Gorkha - A major local attraction
The land of the Gurkhas The name Gorkha evokes images of
fierce warriors wielding khukris; renowned for their bravery and total
disregard for danger. Gorkha is the name of the town and the district from
which these fearless tribes hailed. Once
a tiny Himalayan kingdom ruled by the Shah dynasty, It was from here that
Prithvinarayan Shah, ancestor of the present king marched his Gorkhali army
into the heart of Kathmandu and overthrew the ruling Malla king.
When the mighty British failed to subdue the Gorkha forces
in the 1800s they were inducted into the British army and soon became a force
to reckon with. The British called them “Gurkhas”. The Gurkha personifies
bravery. No fighting force has ever earned so much respect for its valor and
discipline.
The district of Gorkha stretches from the raging river
Trishuli (popular for rafting) to the arid border of Tibet. With its verdant river valleys and sharply
rising hills, Gorkha is ideal for treks. The terraced hillsides shine yellow
and green in bright sunlight. Delightful hilltop villages far removed from the
trappings of the 21st century dot the countryside.
Places to visit
The Royal Durbar (durbar= palace) of Gorkha is a piece of
history giving visitors a glimpse of the past. The historic town lies under the
shadow of the Royal Durbar that is perched on solid rock. The Durbar was built in the 1600s by Ram
Shah; an ancestor of the present king of Nepal. Within the palace is the sacred
Taleju temple of the tutelary deity of the ruling dynasty. The durbar is a
fort, palace and temple complex that displays a wealth of Nepali architecture.
Also within the palace complex is the Pashupati temple and the cave of Lord
Gorakhnath. The view from the palace is awesome. The giant peaks of Manaslu,
Himal Chuli, Baudha and others stand majestically against the skyline towards
the north.
Gorkha is a cozy little town with a bus park off the main
street. There are many hotels and restaurants along this road. Further up lies
the town center with its collection of temples and the old Tallo Durbar (lower
palace), which is being converted into a park. Nearby is the Rani Pokhari; a
small pond beside which is a Shiva shrine and a metal statue of King Prithivi
Pati Shah, grandfather of King Prithvinarayan Shah. In the vicinity also lie
the Krishna and Vishnu temples. Further up are the jewelry shops and others
selling watches and clothing.
Manakamana, the shrine of wish fulfillment lies within
Gorkha district. With the introduction of the cable car, the temple is easily
reached within ten minutes from the highway to Kathmandu. This pagoda style
temple receives hordes of pilgrims every day who come with offerings for the
benevolent Goddess.
Trekking is the major activity around Gorkha distirict. Many
short or extended treks can be made around Gorkha. You can follow the old road
to Kathmandu from Pokhara, which passes through Arughat in Gorkha district. The
more interesting is the twenty-day Manaslu trek. 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 Besisahar where the Around Annapurna trek also
begins. During the trek many Gurung, Magar and Tamang villages are encountered
and the mountain views are fabulous.
Getting there The small town of Gorkha lies 142 km north
west of the capital Kathmandu and is easily reached within five hours by bus.
The 106 km from Pokhara to Gorkha takes just four hours.
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