Geological Formation
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Chobhar Gorge & Manjushree Caves
Chobhar Gorge is a dramatic geological fissure southwest of Kathmandu where the Bagmati River cuts through limestone cliffs to drain out of the Kathmandu Valley. According to ancient Nepalese mythology, the divine Bodhisattva Manjushree cleaved the mountain wall with his flaming sword of wisdom to drain a primordial lake and make the valley habitable. Beneath the gorge lies an extensive, labyrinthine network of limestone caverns known as the Manjushree Caves. Deep inside these damp, pitch-black subterranean chambers, explorers and locals report disembodied voices, sudden light failures, disorienting sonic echoes, and sightings of phantom ascetics who vanished into the dark depths long ago.