Gajendra Chowk
.jpg) Gajendra Chowk | |
 Interactive map of Gajendra Chowk | |
| Native name | गजेन्द्र चौक (Nepali) |
|---|---|
| Former names | Tribhuvan Chowk, Gol Chowk |
| Addresses | Rajbiraj-7, Rajbiraj Road |
| Location | Rajbiraj, Saptari, Nepal |
Postal code | 56400 |
| Coordinates | 26°32′22″N 86°44′55″E / 26.539581°N 86.748538°E |
| Construction | |
Construction start | December 27, 1956[1] |
| Inauguration | March 11, 1960[2] |
| Other | |
| Status | pedestrianised |
Gajendra Chowk (formerly Tribhuvan Chowk and Gol Bazar Chowk) is a four-way town square, historical landmark[3] and the busiest commercial and business center in the town of Rajbiraj.[4] The township of Rajbiraj was systematically designed in 1938 during Rana regime. The initial grid design town planning consisted of Gol Bazar Chowk (transl. Round Market Chowk), which connects the neighbourhood from each direction and worked as a roundabout.[5]
Until 2007, the square hosted a statue of the then king, Tribhuvan Shah, and was known as Tribhuvan Chowk (lit. 'Tribhuvan Square'). The statue of Tribhuvan was vandalised during the Madhesh movement in 2007. A statue of Gajendra Narayan Singh was installed in the centre of the chowk, and it was officially renamed Gajendra Chowk.[6][7]
On all sides, the chowk is lined with public commercial banks, more than a hundred retail shops, stalls, vendors, and historic residential buildings.[3] The National Highway 14 passes through this chowk and ends at Rampur Malhaniya near the Indo-Nepal border.[8]
History
[edit]On December 27, 1956, the then king Mahendra Shah laid the foundation stone at Gol Bazar Chowk to build a square structure with a statue of Tribhuvan in the centre.[1]A local marwari businessman, Yashkaran Chaudaria, donated the statue of Tribhuvan, which he brought from Rajasthan, India.[9][a]
After the completion of the structure, Mahendra visited again on March 11, 1960, to inaugurate the Gol Bazar Chowk and during his speech, he thanked the public of Rajbiraj and expressed heartfelt gratitude to Yashkaran Chauradia.[2]
The square was renamed as Gajendra Chowk after the first Madhesh Movement in 2007.[11]
Location
[edit]The chowk is a junction of four different pathways and is surrounded by historical buildings, which were built from 1945 to 1950 CE. The eastern side connects to the branch office of Laxmi Sunrise Bank, shopping stores, Saptari Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and the fish market. The western side leads to several jewellery stores, pharmacies, clothes shops, branch offices of commercial banks, the Janakpur High Court (Rajbiraj Bench), and the Saptari District Court. The northern side of the chowk is connected to the branch office of Nepal Bank Limited, various fruit stores and Mahabir Chowk. The southern and last part leads to mobile stores, hardware stores, and Dashan Chowk.[12][13] The chowk is a common location for religious and political rallies.[14]
Gallery
[edit]
The chowk seen from the western side alley.
The close view of the roundabout structure at the chowk.
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 श्री ५ महाराजाधिराजबाट बक्सेका घोषणा, भाषण र सन्देशहरू (२०११ साल चैत्रदेखि २०२१ सालसम्म) [Announcements, speeches and messages from His Majesty the King (from April 1955 to 1964)] (in Nepali). His Majesty King, Panchayat Ministry, Advertisement Department. 1965. p. 625.
- 1 2 श्री ५ महाराजाधिराजबाट बक्सेका घोषणा, भाषण र सन्देशहरू (२०११ साल चैत्रदेखि २०२१ सालसम्म) [Announcements, speeches and messages from His Majesty the King (from April 1955 to 1964)] (in Nepali). His Majesty King, Panchayat Ministry, Advertisement Department. 1965. p. 203.
- 1 2 Luitel, Kumar. "राजविराज : ७८ वर्षको बिरासत, कसरी बस्यो सहर ?" [Rajbiraj: 78 years of legacy, how did the city survive?]. Baahrakhari (in Nepali). Retrieved 28 August 2026.
गणतन्त्र स्थापनापछि नयाँ स्मारक बनाइएको छ । फराकिलो चौरस्तासहितको गजेन्द्र चोक सुन्दर र सफा छ । पहिले यो ठाउँलाई त्रिभुवन चोक भनिन्थ्यो ।
[After the establishment of the republic, a new monument was built. Gajendra Chowk with its wide square is beautiful and clean. Earlier, this place was called Tribhuvan Chowk.] - ↑ Karna, Binay (10 February 2025). "Traffic management initiative launched in Rajbiraj". GorakhaPatra. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
Although construction began in 2017, delays have forced public vehicles to park haphazardly in the heart of Rajbiraj, particularly at Gajendra Chowk and along the main road.
- ↑ Department, Nepal Information (1975). मेचीदेखि महाकाली [Mechi to Mahakali] (in Nepali) (1 ed.). His Majesty Government, Information Ministry. p. 819.
- ↑ Yadav, Saurav (22 May 2026). "राजविराजको मुटु गजेन्द्र चौक अब आधुनिक स्वरूपमा" [Gajendra Chowk, the heart of Rajbiraj, now in a modern form]. Madhesh Live (in Nepali). Retrieved 29 August 2026.
सहरको मुटु तत्कालीन त्रिभुवन चौक हाल गजेन्द्र चौकको कायापलट हुने भएको छ । मधेशका मसिहा स्व. गजेन्द्रनारायण सिंहको नाममा स्थापित उक्त चौक तथा बजार क्षेत्रलाई आकर्षक बनाइने भएको छ ।
[The heart of the city, the erstwhile Tribhuvan Chowk, now Gajendra Chowk, is set to be transformed into a modern chowk. The square and market area, established in the name of the late Gajendra Narayan Singh, the Messiah of Madhesh, is set to be made attractive.] - ↑ "गजेन्द्र चौकको उपेक्षा" [Negligency of Gajendra Chowk]. News Today (in Nepali). 17 February 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
नेपाल सद्भावना पार्टीका संस्थापक अध्यक्ष स्व. गजेन्द्रनारायण सिंहको शालिक रहेको गजेन्द्र चोकलाई मधेशवादका हरेक समर्थकले पवित्र स्थलका रुपमा लिने गरेका छन् ।
[Gajendra Chowk, which houses the statue of the late Gajendra Narayan Singh, the founding chairman of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party, is considered a sacred place by every supporter of Madheshism.] - ↑ "Statics of National Highway 2022-23". Department of Roads (.pdf). 22 September 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ Mandal, Muktinath (1999). Saptari Darpan. Gopal Charity Trust. p. 28.
- ↑ Jha, Ajay Kumar (23 June 2020). "हनुमाननगरको ऐतिहासिक नाम हनुमानगढी" [The historical name of Hanumannagar is Hanumangadhi.]. Online Khabar (in Nepali). Retrieved 29 August 2026.
मुक्तिनाथ मण्डलले आफ्नो सप्तरी दर्पण नामक पुस्तक
[Muktinath Mandal published his book Saptari Darpan.] - ↑ "Madhesh-based politics teetering under statue of Gajendra Narayan Singh". Setopati. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ Upadhyay, Rabik. "Rajbiraj on the go". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ Jha, Abadhesh. "मुहार फेर्ला राजविराजले ?" [Will Rajbiraj change?]. Ekantipur (in Nepali). Retrieved 29 August 2026.
हरेक तीन प्लटपछि सडक, हटियाको छुट्टै व्यवस्थापनका साथै अड्डा लाइन, गल्ला लाइन, कचहरी लाइन, आवास लाइन, मनिहारा लाइनलगायत छुट्टाछुट्टै सेक्टरअनुसार बजार क्षेत्र विस्तार गरिएको थियो
[After every three plots, the market area was expanded according to separate sectors, including the Adda line, Galla line, Court line, Housing line, Jewellery line, along with separate management of roads and huts.] - ↑ Jha, Ajay Kumar. "राजविराज, राजदेवी र रोज सिटी अर्थात् गुलाबी शहरको सुर" [The connection of Rajbiraj, Rajdevi and Rose City]. Online Khabar (in Nepali). Retrieved 29 August 2026.