Dullu Palace

Dullu Palace
Ruins of the palace
General information
Type	Palace
Location	Dailekh, Nepal
Completed	1453 BS (1396-1397)
Destroyed	April 2002

Dullu Palace (Nepali: दुल्लु दरबार) used to be the administrative centre of Dullu Kingdom in ancient Nepal. It is located in Dailekh district of western Nepal.^[1] In April 2002 (29 Baisakh 2059 BS) Maoist bombarded the palace.^[2] Currently, the ruins of the palace exist in the current spot.^[3] The local government is trying to find funds to renovate the palace and convert the place into a tourist attraction.^[4]

History

The palace was built by king Sansari Bamm as the administrative centre of Dullu-Sinja kingdom in 1453 BS (1396-1397). It was the winter palace; the summer palace was in Sinjakot in Jumla. In the reign of Uttim Sahi, in 1943 BS (1886-1887), Amar Singh Thapa annexed it into the Gorkha kingdom. However, the son of Uttim, Rudra Sahi was allowed to rule under the Gorkha Kingdom. After the unification of Nepal, Prithvi Narayan Shah ruled the Dullu Kingdom. Then after, Rudra Shah, Shree Bhakta Bahadur Shah and Janga Bahadur Shah became the king of Dullu. ^[5]

After the Raja Rajauta Unmulan Ain was enacted in 2018 BS, the land where the palace was distributed to 11 proponents. However, no one has claimed the palace. Due to the dispute, the National Archaeology department has not renovated the palace.^[6][7]

Architecture

The palace was built by carpenters from Kathmandu. It was built with baked bricks and tilled roof. It had 18 rooms and 36 carved wooden windows.^[2] There is a temple of Hindu goddess Kali near the palace. In Dashain, pilgrims come to the temple to sacrifice animals.^[8] There are some stone inscription in Devnagari Script dating back to 1354.^[9][10]

References

1. "दैलेख जिल्लाकाेे परिचय". Retrieved 2021-02-11.
2. "दुल्लु दरबार खण्डहर". SouryaOnline. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
3. Gellner, D.; Hachhethu, K. (2008). Local Democracy in South Asia: Microprocesses of Democratization in Nepal and its Neighbours. Governance, Conflict and Civic Action. SAGE Publications. ISBN 978-81-321-0016-4.
4. Setopati. "Thousand years old heritages in Dailekh await conservation and promotion". Setopati. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
5. "अस्तित्व संकटमा दुल्लु क्षेत्र,देखिँदैन सिंजा साम्राज्यको शितकालीन दरबार". Thaha Khabar. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
6. "संरक्षणको पर्खाइमा गर्भा दरबार, सडक सञ्जालमा जोडियो". Retrieved 2021-02-11.
7. "पूर्वाधार अभावले पर्यटकीय क्षेत्र ओझेलमा". पूर्वाधार अभावले पर्यटकीय क्षेत्र ओझेलमा. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
8. "एतिहासिक दुल्लु दरबार : जंगबहादुरको मावली घर, अस्तित्व संकटमा". esetokhari.com. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
9. "Dullu". Goldsmiths, University of London. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
10. "Dullu Durbar : A Heart Of Mid Western Region Dailekh Nepal". notes Nepal. 2020-12-16. Retrieved 2021-02-11.