Baitadi’s Kullekot Durbar awaiting conservation

BY A CORRESPONDENT

Baitadi, Aug. 2: The Kullekot Durbar, the place to deliver justice in the ancient time, located in the hill nearby Dewalhat of Dashrathchand Municipality-4, Baitadi, has been left without conservation. 

According to the local informant Uddhav Markand, Rudra Bir Shah had ruled in the Kullekot from 1630 to 1650 B.S. It is said to have been built before 12th century. 

Markand said that Rudra Bir was the 20th king. After that, Rana Dev ruled Baitadi Garkha and delivered the justice. Garga Dev continued to rule after the death of Rana Dev. 

Pancha dewal is located next to Kullekot. According to the literature, in the ancient time dewals were built in the form of temple to hide the weapons. He said that though people now worship the dewal as a temple, earlier it was used as a secret place to hide arms by the kings. It is believed that the Kings used dewal to hide arms as people would not attack a temple, he added.

Lekhak said that the shields, swords and hilts were found during the restoration of Pancha dewal by the Department of Archeology (DoA) eight years ago, confirming that Pancha dewal was a place where the then kings used to keep weapons. He said that this was further confirmed by the inscription "Garga Dev Putrasya" (meaning son of Garga Dev) written on the inscription found in Pancha dewal.

Another local informant Bir Bahadur Chand, 84, said that even though the DoA had shown interest in the conservation of Pancha dewal, it had left Kullekot untouched. He said that since the land of the Kullekot was transferred to the Chand family members, it could not be conserved. 

There is a Dhajya stone in Gwalek near Dasharathchand Municipality-4, Kullekot. At that time, this stone was used to alarm the Kullekot Durbar about the imminent attacks, known as dhadiunya (loud announcement) in a local language. Even now in the Gwalek area, Dhajya stone is worshiped as a stone that speaks of injustice.

Locals said that it is necessary to protect the historical objects, inscriptions and ancient statues in Kullekot. Uddhav Markand, a local youth, said that if the historical objects located there are not protected in time, they risk being stolen.