Gorkha in Nepal
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| Map of gorkha |
Gorkha holds a special place
in Nepal's heart as the birthplace of its modern history. It is etched in lore
as the place where the legendary King Prithvi Narayan Shah rallied his troops
in the 18th century and led them valiantly to conquer the entire Kathmandu
Valley, thereby unifying the country into one kingdom. The land has been kept
largely undisturbed, and it still functions as an important pilgrimage
destination especially for the Newari who believe that the Shah and his
descendants are in fact the god Vishnu's reincarnations.
Of course, there is no doubt
that the highlight of any visit to Gorkha is the palace where Prithvi Narayan
Shah was born - the Gorkha Durbar. Only an hour's hike from the downtown
Gorkha, over a fortified hillock, it sits at a height of 1670m, offering a
bird's eye view of the former kingdom and the famed Himalayan Mountains.
Visitors will find the palace almost exactly as it was when first built,
largely due to excellent preservation and restoration. It features a distinct
Newari-style architecture, with latticed windows, exquisite woodwork and
detailed carvings.
The only downside to
visiting Gorkha Durbar is that visitors are usually not allowed to enter the
palace proper, particularly the second floor. However, one could pretty much
see everything inside by peering through the windows. In fact, one can make out
the throne upon which Prithvi Narayan Shah once sat, and even the so-called
"eternal flame" lit by the king himself after unifying Nepal, which
has actually been burning continuously for decades. There are lots of things to
see outside, too, such as a temple dedicated to the goddess Gorakhkali, and a
nearby cave which houses a statue of the Tantric sage Gorakhnath.
One can also decide to visit
Gorkha's other attraction, the Manakamana Temple. A prime pilgrimage spot for
many Hindu devotees, it is a monument made in honor of the goddess of
aspirations who, they believe, will fulfill all their wishes. Nestled on a
scenic ridge reached only by cable car from the capital Kathmandu, it attracts
thousands of visitors daily, especially during festivals. Tourists in Gorkha
can also head to Mount Manaslu, reputed to be the eighth highest peak on the
planet.
Places to visit Gorkha
Gorkha Palace:
Visit the Gorkha palace here
to begin your sightseeing of the region.Climb the palace steps from the bottom
of the hill, all the way to the top, climbing about one thousand seven hundred
steps (1700), in about two hours. That's some hiking to do! If you get tired
sit down on a step or think how much easier the trip down will be! You will be
glad you got to the top. On a clear sky day, you can view Himalayan range
including spectacular view of Manaslu and Himalchuli Mountains, and panoramic
views of the valleys.
Also view the palace
building, one of Nepal's historical landmark, some buildings have interesting
wood carvings portraying various romantic scenes. Also viwe the temple of
Goddess Gorakhkali residing on the west side of the palace. To view sunrise
from the palace, climb very early in the morning.
Gorkha Bazaar:
Gorkha Bazaar is primarily a cobbled street market place
where by people from neighboring hill dwellings come to trade. There are a few
temples near about, but not much. Yet, it is worth a visit as it provides a
very good vista of the quiet charm that soaks a typical hill village of Nepal.
Gorakhnath Cave :
Ten meters below the
palace's southern side, is the sacred cave temple of Gorkhanath. The cave is is
carved out of the solid rock and is among the most important religious sites
for mainstream Brahmins and Chhetris of Nepal. Gorkha is also an alternate
starting point for a few trekking routes in the region. Gorkha-Trisuli is an
easy three day walk along unspoiled Nepali country side. One can also walk a
long day's walk to Besishahar, which is the usual starting point for Annapurna
and Manang area treks. One can also walk through Besishahar area to Pokhara in
a four days.
Upallokot :
It is situated at a 20
minutes walking distance from Gorkha palace.There is a viewing platform at an
altitude of 1520 meters in Upallokot from where the spectacular view of Gorkha
palace and the sliver shining snow-fed peaks can be enjoyed.
Manakamana :
On a beautiful ridge
south-east of the township of Gorkha lies the holy temple of Manakamana, the
holy goddess of aspirations. It is a famous pilgrimage site for Hindus.
Manakamana is 4 hour's walk uphill from Anbu Khaireni on Kathmandu-Pokhara
Highway.
The new democratic
constitution of the kingdom was promulgated on November 9, 1990. Nepal is one
of the founder members of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
SAARC of which the third summit was held in Kathmandu in November 1987.
Visiting the Manakamana Temple by cable car is one of the major attractions of
the region.
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