Page 120 - Social Studies 4

Nuwakot used to be a kingdom of Chaubise states before. The great King
Prithivi Narayan Shah had invaded Nuwakot for greater Nepal in 1801 BS.
Nuwakot was also made capital city of Nepal from 1801 to 1825 BS.

Nuwakot was popular as ‘Nawakotta’ before. It means, there used to be
nine forts (Killa). Nuwakot was the main fort among Belkot, Bhairabkot,
Kaliakot, Malakot, Dhuwankot, Pyaskot, Simalkot and Salyankot. In course
of time, people felt comfortable to say Nuwakot instead of ‘Nawakott’.
So, it is believed that the name ‘Nuwakot’ was derived from ‘Nawakott’.
The forts were usually made on high altitude to protect kingdom from
enemies.

The famous Sat Tale Durwar (seven storey palace) of Nuwakot was built by
Prithivi Narayan Shah in 1762 AD. He had called the architects and labours
from Lalitpur to build this palace. In 1793 AD the King Rana Bahadur Shah
met the British representative Mr. William Kirkpatric in the same palace
just after the Nepal-China war.

Apart from this, rest houses, dabalis(inn), temples and stupas of historical,
cultural and archeological significance were built in Nuwakot. Among
them Rangamahal, Garad Ghar, Topkhana and Barudkhana are major.
Similarly, the cultural performances such as Bhairabi Jatra, Narayan
Jatra, Gai Jatra, Shipai Jatra, Devi Jatra, Lakhe dance, Fulpati and Krishna
Janmastami, etc. are still observed with pride since Malla period. Bhairab

Bhairabi temple is popular for ferocious forms of Lord Shiva and goddess
Parvati with a significant model of sculpture art.

Now, ‘Prithvismarak,’ has a statue been erected in Devighat to pay
respect to the Great King Prithvi Narayan Shah.

116 Megha's Integrated Social Studies - 4