Town or village
Nagma
A small road junction bazaar in Kalikot where the route to Mugu and Rara leaves the Karnali Highway.
Far Westमान्म
Manma
The hillside headquarters of Kalikot district, a stop on the Karnali Highway above the Karnali gorge.
- Altitude
- -*
- Best months
- Mar-Apr, Oct-Nov
- Type
- Town or village
- District
- Kalikot, Karnali
- Permit
- None needed
Higher seasonal exposure: landslides (Jun-Sep).
Why go
Manma is the headquarters of Kalikot district in Karnali Province, a small administrative town on the steep slopes above the Karnali river. The Karnali Highway, the main road from Surkhet north to Jumla and Mugu, passes through the district, and Manma is one of the places where travellers on the long journey stop for food or a night's rest.
The town has government offices, schools, a hospital and simple lodges, and it serves a district of steep hillsides, terraced fields and scattered villages. The surrounding landscape is dominated by the deep gorge of the Karnali, Nepal's longest river, with forested ridges rising on either side. Short walks around the town give views down into the gorge and across to villages clinging to the opposite slopes.
Manma has few sights of its own, but it is a good place to break the road journey and to see a district that rarely features in travel guides. It is also a base for local excursions, including waterfalls and village shrines in the surrounding hills.
History and culture
Kalikot takes its name from the goddess Kalika, and temples to local forms of the goddess are found across the district. The area lay within the medieval Khas Malla kingdom and later the hill states that followed it, before being incorporated into unified Nepal. The population is mainly Khas Hindu, including Thakuri, Chhetri, Brahmin and Dalit communities.
For much of its history Kalikot was reached only on foot, and it remains one of Nepal's least developed districts. The Karnali Highway transformed access in the early twenty-first century, bringing buses and trucks, but seasonal labour migration to India and other parts of Nepal is still an important part of the local economy.
Things to do in Manma
Break the journey
Stop for a meal or overnight on the long drive between Surkhet and Jumla or Mugu.
Gorge views
Walk around the town for views into the Karnali gorge and across to hillside villages.
Local shrines
Ask locally about temples to the goddess Kalika and other shrines in the district.
Weather and the best time to visit Manma
Weather in Manma
Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Mar-Apr, Oct-Nov
- Jan
- Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November are dry and clear, the most reliable months for the Karnali Highway.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is cool in the gorge and cold on the ridges, with snow at higher levels.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March and April are pleasant; May becomes hot in the low Karnali gorge.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to September brings heavy rain and frequent landslides along the highway.
Where to stay
LodgesGuesthouses
A few basic lodges and guesthouses serve highway travellers and officials.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Travel by bus or jeep from Birendranagar up the Karnali Highway; Manma lies on or near the route north to Jumla.
Nearest hub: Birendranagar (Surkhet)
- roadBuses and jeeps from Birendranagar follow the Karnali Highway through Dailekh into Kalikot; the journey takes most of a day.
- roadContinue north from Kalikot to Jumla or, via Nagma, to Gamgadhi in Mugu.
Permits and fees
None needed
No permit is needed to visit Manma or Kalikot district.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-08 against Nepal Tourism Board.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Manma
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Landslideshigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
The Karnali Highway through Kalikot is notorious for monsoon landslides, rockfall and long blockages.
Heatlow in a typical yearApr-Jun
The lower Karnali gorge becomes hot before the monsoon.
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
- Carry cash from Surkhet; banking is limited.
- Travel early in the day on the highway and avoid driving after dark.
Questions about Manma
Where is Manma?
It is the headquarters of Kalikot district, on the slopes above the Karnali river in Karnali Province.
How do I get to Manma?
By bus or jeep from Birendranagar along the Karnali Highway.
Is there anything to see in Manma?
It is mainly a rest stop, with views into the Karnali gorge and local shrines in the surrounding hills.
Nearby
Viewpoint
Pachal Jharana
A tall waterfall in the hills of Kalikot that gives its name to the surrounding rural municipality.
Town or village · 2,514 m
Jumla
A highland bazaar town in the Tila valley of Karnali, known for red rice and apples and used as the starting point for the trek to Rara Lake.
Town or village
Dailekh Bazaar
The hill bazaar headquarters of Dailekh district, close to the Shirsthan and Nabhisthan flame shrines.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-08. Sources: Kalikot District, Wikipedia, Karnali Highway, Wikipedia, Karnali River, Wikipedia