GORKHA

Gorkha bazaar is the district headquarter of Gorkha district at a distance of 143 km. from Kathmandu and 115 km. Pokhara. A 25 km connecting road off the main highway of Pokhara and Kathmandu brings you to Gorkha. Nepal was divided into small states 240 years ago, and Gorkha was one of them. King Prithvi Narayan shah, the founder of 'Shah Dynasty', unified Nepal into one kingdom. His Gorkha palace resides on top of a hill at an altitude of 1000 m. Gorkha is also the home of Gurkhas- the legendary brave warriors who fought with knives against guns.
King Prithvi Narayan Shah's old palace still stands on a mountain ridge overlooking this ancient capital, from which the Gorkha soldiers derive their name. From the bus stop, the road passes by the town's Tundikhel and an army camp. A group of temples stands by the pond-like Rani Pokhari and a stone statue of Prithvi Narayan Shah honours Prithvi Narayan Shah's ancestor. He travelled to Kathmandu and returned with Newar craftsmen, who were responsible for most of Gorkha's ancient buildings, which are conspicuously Newari in style. Tallo Durbar, a structure built in the 18th century, stands close to the town centre. It is believed to be the original site of the Gorkha palace, before the Shahs came to rule there. The palace on the ridge above the town is Upallo Darbar, the home of the Shah Kings. Its unmistakable prominence was both strategic and a sign of dominance. To reach Upallo Durbar, climb a long flight of some 1700 stone stairs leading off the main road. The climb takes about 30-40 minutes but it is well worth the effort. Directly ahead, magnificent mountains stand out in the centre of an east-west span Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal, while behind in the south are the Mahabharat Hills. Ram Shah built the first palace in the 1600s. It has since been renovated and much has been added to its sprawling intersections.