kalinchowk destination guide (Government of Nepal, film.gov.np)
Landslideshigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
The Araniko Highway corridor runs under extremely steep hillsides that are very prone to landslides, and large slides after heavy rain are a recurring monsoon pattern on this route.
Road blockageshigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
Monsoon slides on the Araniko Highway and the Lamosangu to Jiri road can hold up or divert vehicles for anything from hours to weeks; a 2014 slide closed the highway for 46 days.
Coldhigh in a typical yearDec-Feb
At 3,842 m the ridge is far below freezing on winter mornings and exposed to wind; visitors regularly underestimate this on a day trip from Charikot.
Kalinchowk destination guide (Government of Nepal, film.gov.np)
Altitudemoderate in a typical yearAll year
General information, not medical advice: above about 3,000 m altitude illness becomes a real risk. Gain sleeping height slowly, learn the symptoms of headache with nausea, breathlessness or unsteady walking, and go down if they get worse. See a doctor before travelling and carry insurance that covers helicopter evacuation. The shrine is at 3,842 m and can be reached from Charikot in a few hours by jeep and cable car, so visitors gain height very fast; take it slowly, and go down if symptoms get worse.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- At 3,842 m, altitude can cause headaches or breathlessness, especially after a fast drive up; walk slowly and descend if you feel unwell (general information, not medical advice).
- Wear good boots with grip in winter; the steps are icy and microspikes help.
- Carry cash; there are no ATMs at Kuri (the nearest are in Charikot).
- Respect rituals at the shrine; remove shoes where asked and do not touch offerings.
Questions about Kalinchowk Bhagwati
How do I get to Kalinchowk from Kathmandu?
Drive about 6-8 hours to Kuri via Charikot, then hike 1-2 hours or take the cable car to the shrine.
When does Kalinchowk get snow?
Snow usually falls between December and February, depending on the year.
How high is Kalinchowk and is altitude a risk?
The shrine is at 3,842 m. Mild altitude symptoms are possible after a fast ascent, so go slowly and stay hydrated.
Is there a cable car at Kalinchowk?
Yes, a cable car has operated from near Kuri since 2018, followed by a short climb to the shrine.
More in Dolakha
All of Dolakha
Temple, monastery or heritage site
Dolakha Bhimsen Temple
An open-roofed temple in the old Newar town of Dolakha, where a triangular stone image of Bhimsen is worshipped as a god of trade and fortune.
Viewpoint · 3,146 m
Sailung
A high ridge of grassy domes on the Dolakha-Ramechhap border, with a wide Himalayan view and a hilltop Shiva shrine.
Nearby
Valley or region
Dolakha
A hill district east of Kathmandu between the Tamakoshi gorges and the Gaurishankar range, with snow pilgrimages, an old Newar town and high trekking valleys.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Kalinchowk Bhagwati Temple (Wikipedia), Bhimeshwar (Wikipedia)