Located in modern-day western Nepal, the Gorkha Kingdom was one of the 24 Khas nations that made up the Chaubisi rajya confederation. It was divided from the neighboring kingdoms of Nepal and Lamjung by the Trishuli River in the east and the Marshyangdi River in the west. Prince Dravya Shah, the second son of King Yasho Brahma Shah of the Lamjung Kingdom, established the kingdom in 1559 CE. He became the first King of Gorkha by displacing the Khandka chiefs.

Legend has it that the first Shah emperor was Rishi-raj Rana-Ji of the Lunar dynasty, who was given the title of Bhattarak and made the king of Chittorgarh. The Raja had to resign after thirteen generations when the Muslim Yavanas came to control, keeping only the family name Rana-ji. The following generations were known as Rana-Ji for the first four generations and Rana-ji Rava for the following seventeen generations.

The Mughal emperor Akbar attempted to wed the daughter of Fatte Sinha Rana-Ji Rava in the 16th century but was rejected because he belonged to a different religion. As a result of the ensuing fight, several Rajputs perished, including Fatte Sinha Rana-ji Rava. Udaybam Rana-Ji Rava led the survivors of the conflict who established Udaipur as their new home.

Beginning with Micha, the dynasty of seven rajas was established in Nuwakot. The Gurung king was deposed by Kulamandan, the eldest son of Jagdeva and ruler of Kaski. He was given favor and succeeded his father as Shah. Dravya Shah, Yasobramha’s second son, subjugated the Ghale inhabitants of Ligligkot, a nearby village that is today in Gorkha. In addition, Prince Dravya Shah succeeded the Khandka chiefs as the first ruler of the Gorkha Kingdom.

The Gorkha Durbar, a palace structure that functioned as the Gorkha Monarchs’ residence, is another reason Gorkha is well-known. King Ram Shah built the palace in the 17th century, and UNESCO has recognized it as a World Heritage Site. The founder of contemporary Nepal, King Prithvi Narayan Shah, was born there as well. The history and culture of the Gorkha Kingdom are on display at the Gorkha Museum, which is part of the royal complex. Road access is available to the city of Gorkha, which is situated around 140 kilometers west of Kathmandu.

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