Gorkha holds a special place in Nepal's heart as the birthplace of its modern history. It is etched in lore as the place where the legendary King Prithvi Narayan Shah rallied his troops in the 18th century and led them valiantly to conquer the entire Kathmandu Valley, thereby unifying the country into one kingdom. The land has been kept largely undisturbed, and it still functions as an important pilgrimage destination especially for the Newari who believe that the Shah and his descendants are in fact the god Vishnu's reincarnations. Of course, there is no doubt that the highlight of any visit to Gorkha is the palace where Prithvi Narayan Shah was born - the Gorkha Durbar. Only an hour's hike from the downtown Gorkha...