Jitāpura Gaṃcā at Kvaylāchi, Khokanā

Curated by Rajan Khatiwoda

Jitāpura Gaṃcā at Kvaylāchi, Khokanā
Photo by Yogesh Budathoki, December 2024

The Jitāpura Gaṃcā (DANAM ID: KHO0030), a north-facing, tile-roofed maṇḍapa central to Khokanā’s famed Rudrāyaṇī (Sikālī) Procession, stands as a key cultural landmark believed to have lent its name—‘Jitāpura’—to the Sanskrit designation of the village. Originally constructed in 1758 CE by 38 individuals from three guṭhīs led by Siddhisiṃha Bhāvo, the structure was severely damaged in the 2015 earthquake but has since been reconstructed. Funded by Chinīmayā Maharjan in memory of her late husband and parents, the NPR 700,000 restoration preserved the maṇḍapa's distinctive features, including its jhiṅgaṭī roof, carved struts, and stone maṇdaḥpāḥ. Jitāpura Gaṃcā continues to serve as a sacred resting place for the goddess Rudrāyaṇī during her biannual processions, reinforcing its role in the spiritual life of Khokanā. For more details on this monument and others, please refer to the DANAM database.