The Gurkha Memorial Museum

From the stupa, we went to see a bridge channelling the mineral-rich waters coming down from the Himalaya. This was also our lunch stop, so we had an hour. It wasn't on the itinerary, but the Gurkha Memorial Museum was nearby, so Steve decided to go there instead. I went to see the bridge, which turned out to be decidedly underwhelming! It only took five minutes to walk down and come back up again. I was hungry, so I went to look at the recommended restaurant. It wasn't very appealing, so I went across the road and had an iced coffee and fried chicken momos at the Gurkha cafe. They were very tasty.

Afterwards, I still had time to visit the museum. It is located next to the Gurkha barracks and recruitment centre run by the British army. Every year, hundreds of Nepali men come here to brave the rigorous selection process to become a Gurkha soldier. Prospective recruits have to perform backbreaking physical tasks. Only the fittest and most dedicated succeed. Those who do are identified by their curved khukuri knives. Gurkhas are one of the world's toughest fighting forces. Recruits find roles in the British and Indian armies, the Brunei Gurkha Reserve, and the Singapore police.

The museum celebrates the achievements of Gurkha regiments, covering the period from the 19th-century Indian Uprising, through two world wars, to current conflicts and peace-keeping missions. I didn't have much time to look around, and no photos were allowed inside, but it was an interesting visit, and I'm glad I did it.

Then, it was back on the bus to visit two caves. The first was Bat Cave. The conductor on the bus told us it was a black hole full of bats, and the admission price included a torch! Both Steve and I decided to give it a miss. Instead, I spent the time looking around the nearby clothes stalls. I ended up buying a pair of trousers and a top - £8 for both 😊.Read more