- Saturday, 27 December 2025
Dailekh, Dec. 27: The beautiful Sundari cannon, standing silently in the courtyard of Kotgadhi, bears witness to the history of Dailekh. Once fired in preparation for war, the cannon is now kept in the open, exposing to the direct impact of sun and rain.
This historic cannon, returned to its original location after five decades, is now awaiting proper conservation.
The Sundari cannon was transferred from Dailekh headquarters to the Jwala Dal Battalion in Surkhet during the famine in 1971 and remained under the custody of the Nepali Army. At that time, other cannons, including the Arga cannon, were also taken away along with the Sundari.
Deeply connected to the history, military heritage, and local culture of Dailekh, the cannon was returned to Kotgadhi-1 of Narayan Municipality after about 50 years, on January 5, 2022. Along with the cannon, 81 shells were also handed over.
When the cannon arrived in Dailekh, locals welcomed it enthusiastically. It was received with grandeur, including Lakhe and Paicharu dances, and music. However, over time, that enthusiasm failed to translate into proper conservation. In four years, necessary infrastructure and protective structures for housing the cannon have not been built.
The approximately 232-year-old cannon is kept in Kotgadhi, a historic fort spread over an area of 50 to 70 meters and standing about 12 feet high. Kotgadhi was used during the unification of the western principalities during the reign of Bahadur Shah as regent. The Sundari cannon preserved here represents the military and political history of Dailekh.
Tirtha Narayan Shrestha, former ward chairman of Narayan Municipality-1, said that most cannons were kept in the open area of the fort. During his tenure, while searching for cannons in Kotgadhi, only the Sundari cannon was found, while the Arga cannon and the statue of Bhagwati were missing.
He said, “The cannon has given the next generation an opportunity to understand history, but the Nepali Army and the municipality still need to pay attention to its preservation. The cannon was brought to Kotgadhi via Kalidatta Gulma in coordination with the Nepali Army.”
Ghazal Khadka, the Major at Kalidatta Gulma in Kandachaur, said that he had not received detailed information about the Sundari cannon and Kotgadhi. He added that although he had recently arrived in the district and observed the area, the actual facts need further study.
He mentioned that even if the cannon was placed on the premises of the Nepali Army after being relocated to the local Tundikhel, responsibility for its protection would lie with the municipality.
Shailes Kumar Shrestha, ward chairman of Ward No. 1, said that Kotgadhi, located in the old market area of Narayan Municipality-1, has not been repaired.
He complained that the Nepali Army stopped the reconstruction work that had been contracted to restore Kotgadhi in its original style, despite the local government sending a letter to the Department of Archaeology and allocating Rs. 9 million from the Tourism Board.
Ward Chairman Shrestha added that although it is said the Arga cannon was also taken from Dailekh to Surkhet along with the Sundari, all concerned bodies should take the initiative to locate it and place it back in Kotgadhi.
Ram Babu Shrestha, a resident living near Kotgadhi in Narayan Municipality-1, said that the return of the Sundari cannon has helped promote tourism in Dailekh and stressed the need to make the site more attractive.
He added that preserving such heritage remains important for Dailekh, which is regarded as the earliest recorded center of language and the origin of 32 ethnic groups.
Locals fear that the Sundari cannon may be damaged by prolonged exposure to sun, rain, and harsh weather. They are demanding that the municipality immediately construct a protective structure to safeguard the cannon.
