Achham: The historic Bimkot Durbar (palace), located in Mellekh Rural Municipality in Achham, has been handed over to the local government. Janak Bahadur Shah, the former ruler of Bimkot, transferred ownership of the palace to the local government during a ceremony held on Wednesday.
The palace covers an area of 6.5 ropani (one ropani is equivalent to 5,476 square feet), and Rural Municipality Chair Jwalasingh Saud assumed ownership.
This transfer of ownership signifies that the responsibility for preserving and promoting this historical heritage now rests with the local government. The palace is situated within a jungle area, with no human settlement in close proximity. The temple of Shodshadevi is positioned above the temple, surrounded by the Bimkotigadh and Chote River on two sides.
This temple, established in the 16th century, received official recognition in 1997 BS. A stone inscription in Farsi language was discovered in the temple and has been placed on the Shodasadevi Temple premises.
According to Shah, the old Bimkot Palace was flattened by the major earthquake of 1990 BS. His grandfather, Nagendra Bahadur Shah, constructed the existing structures, a project that took 13 years to complete.
The descendants of the rulers of Bimkot resided in the palace until the onset of the armed conflict. Historical documents and other valuable items associated with the palace were destroyed during the conflict. As a result, the palace is in urgent need of renovation.
