Chaudandigadhi Durbar: Udayapur’s Hills Chronicles
Hill palace breathes memory above Triyuga’s bends.
Origins of hill rule
A long ridge holds the fort and the breeze. Stone and timber sit tight on the spine of Udayapur. Locals call it Chaudandigadhi Durbar. Walls speak in low tones; drains and stairs finish the lines. I study hill forts across Nepal, and this plan reads clean. A citadel first, a court later. The site surveys river bends, trade footpaths, and fertile terraces with steady calm.
Sen dynasty; rulers!
Tradition places the build with Mukunda Sen of Palpa, who pushed east to widen rule. Udayapurgadhi rose as seat and signal. The Sen line kept order here. During Nepal’s unification drive, Prithvi Narayan Shah’s force pressed the fort. The garrison broke, and the ruler slipped away. The crown changed, yet the hill kept its watch and its lessons.
Unification, changes
Even after the fall, administration hugged the ridge. Panchawati, Udayapurgadhi Rural Municipality, held district offices until 1972. Records, stamps, and roads followed. I have read district files and walked the old routes; the shift shows in markets and school catchments. The palace site stayed a landmark, a study hall for lineage, building craft, and frontier politics.
Plan a mindful visit
Start from Gaighat and aim for early light. Dry months bring clear horizons; monsoon trails can slip. Wear firm shoes; carry water; hire a local guide when paths split. Drones unsettle birds and prayer spaces, so keep them grounded. Read carvings, lintels, and drainage; they reveal design intent. Spend rupees in nearby tea stalls. Your visit funds care, and care keeps the fort alive for the next set of eyes.











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