Gorkha Durbar
Hilltop Palace Fortress Of The Shah Kings, From Which Prithvi Narayan Shah Began The Unification Of Nepal In The Eighteenth Century · Gorkha, Gandaki
Gorkha Durbar is the hilltop palace, fortress and temple complex from which Prithvi Narayan Shah, the king of the small hill state of Gorkha, set out in the eighteenth century to conquer the Kathmandu Valley and unify the modern nation of Nepal. The Shah dynasty he founded ruled until the monarchy was abolished in 2008, and the name of his kingdom lives on in the Gurkha soldiers. The Durbar stands on a ridge high above Gorkha town, reached by a long, steep stone stairway, and combines a palace with fine Newar woodwork, the Kalika temple, sacred and closed to non-Hindus, and the cave shrine of Gorakhnath. The views across to Manaslu and the Ganesh Himal on a clear morning are superb. Gorkha district was the epicentre of the 2015 earthquake, and the palace was damaged and has been restored. The Gorkha Museum in the lower town, in the old Tallo Durbar palace, tells the story of the unification. For Nepalis it is a place of national history; for visitors it is a rewarding stop on the way to Manaslu or between Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Hilltop above Gorkha town, Gorkha District, Gorkha, Gandaki, Nepal
Open daily in daylight, roughly from early morning until late afternoon, with a small fee for foreigners; parts of the temples are closed to non-Hindus. The climb from the town takes about an hour on a steep stone stairway. The Gorkha Museum in Tallo Durbar keeps its own, shorter hours and may close on public holidays. Gorkha is a few hours' drive from Kathmandu or Pokhara, off the Prithvi Highway. Confirm current hours and fees locally.