Silgadhi is the head quarter of Doti District, Farwest Nepal. According to history it was also known to call ‘CHANDAN GIRI PRABHAT’. Early age, Silgadhi was the capital of several Known Districts of Nepal(Today). It Includes all the modern district up to Salyan including Humla, Jumla , Surkhet etc.
They all were the part of Uttarakhand (Modern India). Silgadhi was the business and central trade center of these places. Especially those who sing the DEUDA songs are recognized as DOTYAL and the place as DOTI.
Kings of Doti were among the wealthiest king of historical Nepal and the people of doti were master in making tunnel and canal. They had made lots of tunnel here to hide from hostile and to transport. Canal for taking water from valley to ridge as king lived at ridge and watch each citizen’s activity. King’s palaces were made up of Bajra mortar (Dal, Lime, sand). They had made coins of gold and silver and import salt from the other nations of modern India. King Dilip was the last king of Doti Kingdom.
SHAILESHWORI TEMPLE
One of the famous temple of Hindu and recognized as one of the few tourist destination of far west Nepal located at the heart of Silgadhi. History says that temple was founded before 1400 years when a shepherd saw a cow giving milk to a White stone(SHILA in Nepali). He found that very cow giving milk to stone regularly which was at the middle of the dense forest. People usually don’t go to jungle for pasture because of carnivorous animal which kills animal, but the cow was neither afraid nor killed. Then he decided to call another person for the thing that cow has done. At night he had a dream of goddess who appeared before him from that white stone and told him to move that stone to the holy soil of Chandan Giri. He woke up and with the traditional music and puja he transferred the stone to Chandan Giri and the Goddess was the incarnation of lord BHAGWATI and named SHAILESHWORI.
By that day the place of holy soil was called SILGADHI and People all over Nepal have a great believe in lord Shaileshwori. She was one of the sister among seven and a brother. Her brother viz. MASTA MAHARAJs temple is also located in the premises of Shaileshwori tourist Area.
People of Silgadhi don’t start any of their work without calling the name of Shaileshwori. They believe in lord Sailehwori that she would fulfill their destiny.
MOVEMENT OF NEWAR TO SILGADHI
Newars are the original people of Kathmandu valley. When the unification of Nepal was started by King Pritivi Narayan Shah, they fought several times to conquer valley but failed and finally took hand over and Malla Kingship of valley were demolished. They left valley for the search of other place to live and Malla King of Bhaktapur travelled to west routing Pokhara, Baglung etc and finally settled in Silgadhi.
Newars of Silgadhi are not only the people from Bhaktapur but also from Palpa, Pokhara and Baglung. They travelled here before 250 years. They settled in a community and named that place Indra Chowk and the city extended for more than 4 K.M. after then.
TEMPLES OF SILGADHI
Where there are newar their main thing is to build temple in their community. As Shaileshwori Temple is the main temple, and other hundreds of temples can be seen here. There are 2 Krishna Mandir, 1 Ram Janaki Mandir, 2 Shivalayae, 2 Ganesh mandir, 1 Bhimshen Mandir, 1 Gauri Qundal, 1 Dhare Masta thaan, 1 Masta Maharaj mandir, 1 Therie Maroo, 2 Badi Malika Thaan, 1 Batuk vairab temple , 2 Kalika temple and so on.
Other major temples of district are Salmuni, kote vairab, Dhudheswor, Ahutola, Akhiri Malika, Suna Devi, Ghuwara etc.
DURING RANA REGIME
Lots of palace were built during this regime. Since it was the capital they opened a school named Chandra Path sala before 2000 B.S. when Chandra Samsher was the prime minister of Nepal. Padma Samsher established Padma Public High School in 2004 B.S. which is still the largest School of Doti. This place was known for the fastest growing economy during this regime after Kathmandu Valley.
MODERN DOTI
Doti is no longer the part of Uttarakhand, India nor the capital of Shurkhet, Humla, Jumla, Salyan etc. but still known as the place to sing deuda and origin of deuda. Doti is now confined as a small district of Nepalese map which share boarder with Accham, Bhajang, Kailali and Dhadeldhudra. It is now head quarter of Far Western development Region Nepal. For major government and non-government sector work, people have to visit this place. West Seti river(major glacier river of Nepal) flow through this district with lots of small streams. Doti District contains 52 V.D.C. and a Municipality. For health services people of here don’t need to go to other place. Education is also good here.
EDUCATION
According to History, for best education people came here. Dr. K.I. Singh is an example. Jay Prithivi Bahadhur had established public school here when education to public was not allowed in Nepal. Vasha School was established in 1945 B.S. followed by Chandra Path Sala, Padma Public High school etc. then the Government of Nepal decided to open a regional University here and established Tribhuvan University Regional Campus in 2017 B.S.
Here priority is given to Government school rather than Private one so more than 150 schools are established in Doti. Three of them are especial and funded by MS Nepal, DANIDA, GTZ etc. for best education. Bal mandir was established here for welfare of children with auditorium.
Geet Pustakalaya is the library where we can find book related with religion, society, language. Shaileshwori Public Library is the biggest library of Silgadhi where we can find book related with Medical, Engineering, Society, Language, Laws, Science etc. Small library are also established here for children.
SPORTS
Cricket and football are the major games to play here. District team of Doti have won a first runner up cup in cricket. Volleyball is also played here. In Nepalese Kabaddi, Team Doti had a major role. In female national Kabaddi, Doti had won national title in 2041 B.S. Biratnagar and in 2042 B.S. had organized the national Khabaddi too. Despite these Badminton, Taekwondo, karate, athletics are also played here.
AGRICULTURE AND GREENERY
Doti is very fertile place. Wheat, paddy, maze, potato are the major crops grown here. Mango, Guava, plum, peach, pear, grape, sweet orange are the major fruits.
Forest fruits like katush, kafal, ayshelu, ghamgaru, damaru etc can be found here. People collect and sell ‘em. Coffee it the most suitable plant to seed here.
About 73% of total area is covered by Forest. Sal, Rhododendron, salla, banyan, peepal etc are the commonly found trees. This forest is the home of lots of animals like Bengal Tiger, Wild Bore, Wolf, Fox, bear, Ghoral, Dumshi, wild rabbit etc with birds like Danfe, Munal, Kaliz, sparrow, bulbul, several species of crows, red legged partridge, spiny babbler, Vulture, Eagle, Bats, Parrot, pigeon, love bird, tailor bird etc.
Dipayal(regional heard quarter) temperature fall between 30c to450c and Silgadhi(district Head quarter) temperature fall between 10c to 320c. In 2053 B.S. Silgadhi had last snow fall.
KHAPTHAD
Silgadhi is the gate way to Khaptad National park. It’s a park which is solitary from noise, pollution. Only we can find is peace, everywhere. It would take 1 day (8hrs) walk to reach Khaptad from Silgadhi, no motor way. It is a best route for trekking lovers for asylum in nature.
It is the place of lord 1008 Khaptad Swami. You can find 22 patches where wild horses run, Danfe Kot, Khaphad daha. For butterfly and flower lovers it’s a perfect destination. More than 850 spices of butterfly are found here.
Tourist Guide: pack your warm Clothes (temperature -150c to 270c according to season), take air ticket or coach bus from Kathmandu to Dhangadhi (1hr 15mins airway, 14hrs bus way), take 1day rest there, buy bus ticket to Silgadhi and travel for 6hours. Book a guest house, take a guide and move to Khaptad. You need to take you own food and tent to live.
MINERALS
Soda, slate, Mica, lime are the major minerals found here. Ancient civilians extract gold from Seti river which flows from Himalayas crossing sunni ghat carrying gold with alluvium. Silver and rock Asphalt are also found here but not sufficient for profit to extract them. Recently, researcher had found petroleum oil here.
COMMUNITY
Different people of different community lives here. Newar(Shrestha, Joshi, Raj Bhandari, Bhijukchhe, Malla) is the Major followed by Brahman(Bhatta, Joshi,pant) , Chhetri(Khadka, K.C. , Bam, swar, Malashi, Dhami, Saud, Bohora) and Dalit(Sob, Parki, Mijar, Nepali, B.K). Nepali and Dotyali are the major spoken language. Newar of here do not speak Newari.
FESTIVAL
Silgadhi is as rich as Kathmandu valley in celebrating festival. Being Hindu, Dashain and Tihar are the major festival. Beside these Holi, Bhimsen Jatra, Gaura, Krishna Janmastami, Dol Jatra, Gai Jatra, Lakhe jatra, Ghate Mangal, Olkae, Indra Jatra, Baag Jatra, Putala are popular among Newar Community and celebrated all over Silgadhi. Thulo Jath of Lord Shaileshwori is also a big festival to celebrate. New year festival ‘Bishau’ is celebrated in the beginning of every new year. Then two days Bhimsen jatra in the month of Baishak. Month of Shawan is the month of festival. In this month people celebrate Ghate Mangal, Lakhe Jatra(Naach), Gai Jatra, Krishna Janmastami, Dol jatra, Baag jatra, Indra jatra). Then in month of Margh people celebrate Jath, a major festival. Putala naach in first of Magh with Makar Sankranti.
In Shaileshwori temple, Nepalese People Celebrate Lakshyahum in every 12 years as a major festivalof Nepal and in every 144 years, Coutihum. Last Coutihum and Lakshyahum was celebrated in 2059 B.S. for 12 days.
FOOD
Fharwo is the main dish of this place with Nepalese cultural dal, Bhat, Curry, Pickle. People usually take rice at lunch, Chapattis at dinner. Tea in morning.
DRESS
No distinct dress is seen here. The cultural dress of Nepalese society is rarely seen though some people still use Dhaka Topi, Patuki, Daura Suruwal and women Gunyo Choli.
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