Gorkha
Nepal · Gandaki · 1135 m
Description
Gorkha (गोरखा) is the hill town the modern Nepali state came from. Prithvi Narayan Shah was born in its fortress palace and set out from here in the 18th century on the campaign that unified the valley kingdoms into one country, and the name of his principality later became the word Gurkha. The Gorkha Durbar sits on a steep ridge above the bazaar, part palace and part temple, with the Kalika shrine at one end and a long climb to reach it. The reward is a panorama that takes in Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and the Annapurnas. Half an hour away, the hilltop temple of Manakamana is one of the busiest pilgrimage sites in Nepal, reached by a cable car that carries well over a million people a year.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 1 day)
Travel season
Best time to visit: March – April or October – November
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Gorkha Durbar
- Manakamana Temple(Day trip)
- Manakamana Cable Car(Day trip)
- Gorkha Kalika Temple
- Gorkha Museum
- Manakamana Bhairav Temple(Day trip)
- Birthplace of Prithvi Narayan Shah and the Shah Dynasty
- Gorakhnath Cave
- Upallokot Viewpoint
- Annapurna and Manaslu Panorama
- Gorkha Old Bazaar
- Tallokot Fort
- Palungtar and the Marsyangdi Valley
- Ligligkot Hill
- Manaslu Region Trailhead (Arughat)(Multi-day trip)