MYAGDI: The historic Gharpajhong Fort of Mustang has been reduced to ruins due to lack of conservation.
The structures that make up the fort have started becoming decrepit and turning to dust.
The fort located in Gharapjhong Rural Municipality-5, Jomsom, the district headquarters, is made of mud and it dates back to the eighth century AD.
Garavjong (Gharapjhong) fort near Thini, the center of the ancient kingdom called ‘She-Riv’, which existed before the entry of Buddhist tradition, is a historical site in Mustang.
According to historical documents of Mustang district, King Thokerchen used to run the kingdom from the fort. There are ruins of buildings and other structures in the fort premises. It is said that there was human settlement at this place.
According to Chandra Bahadur Thakali, the village elder of Jomsom, the settlement on the hill had shifted to Syang, Thini, Marpha, Chhairo and Chimang as the five villages of Thak.
Rajendra Thakali, a resident of Thini, said that the historic structures made of mud have been destroyed. He expressed concern over the lack of concrete conservation planning and work.
Only the remains of the walls of houses made of mud can be found at the site at present. If the dilapidated structures can be preserved, it is possible to make the future generation understand history of the place and attract tourists.
Gharapjhong is a 10 minute hike from Thinikhola which is reached by vehicles in five minutes from Thini village. There is also a route to Gharapjhong via Dhumbatal. Gharpajhong rural municipality has also constructed a road and footpath to the fort from Thinikhola.
The locals have also constructed a small stupa (Buddhist temple) at Gharapjhong fort.
Chairman of Gharapjhong Rural Municipality, Mohan Singh Lalchan, said that Rs 1 million has been allocated in the current fiscal year 2024/25 for developing the master plan for the conservation of Gharapjhong Fort, construction of infrastructures and its promotion as a tourist destination.
One can have a panoramic view of the settlement of Jomsom, Thini, Syang, Marfa village, Dhumba lake, the snaking Kaligandaki river, Thinikhola and the Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri mountain peaks from the Gharapjhong Fort.
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