Gorkha (Nepali: गोरखा, formerly known as Prithvinarayan Municipality) is a municipality in Gorkha District in Gandaki Province of Nepal created in 1996[citation needed]. It was initially named "Prithvinarayan" (Nepali: पृथ्वीनारायण) after King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who was born in Gorkha and united and founded modern Nepal.[1] In 2009, the name was changed to "Gorkha" municipality after the end of the monarchy in Nepal.[citation needed] At the time of the 2021 Nepal census it had a population of 53,285 people living in 12,641 individual households.[2] In 2014, the neighboring Village development committees Nareshwar and Phinam were merged into the municipality.

Gorkha
गोरखा
Gorkha Municipality
Gorkha Bazar
Gorkha Bazar
The seal features Prithvi Narayan Shah in the foreground with the outline Gorkha Palace in the background. There is also a balance scale near the outline of palace representing equality. The seal is surrounded by flag of Nepal in the top, two rhododendron flower on each side of the flag and a laurel on the left and right side. A red ribbon with the words Gorkha Municipality, Nepal in Nepali language is at the bottom.
Gorkha is located in Gandaki Province
Gorkha
Gorkha
Location in Nepal
Gorkha is located in Nepal
Gorkha
Gorkha
Gorkha (Nepal)
Coordinates: 28°0′0″N 84°38′0″E / 28.00000°N 84.63333°E / 28.00000; 84.63333
Country   Nepal
ProvinceGandaki Province
DistrictGorkha District
Government
 • MayorKrishna Rana Magar
 • Deputy MayorMasali Maya Thokar
Highest elevation
1,522 m (4,993 ft)
Lowest elevation
328 m (1,076 ft)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
53,285
Time zoneUTC+5:45 (NST)
Postal code
34000
Area code064
Websitegorkhamun.gov.np

The old royal palace (Gorkha Durbar), Gorakhnath and Kalika (temple of the goddess Kali) are the main attractions. The Royal Palace itself was destroyed in the 2015 earthquake. However the Gorakhnath shrine and Kalika temple are open with no entrance charges.[3] The lower palace (Tallo Durbar) and a modern park are other major attractions. It is also the starting point of the Manasalu Himal (Mount Manasalu) and Mount Ganesh trekking route. Gorkha Hospital is the hospital and Drabya Saha Multiple Campus and Gorkha Education Campus are the two campuses serving the population.[citation needed]

Demographics

edit

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Gorkha Municipality had a population of 51 ,684. Of these, 85.8% spoke Nepali, 3.4% Gurung, 2.9% Urdu, 2.0% Magar, 1.6% Kumhali, 1.5% Tamang, 0.8% Bhojpuri, 0.8% Newar, 0.3% Ghale, 0.2% Hindi, 0.1% Maithili, 0.1% Rai, 0.1% Tharu and 0.1% other languages as their first language.[4]

In terms of ethnicity/caste, 21.1% were Chhetri, 15.5% Magar, 12.8% Hill Brahmin, 10.1% Sarki, 8.8% Newar, 6.8% Gurung, 5.8% Kami, 4.7% Kumal, 3.2% Musalman, 2.7% Damai/Dholi, 2.4% Tamang, 1.4% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.8% Gharti/Bhujel, 0.7% Thakuri, 0.6% Darai, 0.5% Ghale, 0.3% Brahmu/Barahmo, 0.2% Badi, 0.2% Gaine, 0.2% Nuniya, 0.2% Tharu, 0.1% other Dalit, 0.1% Koiri/Kushwaha, 0.1% Limbu, 0.1% Majhi, 0.1% Rai, 0.1% Teli and 0.3% others.[5]

In terms of religion, 87.8% were Hindu, 4.5% Christian, 4.4% Buddhist, 3.1% Muslim and 0.1% others.[6]

In terms of literacy, 76.1% could both read and write, 1.9% could read but not write and 22.0% could neither read nor write.[7]

Media

edit

To promote local culture Gorkha has three Community radio stations, Radio Manaslu - 103.9 MHz, Radio Gorkha - 92.8 MHz and Radio Deurali F.M - 106.4 MHz.

Transportation

edit

Palungtar Airport, also known a Gorkha Airport, is an out of service airport that lies in the neighboring Palungtar Municipality. Gorkha is road accessible from all parts of Nepal. Gorkha has direct bus service from Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan [8]

Climate

edit
Climate data for Gorkha, elevation 1,097 m (3,599 ft)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 17.8
(64.0)
20.3
(68.5)
25.5
(77.9)
29.0
(84.2)
28.8
(83.8)
28.2
(82.8)
27.2
(81.0)
27.4
(81.3)
26.9
(80.4)
25.7
(78.3)
22.4
(72.3)
17.8
(64.0)
24.8
(76.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 6.6
(43.9)
8.1
(46.6)
12.0
(53.6)
16.9
(62.4)
17.7
(63.9)
19.0
(66.2)
19.3
(66.7)
19.0
(66.2)
17.9
(64.2)
15.6
(60.1)
10.8
(51.4)
7.4
(45.3)
14.2
(57.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 22.1
(0.87)
17.9
(0.70)
38.8
(1.53)
77.3
(3.04)
166.7
(6.56)
326.0
(12.83)
434.0
(17.09)
364.9
(14.37)
192.1
(7.56)
52.3
(2.06)
9.0
(0.35)
12.8
(0.50)
1,713.9
(67.46)
Source 1: Australian National University[9]
Source 2: Japan International Cooperation Agency (precipitation)[10]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Major Tourism Sites in Nepal
  2. ^ "National Population and Housing Census 2021". Census Nepal. Central Bureau of Statistics. January 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-06-22.
  3. ^ "Gorkha Durbar Guide". The Longest Way Home. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  4. ^ NepalMap Language [1]
  5. ^ NepalMap Caste [2]
  6. ^ NepalMap Religion [3]
  7. ^ NepalMap Literacy [4]
  8. ^ "Tikapur Airport" (PDF). Civil Aviation authority of Nepal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  9. ^ "CLIMATES OF NEPAL AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT" (PDF). Australian National University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  10. ^ "ネパール国 全国貯水式水力発電所マスタープラン調査 ファイナルレポート" (PDF). Japan International Cooperation Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.