Visiting my ancestral home, Gorkha, brings me joy: Former King Shah

Kathmandu / March 22: Former King Gyanendra Shah has expressed his happiness upon arriving at his ancestral home in Gorkha district.

After offering prayers at the Gorakhnath Temple on Saturday, he told a group of journalists that while Gorkha is not his birthplace, it is the land of his ancestors, and he felt joy visiting his ancestral home.

“I am happy to be in Gorkha. It is not my birthplace, but it is the land of my ancestors. I am also happy to meet everyone here,” he said.

He stressed the need for peace in the country and stated that no one should wish harm upon others. “The country needs peace right now. No one should wish ill upon anyone; everyone should wish well. I hope for peace and development in the country, and for everyone to achieve happiness and prosperity,” he said.

This marks Shah’s first visit to Gorkha since the establishment of the Republic of Nepal. He prayed at the Gorakhkali and Gorakhnath temples, spending nearly two hours at the Gorakhkali Temple, which is revered as the family deity of the Shah dynasty. He also visited the Gorkha Durbar, which had been rebuilt after the earthquake.

He has planned a visit to the Manakamana Temple for prayers on Sunday. During his visit, supporters of the former king raised royalist slogans for a while. They also organized a motorcycle rally from Abukhaireni to Gorkha Durbar.