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Voykit pocket guide · Nepal
Gorkha
Spend a half‑day at Gorkha Durbar and Manakamana cable car, stay one night in a budget lodge; total 1 day ½ night.
Gorkha is a historic hill town in the Annapurna region, about 4 h by road from Kathmandu. Its main draws are the 16th‑century Gorkha Durbar, the Manakamana Temple cable‑car ride, and nearby forts such as Liglig Kot. A short visit (half‑day) plus an overnight stay lets you see the sights without rushing.
- Country
- Nepal
- Best months
- Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- NPR
- Money
- NPR in small notes (100s and 500s) for taxis, tea shops and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rs 1,200–1,800 excl. bed · Mid Rs 2,000–2,800 excl. bed · High Rs 3,500–4,500 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell sell tourist SIMs at Kathmandu airport and in town with passport and a photo.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Ambulance 102 · Tourist police 1144
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round-pin sockets; a universal adapter covers them. Treks charge for device charging.
- Tipping
- Trekking guide: About 10–15% of the guide's total fee, at the end.; Porter: US$5–10 a day, at the end, in person.; Restaurant: Round up if 10% service is added; 5–10% if not.; Driver day: Rs 500–1,000.; Hotel staff: Rs 100–200.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Use filtered refill stations (Rs 50–100 a litre) or purification tablets; buying plastic bottles on treks leaves rubbish in the mountains.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels; squat toilets with a water jug elsewhere. Carry tissue; on treks toilets are outside and freeze in winter.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café) | Rs 30–50 |
| Dal‑bhat (meal) | Rs 80–150 |
| Bottle of water (500 ml) | Rs 20–30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KTM · Tribhuvan International Airport
- Main international gateway, about 4 h road to Gorkha
- PKR · Pokhara Airport
- Domestic flights, about 3 h road to Gorkha
Typical fares
- Kathmandu → Gorkha, bus
- about Rs 800 per person, 4 h (check)
- Manakamana cable‑car round‑trip
- about Rs 1,200 per person (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Road: regular bus from Kathmandu (4 h) or micro‑bus (faster, less crowded). Taxis can be hired from Kathmandu or Pokhara for a direct ride. Within town walk or local taxi.
See and do
Known for
- Gorkha Durbar
- Manakamana Temple cable car
- Liglig Kot fort
- Views of Mount Manaslu
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pokhara | Bus or micro‑bus from Gorkha, about 3 h | ≈3 h |
Sleep
- Hotel Bisauni
- Budget lodge in Gorkha Bazaar, basic rooms, en‑suite bathroom.
- Hotel Prince
- Budget lodge, TV and telephone in rooms.
- Hotel Old Capital
- Budget lodge, central location.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ गर्नुहोस्maaf garnuhos |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyabaad |
| How much is it? | कति पर्छ?kati parchha? |
| Can I pay by card? | के म कार्डले तिर्न सक्छु?ke ma cardle tirna sakchu? |
| Where is the toilet? | शौचालय कहाँ छ?shauchalaya kaha cha? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste with palms together; a handshake between men in business; avoid: Hugging or kissing in public
- Temples and stupas: Walk clockwise, spin prayer wheels clockwise, shoes off at shrines; avoid: Touching offerings; entering Hindu-only areas
- Food: Right hand, accept refills gracefully; avoid: Sharing food you have bitten; stepping over food
- Feet and heads: Keep feet flat and away from people and altars; avoid: Touching anyone's head
- Photos: Ask first; offer to show the picture; avoid: Photographing cremations or rituals without permission
- On the trail: Pass mani walls and chortens on the left (keeping them on your right); give way to yaks on the mountain side; avoid: Standing on the drop side when animals pass
Scams and watch-outs
- Buses can be crowded; book a micro‑bus for comfort.
- Cable‑car tickets for Manakamana may sell out during festivals – check availability.
- Road conditions can be affected by landslides in monsoon season.
Gorkha is generally safe for tourists; typical risks are road traffic and occasional landslides during monsoon.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Gorkha yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Gorkha Durbar
- Manakamana Temple cable car
- Liglig Kot fort
- Views of Mount Manaslu
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Gorkha, revision 5013298 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5013298
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/gorkha). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.