मन्जुश्री गुफा

Manjushree Gufa - Manjushree Cave - Chobhar Caves

Useful Information

Location:	Chobhar gorge, Kritipur municipality, southern part of Kathmandu Valley.
Open:
Fee:	Long tour: Adults USD 10. Short tour: Adults USD 5. [2008]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	L=1,250 m.
Guided tours:	L=350 m.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Manjushree Gufa.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1976	explored by UK cavers.
1980	explored by Czech cavers.
1985	explored by German cavers.
2007	explored by French cavers led by Maurice Duchesne.
30-JAN-2007	cave opened to the public.

Description

The मन्जुश्री गुफा (Manjushree Gufa, Manjushree Cave) is named after Manjushree Park, where it is located. It is maintained by the Jal Binayak Community Forest Users' Group. The cave system has six entrances, the three most prominent are Manjushree Gufa, Bagh Gufa and Naya Gufa. Tours are offered through any of those three entrances, and there are altogether five different tours. The cave is also known as Chobhar Cave because it is located at Chobhar Gorge. The entrances are covered by small stone houses which are gated by iron bar gates, so it is not possible to enter them without a guided tour.

The tours are said to be show cave tours, but much of the cave requires stooping and crawling, so you should expect a really rough show cave. The passages are rather small phreatic tubes and there are no speleothems. You will get dirty, and we strongly recommend caving gear, clothes to change, kneepads, gloves, and a helmet with headlamp.

Manjushree left Mount Pancasirsha to visit the shrine of Svayambhu, which was on a mountain in the center of Lake Kalihrada. He found the lake filled with aquatic monsters and the temple inaccessible. He therefore opened with his sword a valley on the southern side of the lake, the waters of the lake drained through the opening, leaving dry land at the bottom, and this became later Katmandu, the capital city of Nepal. He is believed as founder of civilization in Nepal and a Wanderer who propagated Buddhism in Nepal. That's why the cave is named after the name of Manjushree.
Svayambhu-purana.