LAMJUNG: A large stone known as ‘Thuldhunga’ sits on the banks of the Madi River, about 500 meters from the Ishaneshwor Mahadev Temple in Karaputar, Central Nepal Municipality-7 in Lamjung district.
This historically and mythologically significant stone remains neglected despite its cultural value.
According to local legend, the stone marks the spot where a woman in labor for seven days was buried. However, efforts to preserve this heritage site have been lacking.
Historical records indicate that in 1829 BS, the wives of King Bir Narayan—Shaladhara, Saklan, and Kumari—devotees of Shiva and Parvati, donated a guthi of 140 muri of land and grain in the name of Ishaneshwor Mahadev.
This was intended for the celebration of Shivaratri and to serve yogis and saints. Over time, the guthi land was transferred to tenants, and its original purpose has faded.
An inscription on the stone reads: “Shri Shake, sixty-ninety-four years old, wrote the religious deeds of Sri Birnarayan, Shaladhara, Saklan, and Kumari, the seven-and-twenty-four years old…”—though the inscription remains partially unclear.
A traditional fair once held at the site has also stopped in recent years, and locals recall that flowers were once hung there on “Haribodhini Ekadashi”, a practice that too is vanishing.
Local resident Nar Bahadur Gurung lamented the lack of attention toward preserving the stone despite its cultural importance. However, Gunaraj Ghimire, chair of the Ishaneshwor Mahadev Area Development Committee, said that efforts are now underway to develop the area as a tourist site and conserve the stone and its historical records.
Ward Chair Hira Bahadur Gurung and Mayor Ramesh Kumar Pandey have also pledged to allocate budget for its preservation, recognizing the urgent need to protect this cultural heritage.
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