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Nepal

Gorkha Durbar

Hilltop palace fort where Prithvi Narayan Shah set out to unify Nepal

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Best time to visit Gorkha Durbar

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: February to March and October to November
  • Shoulder: April to May, September and December to January, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: June to August

Planning a specific month? FebruaryMarchOctoberNovember

Gorkha Durbar season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Clear and cool for the stone stair climb from the bazaar, with Manaslu and Himalchuli to the north; dawn can be foggy.

Summer March to May Prime time

Mar is pleasant; Apr and May turn hot and hazy, so climb early and rest in the shade of the palace courtyards.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Rain makes the stone steps slippery and clouds hide the peaks in Jul and Aug; Sep is greener and drier.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Dashain rituals at the Kalika temple draw big crowds, usually in Oct, and the post-monsoon air gives the best views.

What Gorkha Durbar is actually like

Simple hotels in Gorkha bazaar, dal bhat and tea by the steps, Nepali families and school groups at the palace.

Things to do in Gorkha Durbar

The local places worth your time in and around Gorkha Durbar, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Kalika Temple

    Temple · in town

    Goddess shrine inside the palace complex, closed to visitors inside, with big rituals at Dashain.

  • Gorakhnath Cave

    Cave · in town

    Cave shrine of the saint who gave Gorkha its name, just below the palace terrace.

  • Gorkha Museum (Tallo Durbar)

    Museum · 1 km out

    Lower palace in the bazaar, now a museum of Shah dynasty history, weapons and old documents.

  • Manakamana Temple

    Temple · 12 km out

    Wish goddess temple on the next ridge south, with old links to Gorkha's royal family; cable car from Kurintar.

  • Barpak

    Village · 25 km out

    Big Gurung village rebuilt after the 2015 earthquake struck right here, with homestays and Manaslu views.

Getting to Gorkha Durbar

24 km up from Abukhaireni on the Kathmandu to Pokhara highway; about 5 h from Kathmandu, 3 h from Pokhara.

Practical ways in: road

Trip facts

How long to stay
1 day
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Steady at its peak
Solo travel
Easy solo
Altitude
1373 m
Country
Nepal
Coordinates
28.0041, 84.6293

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Gorkha Durbar?

February to March and October to November is peak season in Gorkha Durbar. April to May, September and December to January is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to August. Dashain rituals at the Kalika temple draw big crowds, usually in Oct, and the post-monsoon air gives the best views.

How many days do you need in Gorkha Durbar?

1 day is the usual stay. Simple hotels in Gorkha bazaar, dal bhat and tea by the steps, Nepali families and school groups at the palace.

How do you get to Gorkha Durbar?

24 km up from Abukhaireni on the Kathmandu to Pokhara highway; about 5 h from Kathmandu, 3 h from Pokhara. Practical ways in: road.

Is Gorkha Durbar expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs steady at the busiest time of year. Easy solo.

Is there a festival in Gorkha Durbar?

Dashain (Sep or Oct). Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Gorkha Durbar?

Kalika Temple, Gorakhnath Cave, Gorkha Museum (Tallo Durbar), Manakamana Temple and Barpak. Goddess shrine inside the palace complex, closed to visitors inside, with big rituals at Dashain.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Nepal

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