Pokhara: Khukuri Knife Making Workshop with Gurkha Forge

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.95 (171 reviews) 96% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/45

Duration4h

GroupUp to 5

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Forge a traditional khukuri knife in Pokhara with Gurkha makers

You’ll start at the Gurkha forge in Pokhara, hammering hot iron alongside skilled locals as you shape your own khukuri knife. Watch sparks fly during expert grinding (from a safe distance), then finish by buffing and polishing your blade before sharing tea and laughs with your hosts. You’ll walk away with your handmade knife — and maybe a few new stories too.

Step-by-step itinerary

Khukuri Knife Making Workshop

Hammer the iron piece
Observe first grinding
Buff and polish knife
Receive finished khukuri knife

The Experience

We ducked into the forge just as the clang of metal started up — not loud, but steady, almost like a heartbeat. The air smelled sharp, kind of metallic but also smoky, and there was this warmth that hit you right away (not just from the fire). Our host, Suman, handed me a chunk of raw iron and grinned. “You’ll remember this sound,” he said, before showing us how to hold the hammer properly. I was nervous about messing it up — it’s not every day you try making a khukuri knife in Nepal — but Suman kept things light. He joked my first swing was “gentle like dal bhat,” which made everyone laugh.

The process took patience. My arms got tired faster than I’d admit, and sparks flew when Suman did the blade grinding (we had to step back for that part — safety first). Watching him work was hypnotic; his hands moved so quickly and confidently. There was this moment when he held up the half-shaped blade against the light and nodded at me — I felt oddly proud, even though mine still looked more like a kitchen spatula than a warrior’s knife. The khukuri has all these little details: a nick near the handle for tradition, the curve that makes it special to Nepal’s hill tribes. I didn’t expect to care so much about those small things until I saw them up close.

After buffing and polishing (which is way more satisfying than it sounds), we sat outside for tea and snacks while our knives cooled down. Someone tried to pronounce “khukuri” right — Suman laughed and gave us an impromptu language lesson that mostly ended in giggles. The finished blade wasn’t perfect, but it fit my hand just right. I keep thinking about how many stories are wrapped up in something as simple as a knife here. It’s honestly one of those experiences that sticks with you long after you leave Pokhara.

What’s included

Your day includes all tools needed to craft your own khukuri knife at a real Gurkha forge in Pokhara.
hands-on forging steps guided by local experts.
snacks during breaks.
plus you’ll take home your finished blade as a unique souvenir from Nepal.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by I. Experience Nepal