Heritage · Gorkha
Barpak, the Gurkha village at the quake's heart
A drive into northern Gorkha to Barpak, a large Gurung and Ghale village known for its Gurkha soldiers, near the epicentre of the April 2015 earthquake and since rebuilt, with homestays and views of the Manaslu range.
Barpak sits high on a slope in northern Gorkha district, a large, dense village of Gurung and Ghale families. For generations it has sent men to the Gurkha regiments; among them was Gaje Ghale, awarded the Victoria Cross in Burma in 1943. Pension money and remittances shaped the village long before tourism arrived.
On 25 April 2015 the earthquake that devastated central Nepal struck with its epicentre close to Barpak, and almost every house in the village was destroyed or damaged. Today Barpak is largely rebuilt, many houses now in concrete and brick, and families talk openly about that day and the years of reconstruction. Some run homestays for visitors.
The road from Gorkha bazaar is long and rough, around 4 hours depending on conditions, and can be blocked in the monsoon. Stay a night, walk the village lanes, visit the memorials, and look north to the Manaslu range. It is a sobering, rewarding trip for travellers interested in how hill villages live with risk.
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Questions
Where was the epicentre of the 2015 Nepal earthquake?
The epicentre of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake on 25 April 2015 was in Gorkha district, near the village of Barpak, northwest of Gorkha bazaar. The earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people across Nepal. Barpak was almost completely destroyed and has since been rebuilt, much of it in concrete and brick.
How do I get to Barpak from Gorkha?
Barpak is reached by a rough road north from Gorkha bazaar, around 4 hours by jeep depending on road conditions, longer after rain. Local jeeps run on the route; a private jeep is easier. In the monsoon, landslides can block the road. Plan at least one night in the village.
Can I stay in Barpak?
Yes. Some families in Barpak run homestays and small lodges for visitors, offering simple rooms and home-cooked meals. Facilities are basic. Arrange your stay through a guide or agency in advance, as options change. A night lets you walk the village, meet families and see the mountain views at dawn.
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