Little House on the Top of the World

©Deborah Tonks/Lonely Planet

Gorkha

About 15 miles (24km) north of Abu Khaireni, Gorkha is famous for four things. It is the birthplace of Prithvi Narayan Shah, who unified the rival kingdoms of Nepal in 1769, commencing a dynasty that endured until 2008; it is the location of the Gorkha Durbar, the former palace of the Shahs, which looks over Gorkha from a lofty ridge; it is where the famous Gurkha Battalion in the British Army originated; and it is where the annual Dasain festival officially begins, with a procession to Kathmandu. The town remains an important pilgrimage destination for Newars, who regard the Shahs as living incarnations of Vishnu.

Leave the planning to a local expert

Experience the real Gorkha. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Get started

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Plan with a local

Guidebooks

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks

Get to the heart of Gorkha with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.