Gorkha is a picturesque hill- town that has a rich history of its own which is situated on a small mountain at the height of 1135 meters and offers a magnificent view of the Himalayan Peaks. King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who unified the Kingdom of Nepal during 18th century and got an upper hand over the Ranas, was born here. Actually king Drabya Shah founded this kingdom in the year 1560 and since then, the place has acted as the den for the Shah dynasty. In the war of throne with Ranas, the Gorkhas had the last laugh as the Gorkha soldiers succeeded in conquering the Kathmandu valley. The capital of the Nepal was shifted to Kathmandu since then. But this beautiful township has always remained as the center of attraction for many Nepalese as well as foreign visitors.
Among the sites to visit, Gorkha Durbar tops the list. This historical palace is a one-hour walk from the downtown Gorkha. The palace is strategically located over a fortified hillock. On the southwestern side of palace lies the temple of Goddess Gorakhkali. A cave that claims to shelter the statue of Gorakhnath, the Tantrik sage, adjoins it. The place is picture-perfect to have a view of Mansalu and Himalchuli peaks of Himalayas. Nevertheless, the best place to have a view of the palace and peaks is Upallokot, a viewpoint made on a pedestal over the hill at the height of some 5000 feet.
The other important site is Manakamana Temple. The place lays on a beautiful ridge southeast of the township of Gorkha. The temple, a famous pilgrimage for Hindus, is dedicated to Manakamana, the holy goddess of aspirations. It is a four-hour uphill walk from a place called Anbu Khaireni on Kathmandu-Pokhra Highway.
Location : Western part of Nepal, hometown of the past King Prithivi Narayan Shah
Access to Gorkha : 142 kilometers North West of the Kathmandu and is easily reached within 5 hours by public bus and 3 hours by using private transport and 106 kilometers from Pokhara to Gorkha takes just 4 hours.
The main attraction of Gorkha : The 16th century Royal Palace and 3 mountains ranges, the Manasalu, Annapurna and Ganesh Himal which include more than 40 mountains, surround the area.
Trekking : Many short or extended treks can be made around Gorkha. Trekker’s can follow the old road to Kathmandu from Pokhara, which passes through Arughat and the more adventures trekking in Manaslu region. Following the Budi Gandaki River, the trail goes through the Larkya Pass at 5,200m and then follows the Marshyangdi River reaching the popular town of Beshisahar where the Around Annapurna trek also begins.
