Mustang. There is a 1200-year-old historical palace in ruins in Kagbeni village of Baragung Mukti Kshetra-4 of the district. This seven-story palace, built entirely of adobe, has now been converted into four floors.
The kings of that time used to rule from this palace located in Kagbeni, Mustang. Locals say that there is a history of kings from Jumla sitting in the palace at that time and ruling. According to the locals of Kagbeni, sufficient information about this palace and the king who ruled here is still under investigation.
The historical Kagbeni Palace is located among the old houses built of stone and mud in the narrow streets of Kagbeni village. Former chairman of Baragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality, Fenchok Chhepten Gurung, mentioned that the king who came from Jumla at that time used to challenge the king of Lomanthang while staying in this palace.
He said that it is said that the king of that time left the palace after being defeated by the Mustangi king. According to former President Gurung, there is a history of the kings of that time who came from Jumla and ruled from Pandakhola in Mustang to Ghiling in Upper Mustang.
He mentioned that there are records that the kings of that time ruled over Kagbeni, including Phalyak, Dhakarjung, Pakling, Tiri, Purang, Jhong, Muktinath, Chhusang, Tetang, Chaile, Samar and Ghiling villages.
‘The kings of that time used to live in the Kagbeni palace and oppress and oppress the people. The present-day Baragung Muktikshetra was called (Njyap Baragung) and the king used to give food to the people and put them to work. “Research has revealed that the king would punish people by physically torturing them if they did not follow his orders,” said former president Gurung.
He said that it is still not clear which king from Jumla ruled Kagbeni.
‘We are looking for its records, we are in the process of collecting resources on many topics,’ said former president Gurung. ‘The aim is to develop this historical palace as a museum. However, there is not enough support from the rural municipality and locals for this.’
About twelve hundred years ago, there was a milk tank in Kagbeni village. Lakshmi Gurung, chairperson of the Kagbeni Temple and Shraddhasthal Management Committee, mentioned that the king of that time built a seven-story palace with 108 rooms here by filling the same milk tank.
She said that the palace, which was built entirely of clay, collapsed as it deteriorated due to wind, storm and sun, leaving only four floors remaining. Chairperson Gurung informed that the foundation of the palace built at that time was about two meters higher. He said that there are stories that the foundation was built by pressing down on the foundation by a yak while building the king’s palace.
Chairperson Gurung said that the Bhatin song, which began when this palace was built, is still in vogue when singing songs during the important cultural festival Yartung in the Baragung Mukti Kshetra. He said that in Mustang, this song is sung only by the locals of Kagbeni during the Yartung festival, and it is not popular in other villages.
‘This song sung by the locals of Kagbeni during the Yartung festival honors the Kagbeni palace and covers the theme of the construction of the palace,’ he said. Inside the Kagbeni ruins, the ruined palace, along with the idols of Guru Rinpoche and other gods and goddesses made of clay, are still preserved inside the palace.
The remaining floors of the palace are used for local workers, while the inside has become like a cattle pen. Most tourists are unaware of this palace located in Kagbeni, Mustang, which is a famous religious place. The historic Kagbeni Palace has fallen into a dilapidated state due to lack of proper conservation.
Some parts of the three floors above the old palace of the Seven Kings are still standing. The remaining four floors are also in a dilapidated state. The Kagbeni Palace is currently awaiting conservation. Locals say that if the old palace can be preserved through research and conservation, it will help promote tourism in the area.
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