Bāruda Ghara at Sītāpokharī Ṭola, Nuwakot

Curated by Rajan Khatiwoda

Bāruda Ghara at Sītāpokharī Ṭola, Nuwakot
Photo by Yogesh Budathoki, April 2024

The Bāruda Ghara (DANAM ID: NWK0390), or “ammunition house,” in Sītāpokharī Ṭola, Nuwakot, lies in ruins as of April 2024 CE. Built in the late 1740s during Pṛthvīnārāyaṇa Śāha's rule, it originally had three floors with jhĩgaṭī tiles. To the west, a śivaliṅga dedicated to Nātheśvara Mahādeva and a Gaṇeśa statue worshipped as Kāryavināyaka are housed within a small shrine, along with statues of Gorakhanātha and Bhairava. Previously a graveyard for the Kapālīs, the site expanded its ammunition manufacturing during the Rāṇā period. It remained operational until 1971 CE when the district headquarters moved to Bidur. Despite neglect, the site still hosts traditional ceremonies like the plantation of jamarā and the sacrifice of a duck during the Dasaĩ festival, funded by the government. For more details, visit our database.