Forgotten founder - Nepali Times

SURESH RAJ NEUPANE

Prithvi Narayan Shah was born in the room this door leads to

Prithvi Narayan Shah, the founder of modern Nepal, was born in 1723 in Gorkha. But the palace from where he led his campaign for unification is in a state of disrepair. The royal throne and other articles of historic significance in the Gorkha Darbar are blanketed with dust, and the path leading to the palace is damaged. The caretakers complain that the government has not shown any interest in preserving the palace, and since the abolition of the monarchy has cut down the number of staff employed for its upkeep from 114 to 56.

Baikunthanath Yogi, the priest of the Gorakhnath Temple on the palace premises, complains that the government hasn't done anything to stop encroachment on temple property. The 60-year-old priest's family have served the temple for 12 generations now. Yogi himself has been serving the temple for 40 years, yet his monthly allowance remains stuck at Rs 1,666.

Despite government apathy, over 2,000 people visit the palace on certain days, including large numbers of students.

NHUCHHE MAN DONGOL

View of the Gorkha Darbar from an adjacent hill

Priest of the Gorakhnath temple Baikunthanath Yogi, whose stipend hasn't gone beyond Rs 1,666 a month in years

The courtyard in which the shrine to Gorkha Kalika Devi is located

The throne of the founder king of Nepal, Prithvi Narayan Shah. This room is not open to the public.

The front fa�ade of the Gorkha Darbar, with a sign that reads 'Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal'

1. amit

what a shame....!!!! welcome to new nepal

irrespective of the fact that we now "hate" each other,and have gone communal this is part of our history,we are what we are and our present is shaped by what started in the little room in gorkha durbar.

Posted on: 14 JAN 2011 | 11:15 PM NST

2. jange
Was Prithbi Narayan a good guy or a bad guy?

Posted on: 16 JAN 2011 | 6:31 PM NST

3. Deepak Luitel
we all nepali need to ask question by ourself. whether we should celebrate or declared public holiday on Prithvi day. I think we should celebrate or declared public holiday on the occassion of Rrithvi day. Prithvi Narayan Shah who conquered all the scattered 22 and 24 states to build single country called "Nepal". He is our history, we need to preserve it...so that up coming generation can't be forget about it. Was Prithvi Narayan Shah is a good leader or bad leader? the answer of this question depend upon individual people level of understanding. The monarchy is already abolished in the country...but we should n't forget those hero fought to build the Nepal. The government and political leaders, historian and we individual people should preserve the ruin the Gorkha palace and employed good care taker people to preserve our dignified and glorying history started from that palace. The political leaders should n't think and believe that the country is already become federal democratic country..and why should we celebrate Prithvi day? this kind of misconception shouldn't injected in the mind. The modern Nepal is not that we should forget our glorifying history.

Posted on: 19 JAN 2011 | 9:31 PM NST