By:- Prakash Man Sakwo
The ancient town of Sankhu or Sakwo (original name) is well situated at the crossroads between Nepal and Tibet. The trade route passed through this beautiful town. It was the first resting place after a day's walk from the Kathmandu valley. Tradesmen, travelers and monks going to Tibet and further north and east from Nepal stopped here. This is the last town before the start of the two months' long treacherous travel to Lhasa through the rugged Himalayan ranges. From here the road is risky with desolate mountains. In fact, it is believed that the significance of Sakwo's development as a flourishing town is due to this critical location at this point in Nepal to Tibet route. The convoys starting from here travelled with hundreds of porters, mules, and donkeys carrying supplies and merchandise.
Those rich merchants who had their own houses in Sakwo rested there but others just rented a place for a few nights of preparation for their long journey to the north. There were several resting places called Phalcha or Satah which were free for any travelers. Local people also could use these for resting and socializing. During summer, these Satahs were
Tole in Sakow is one of the most popular resting places for travelers used for the last three to four hundred years.
During the festival of Pancha Dana, Goddess Bashundhara is placed in this Satah. It is believed that this Satah was built by Shahu Jaishankar Bharo of Bhujinpataa in early eighteenth century during the period of Bhupalendra Malla. It is a beautiful two storey building with elaborately ornate wooden carved windows and pillars prominently located.
It is decorated with Sal wood carved windows, doors and columns and is an architectural marvel of the town of Sakwa.
The front façade facing north to the main street reflects the rich carving tradition of Sakwo. The five-bay carved Sanjhya, a masterpiece of the late Malla period, is flanked by two single windows. The top of the middle bay is adorned with an exquisitely carved image of Narayana riding on a Garudha. On the east side facing a dyo daboo originally had three bay Sanjhya flanked by two single windows which were later replaced by a large single window. On the ground floor, there were rows of six carved pillars on the north side and four on the east side. The elaborate carvings on the wooden beam or lintel and the wooden brackets indicate the importance of this Satah. Leading to the top floor is a beautiful carved Malla period door. There are also two niches recessed into the wall and decorated with a highly ornate frame. Niches housed the stone images of Bishworupa Narayana and a Narayana with four arms. Both the images are missing now. The stone
inscription commonly found in such with the initiative of the local people, decorative edifices is also missing.
The building was in poor condition before the great earthquake in April 2015 due to lack of proper maintenance. The roof was damaged, the wall cracked, and woodwork town of Sakwo. decayed. During the earthquake, the eastern half of the Satah completely collapsed. Seven years later,
finally Tuladhar.the Archaeological Department and Sankhu Municipality have started to rebuild this historical Satah, an architectural marvel, which will help to revive the past glory of this beautiful
Translated by Swayambhu Dhar
0 Comments