सिंहदरबार संवाददाता
Dadeldhura. The excavation of Ajaymerukot, which bears the history of the Doteli kingdom in Ajaymeru Rural Municipality here, has begun. The excavation of the fort has been started by a team from the Department of Archaeology.
The rural municipality had allocated 9 million for the excavation. With the help of that budget, the team from the Department of Archaeology has been excavating for 23 days. Ajaymerukot was built in the excellent art style of the Katyuri dynasty, said Bhaskar Gyawali, Chief Archaeological Officer and archaeologist of the Department of Archaeology. He informed that the art and construction style of this place, which was excavated for the first time and started research, is different, so it is an area of influence of the Katyuri dynasty.
According to Officer Gyawali, the work of ‘numbering’ the ruins is being done during the excavation. He said, ‘The unique art and construction style of Ajaymerukot is different from the temples east of the Karnali River.’ According to the details obtained during the excavation, there is a style of building temples on the right and left with a pavilion in the middle. The meeting room and naula are of a special type. He said that another team from the Department of Archaeology will conduct further studies in an effort to include Ajaymeru Kot in the World Heritage List.
Saraswati Khadka, Minister of State for Social Development of Sudurpaschim Province, said that the attention of all three levels of government should be paid to the protection and promotion of historical and tourist sites like Ajaymeru Kot. He said that the provincial government is ready to provide necessary support for such programs.
As the importance of Ajaymeru Kot conservation is increasing, the local level has demanded additional budget and necessary support from the federal and provincial governments, informed Ajaymeru Rural Municipality Chairman Umesh Bhatta. Legend has it that Ajaymerukot was founded in the latter half of the 13th century by two brothers, Prince Sahastrapala and Nirayadeva Pala, of the Katyuri dynasty, who fought and defeated the Sinja kingdom, declared an independent kingdom, and established the fort.
Some also say that this fort was built by King Nagi Malla. However, evidence has confirmed that this fort was built by King Pala of the Katyuri dynasty. It is said that Ajaymerukot became known as the fort of Nagi Malla only after Nagi Malla of the Raika dynasty captured Ajaymeru in 1441 BS. Copperplate inscriptions of King Nirayapaladeva and inscriptions up to BS 1419 are found here.
Ajaymerukot has ruins of ancient palaces, naulas, devals, Birkhambas, artistic ceilings, and historical objects including the king’s meeting place. Currently, only two of the three naulas in Ajaymeru are ruins. One naula is being used for drinking water. The stone devals and artistic statues carved in naulas reflect ancient architecture.
The hill where the main palace of Ajaymerukot is located is surrounded by a gad (river). It takes 15-20 minutes to climb from the gad below to the place where the fort is located. The palace and the mansion where the king’s brothers lived on the hill with a coat of arms are visible in ruins. The entire structure of the palace is in a dilapidated state. It is said that the main palace was seven-storeyed when it was built. From the topmost floor, the temple of Jagadamba Bhagwati, the ancestral goddess of the Katyuri dynasty, built by the Katyuri king in Uttarakhand, was visited and water was offered.
On this side is the place where the king’s horses are tied. The locals call it ‘Gholidaans’ (horse stable). From the east-south of the palace grounds to the place where the gaad (river) is located, there are 25 ancient tunnels with windows carved from the ground, marked with stones, and closed from above, so that it would not be dark when going from the fort to the gaad.
From the fort site to the gaad, there is a meeting place for the people of the palace. The locals call it ‘Okhadeki Mandou’. There are two temples on top of the gaad, and there are three ancient water wells at the top of the Karputar field. This place is famous for observing the historical Malla period palace.
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