Dimapur Kachari Ruins - is one among the oldest surviving archaeological sites of North - East India. It is located within one of the prominent business center of North - East India, Dimapur. The historic site is popularly known as Rajbari Park or simply Rajbari. It is a good place for travelers having interest in history, art, architecture and sculpture, though not a fine place due to the lack of proper preservation and maintenance. It looks like Archaeological Survey of India actually want the ruins to be destroyed totally. Here some duties lies upon the Tourism Department of Nagaland as well as of the Government of Assam to preserve this set of monoliths; as a matter of fact that the Great Kachari Kingdom lied under the geographical area of both of the present states of Assam and Nagaland.
Though the Kachari Kingdom said to be emerged around 10th century AD, the history of the kingdom was much more ancient; however without a proper and continuous written history. And though the loss of the ancient capital city at Kachamari in Golaghat district of Assam forced the Dimasa Kacharis to manage a new capital; the structure of Dimapur Ruins clearly support a very old antiquity. Quantity of the stones used indicate that Dimapur acted as a important urban center of not only in historical Kachari Kingdom but also of ancient Pragjyotish - Kamarup empire of western portion of south - east Asia. The site displays sign of fine ancient stone art and craft; - although not a grand piece of architecture now.
In 1526 AD and 1536 AD Ahoms occupied Dimapur. Both of the attacks had some destructive effects for the old city of Dimapur. But according to oral tradition Dimapur Ruins Site was still something above ruin before 1960s. At least the ruin was easy to identify as a portion of the Royal Palace of the Dimasa Kachari Kings.
The setting mainly has three types of structures :- "Chessman Type", "Y Type" and "Buffalo Horn Type" according to the historians and archaeologist. All of the pieces scattered around the site tells visitors about the development of art, sculpture and architecture in early Kachari Kingdom.
Though poorly preserved and highly neglected one; tourists should visit the site to get the experience of one of the earliest urban civilization in this region.
FACTS
- With all logical possibilities the site happened to be a portion of a Grand Palace of the Kachari Kings.
- Though the Kachari Ruins are said to be constructed around 10th centaury AD the materials used, style of art and oral history of the Dimasa Kacharis demand a longer heritage.
- Some of the historians try to attach the Kachari Ruins as well as Dimapur with a character of Mahabharata; namely Hidimba, actually existed in modern Himachal Pradesh. The fabricated stories for the progress of Indianization supports that the pillars were made for Bhima to play chess.
- A gruop of scholars; influenced by the books of Hindu Tantric Saiva - Sakti cult thinks that the Chessmen Type structures indicate male organ while Y Type and Buffalo Horn Types stands for female organ.
HOW TO REACH
- Dimapur has a good network of Airways, Railways and Roadways
ACCOMODATION
- Dimapur has many comfortable hotels in and around it.
NEAREST CITIES
- Bokajan - 13 Km
- Kohima - 74 Km
By Mrigang Ranjan Loying
Photography By Madhurjya Saikia
