Where is Bir Ghorka?

Russ Kay

Russ Kay

Joined
Dec 19, 2000
Messages
186
Just where in Nepal is Bir Ghorka located? Is it near Khatmandu? Eastern, Western, or Central part of Nepal? I tried looking on a couple of maps, but didn't find anything useful.
 
BirGorkha is the company name - Surya Benai is the colloquial name for the town near which it is located - east of Kathmandu, in the valley.
 
That's right, Wal. I think about 20 Km from Kathmandu central -- not far enough when things get nasty. The proper spelling of the town is Surya Benaik to the best of my knowledge. Like chakma(k), ending k's sometimes get lost.
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino
That's right, Wal. I think about 20 Km from Kathmandu central -- not far enough when things get nasty. The proper spelling of the town is Surya Benaik to the best of my knowledge. Like chakma(k), ending k's sometimes get lost.
Click to expand...

I found "tour guide" information under the "Surya Banayak" spelling - not much in the way of pix (other than temples and squares) but among one of the items was a narration by an Englishman who took a cab from Kat to Surya Banayak, using a map, attempting to tell the cab driver where he should be going. It could have been re-made into part of a "wild ride, car chase" thriller :D
 
I just checked our latest DHL airwaybill (due to recent unpleasantness in Nepal we have had to switch from UPS to DHL among many other forced changes) to see what it said. Good for a chuckle.

The parcel originated at:

"Bhaktapur, Surya Binayak,
Kathmandu, Nepal,
Nepal"
 
Bhaktapur is an adjacent town to Surya Bana (Bina) yak, or a suburb - It appears they have listed the pick-up point, or point at which the shipment was tendered, the DHL Terminal area, and departure city, all under "Origin" on the original airbill. This is fairly common in countries where "store door pickup" is not available. Pala, Sarge, or whoever, takes the shipment to a prearranged pickup point to meet the driver (Bhaktapur) who takes it to the local terminal (Surya Banayak) from where it is transported to Kathmandu, the "port of exit" from Nepal.

Did you ever find out why the FDA is interested in Khuks? Is Saatisal edible?
(Edit) I wrote that last as a dumb joke, and it lit a small light bulb :) One variety of Saatisal (more of a shrub, I think) is used to manufacture health-food type remedies for nearly everything from headaches to shin splints. Does the export declaration mention Saatisal as part of the shipment content? That _could_ be the flag that might put the FDA on a shipment of Khuks. If that should be the case, tell Pala change "Saatisal" to "Wood", and if they want specifics, call it "Native Oak". No fibs, just honest, bland obfuscation :p
 
Yangdu is busy unpacking and tells me there was nothing but khukuris in the parcels -- which does not mean that some village foodstuffs (ghundruk, goat jerky, yak cheese, etc.) were not confiscated. Sometimes it is, sometimes not. There are also two bone handled kothimodas which could have been suspect.

I noticed there are more government papers coming with the shipments than before. Things are tougher.
 
I was wondering if anyone has the GPS coordinates for Bir Ghorka? Times have changed in the last decade. I think it would be cool to place a pin on the map to mark where my Khukuri was made.
 
It is a bit to the south of Shangri-La.

It can't be found, only stumbled upon. Like Shangri-La or Brigadoon.

This is for good reason, in a politically unstable part of the world.
 
Ah, so THAT is where Doolittle really flew from... That whole thing with the Hornet was just a cover! :D
 
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