How to Travel to Gorkha, Nepal (Bus, Tickets, Prices)
Are you looking for information on how to travel to Gorkha?
You’ve come to the right place. Gorkha is not as touristy as other destinations in Nepal so it can be hard to find information. I live in Nepal and visited Gorkha, so here is everything you need to know
Despite Gorkha not being very touristy, it is very easy to get there. There are many minivans and buses that connect Gorkha with other cities in Nepal.
Gorkha is about 140 km (5-6 hours) from Kathmandu and 100 km from Pokhara (4-5 hours). From Kathmandu and Pokhara, there are direct minivans that go to Gorkha.
Alternatively, you can also take a tourist bus to Aanbu Khaireni and change to a local bus from there.
Looking for things to do in Gorkha? Check out the best things to do in Gorkha.
Which Type of Buses Go to Gorkha?
There aren’t any tourist buses going directly to Gorkha but there are other options on getting there.
Usually, the easiest is to get there by taking a direct minivan (hiace) from Kathmandu or Pokhara. If you want extra comfort, you can take a tourist bus to Aanbu Khaireni and take a local bus from there to Gorkha.
Options:
- Minivan (Hiace) from Kathmandu to Gorkha (direct)
- Minivan from Pokhara to Gorkha (direct)
- Tourist bus to Aanbu Khaireni, then change to local bus to Gorkha
Kathmandu to Gorkha Bus Ticket Price
- Minivan (Hiace) Price from Kathmandu to Gorkha: Rs. 585
- Tourist Bus Price from Kathmandu/Pokhara to Aanbu Khaireni: Rs 1,200-1,600. Then local bus from Aanbu Khaireni to Gorkha is around Rs. 50
How to Travel to Gorkha
How to Travel from Kathmandu to Gorkha
There is a minivan (Hiace) station next to the Lotse Mall (Gongabu/Naya Bus Park). Usually, the minivan leaves about once every hour and you can even just buy the ticket on the spot in the morning.
I still recommend to buy the ticket the day before so you can select and book your preferred seat.
How to Travel from Pokhara to Gorkha
The easiest way to get from Pokhara to Gorkha is by taking a tourist bus to Aanbhu Khaireni (basically, any bus that goes from Pokhara to Kathmandu will pass by there) and then get off at Aanbhu Khaireni. It takes about 4 hours from Pokhara to Aanbu Khaireni.
Once you are in Aanbhu Khaireni, you will be able to catch a local bus going to Gorkha. It takes about 1 hour from Aanbu Khaireni to reach Gorkha.
How to Travel from Chitwan to Gorkha
To get from Chitwan to Gorkha, first you will have to take a tourist bus to Aanbhu Khaireni.
If you are staying in Sauraha (Chitwan), you can take any tourist bus that goes from Sauraha to Pokhara. Then get off at Aanbhu Khaireni and take a local bus to Gorkha.
How Long is the Bus/Minivan Trip to Gorkha?
- Kathmandu to Gorkha: around 6 hours
- Pokhara to Gorkha: around 5 hours
- Aanbhu Khaireni to Gorkha: 1 hour
- Manakamana to Gorkha: 1.5-2 hours (usually, it should take 1 hour but the bus might stop in Aanbu Khaireni for half an hour until the bus fills up with passengers)
Bus Station in Gorkha
The bus station in Gorkha is on the main street (Gorkha Bazaar). If your hotel is on the main street, you will easily reach it by walk. If your hotel is further away and you have a lot of luggage, it is easier to get a taxi.
What is it Like Travelling by the Minivan/Hiace?
The minivans have about 18-20 seats and most of the Nepali people just book the ticket on the spot/the time of the journey. The seats are basic and not as comfortable as on the tourist bus but the journey to Gorkha is not so long so it makes it okay.
As it is a local transportation, the minivans often take on more people than the number of seats. So it can happen that there will be people standing or 2 people sharing one seat.
The helper of the bus usually makes sure that older people, small children and women get to sit down. If you are a foreigner with a pre-booked ticket, they will also make sure that you get to keep your assigned seat.
FAQ: How to Travel to Gorkha
How do I get from Kathmandu to Gorkha?
You have 2 options:
- Take a direct minivan (Hiace) from Kathmandu to Gorkha
- Take a tourist bus from Kathmandu to Aanbu Khaireni, then change to a local bus to Gorkha.
How many Kms is it from Kathmandu to Gorkha?
Gorkha is about 140 kms from Kathmandu and takes around 5-6 hours to get there.
How much is the bus ticket from Kathmandu to Gorkha?
- Minivan (Hiace) Price from Kathmandu to Gorkha: Rs. 585
- Tourist Bus Price from Kathmandu/Pokhara to Aanbu Khaireni: Rs 1,200-1,600. Then local bus from Aanbu Khaireni to Gorkha is around Rs. 50
Where is the Kathmandu to Gorkha Micro Counter?
The Micro Counter is by the Lotse Mall (Gongabu Bus Park) in Kathmandu. If you are standing on the main road in front of Lotse Mall, the micro bus station is to the right hand side. Once you walk down to the right, you will see all the minivans and ticket counter booths.
What is the travel time from Gorkha to Kathmandu?
It takes about 5-6 hours from Gorkha to Kathmandu by the minivans.
How far is Gorkha from Pokhara by bus?
Gorkha is about 5 hours away from Pokhara. You have options to take a direct minivan from Pokhara to Gorkha. Alternatively, you can also catch a tourist bus to Aanbu Khaireni (all tourist buses going to Kathmandu will pass by here) and then change to a local bus to Gorkha.
While the tourist bus is more comfortable, the minivans are cheaper and go to Gorkha directly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, travelling to Gorkha is fairly easy and quick. Gorkha is located between Kathmandu and Pokhara: it is 100 km from Kathmandu and 140 km from Pokhara.
You have two options on getting to Gorkha:
- Take a direct minivan from Kathmandu/Pokhara to Gorkha
- Take a tourist bus to Aanbu Khaireni, then change to a local bus to Gorkha. (The tourist buses that operate between Kathmandu-Pokhara or Chitwan-Pokhara all pass by Aanbu Khaireni).
The bus journey to get to Gorkha takes about 5-6 hours from Kathmandu, and 4-5 hours from Pokhara.
