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GORKHA
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.
>>>
Brief History of
Nepal ~ People
~ The
land of the Gurkhas
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