Gorkha Durbar Square, The Historical Place of Nepal

Gorkha Durbar Square

Gorkha is also known as Gorkhanath Baba. Gorkha is situated in the western region of Nepal is the ancient district of Gorkha which is regarded as the land of the brave Gorkhali soldiers. 

Gorkha Durbar

Gorkha is district headquarter with village town known as Gorkha Bazaar. It is 140km far from Kathmandu and 24km north of Abu Khaireni within Kathmandu and Pokhara Highway. This place is famous because of modern Nepal founder also first Shah Dynasty King Prithvinarayan Shah’s reign was here in mid-18th century. This is old place according to history when King Ram Shah’s reign was in beginning of 17th century.It is the location of the Manakamana Temple. Also, the temples of great sage GorakhNath and goddess GorakhKali temple is located in district, after which the district got its name. Four major rivers run within and along it - the Chepe, Daraudi, Marsyangdi, and Budhi Gandaki.You can view amazing view of sunrise and sunset on the various mountains range. Mountains near Gorkha such as Manaslu ( 8,516 m ), Himalchuli (7,895 m), Shringi Himal (7,177 m), Buddha Himal (6,674 m ), Ganesh Himal ( 7,422 m ), Ngadi Chuli (7,871 m), Nar Phu  : Peri Range 5748 m, Shringi Himal range. 

Mount Mansalu view from Gorkha Durbar

As the birthplace of Prithvi Narayan Shah, the Durbar has huge significance for Nepal. The great Shah was born here around 1723, when Gorkha was a minor feudal kingdom. he Durbar is an important religious site, so leather shoes and belts etc should be removed. Most pilgrims enter through the western gate, emerging on an open terrace in front of the exquisite Kalika Temple. If you leave via the northern gate, you’ll pass the former Royal Guest House – note the erotic roof struts and the crocodile carvings on the window frames.

 It has a vividly painted Hanuman statue, and a path leading to a large chautara (stone resting platform) on an exposed rocky bluff with awesome views and a set of carved stone footprints, attributed variously to Sita, Rama, Gorakhnath and Guru Padmasambhava. It must have cowed visiting vassals into submission – a neat trick for a tin-pot realm that could barely muster 150 soldiers at the time of Prithvi Narayan’s first campaign. Entrance to the Durbar is through a doorway towards the western side, reached by a path to the left of the retaining wall. No leather is allowed in the compound.

The Kalika Mandir

 The Kalika Mandir is most visited temple in Nepal. Most of the hindu's visited this temple. Its interior is closed to all but priests – who say that any others would die upon beholding Kali’s terrible image. Sacrifices is done in every day except ekhadasi which falls every fourteen days in calender.  In ekadashi, the floor of temple is full blood. The paving stone of temple is full of stinking blood.  Most worshippers arrive cradling a trembling goat or chicken and leave swinging a headless carcass. Chait Dasain, Gorkha’s biggest annual festival, brings processions and more blood-letting in late March or early April, as does the tenth day of Dashain in October.

The Cave of GorkhNath

By the eastern exit is a small temple built around the holy cave of Gorakhnath, the centre for worship of the shadowof  Indian guru who gave Gorkha its name and is regarded as a kind of guardian angel by the Shah kings. Sadhus of the Gorakhnath cult are known as kaanphata (“split-ears”), after an initiation ceremony in which they insert sticks in their ear lobes – a walk in the park compared to some of the other things they get up to in the name of their guru. Kaanphata priests sometimes administer ashen tika from the shelter above the cave.

Hotels Near Gorkha Durbar

1.) Gorkha Gaun Resort

2.) Gorkha Hill Resort

3.) Hotel Gorkha Bisauni

4.)Himalaya Hotel

Gorkha is developing in tourist sector. Local people of Gorkha are more concerned in tourism and they have making great effort towards this and Gorkha is place which you have to visit once in a life time.