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Explore Nepal

Visiting Places

Gandaki

Gorkha

The hill town where modern Nepal was forged — a fortress-palace above the Himalaya.

GandakiGandaki Province
Hilltop temple architecture on a Himalayan foothill ridge
Unsplash / Nabin K Sapkota

Gorkha is the hill town where Prithvi Narayan Shah was born and from which he launched the 18th-century conquest that unified modern Nepal. The Gorkha Durbar, a fortress-palace-temple complex, looks out over the Himalaya from its ridge. It is also a trailhead for the Manaslu region.

Known for

  • Gorkha Durbar
  • cradle of the unified Nepali state

At a glance

Region
Gandaki
Province
Gandaki
Getting there
Off the Kathmandu–Pokhara highway; a road climbs from Abu Khaireni to the town.
Best time
October–March for clear views; the durbar climb is hot at midday in summer.

Things to see & do

  • The Gorkha Durbar, a fortress-palace-temple on a steep ridge
  • The birthplace of Prithvi Narayan Shah, who unified Nepal
  • Himalayan views toward Manaslu, whose circuit begins from here