Value homestay village · Mankhim
Mankhim hill homestays
Homestays on Mankhim hill above Aritar, near the Kirat Rai temple, at around 1,900–2,000 m. Wide views over the hills to the Kangchenjunga range on clear mornings, with Aritar's lake a short drive below.
Photo: Amitabha Gupta · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Homestays on Mankhim hill above Aritar, near the Kirat Rai temple, at around 1,900–2,000 m. Wide views over the hills to the Kangchenjunga range on clear mornings, with Aritar's lake a short drive below.
Mankhim hill rises above Aritar, crowned by the Mangkhim temple of the Kirat Rai community. A few family homestays sit on the slopes near the top, among them the long-running Kanchanjunga Mirror Homestay and The Hill Homestay, and they trade on one thing: the view. On a clear winter morning the Kangchenjunga range stands up across the hills to the north-west.
Rooms are simple to comfortable, meals are home-cooked, and evenings are quieter and cooler than down by the lake. Stay here if you want sunrise from your window and do not mind a short drive or a steep walk to Aritar bazaar. No special permit is needed. Visit the temple respectfully; it is a working place of worship.
Why we book it
What it does well
- Sunrise views of the Kangchenjunga range on clear days
- Next to the Kirat Rai Mangkhim temple
- Cooler and quieter than Aritar bazaar
Questions travellers ask
Questions about Mankhim hill homestays
Can you see Kangchenjunga from Mankhim?
On clear days, yes: the range is visible to the north-west at sunrise, most reliably from October to early March. From April the haze builds and from June to September cloud usually hides it. Even on a cloudy day the view over the Rhenock and Aritar hills is wide. Ask your host for the best spot at dawn.
How far is Mankhim from Aritar lake?
A short drive of 15–20 minutes up a steep road from Aritar, or a stiff walk of about an hour. Most guests drive up for sunrise or for a night, and walk down. If you stay on Mankhim hill, ask your host to arrange a car to the lake and bazaar.
Can visitors enter the Mangkhim temple?
Visitors are generally welcome to see the temple from outside and to walk the grounds, but it is a sacred place of the Kirat Rai community, so dress modestly, ask before taking photographs and follow any instructions from caretakers. During Sakewa celebrations the grounds belong to worshippers; watch from the edges unless invited in.
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