Balambū

Stone stele found standing near the ruins of the Mahā Lakṣmī Pīṭha temple, close to the stream Indramatī (Mulakhu), Balambū. Saṃvat 129 (or 109).

Inscription carved on a stone stele found standing near the ruins of the Mahā Lakṣmī Pīṭha temple, close to the stream Indramatī (Mulakhu), Balambū. Saṃvat 129 (or 109).

Slab of stone standing near the ruins of the Mahā Lakṣmī temple in Balambū. Saṃvat 55.

Inscription carved on a slab of stone standing near the ruins of the Mahā Lakṣmī temple in Balambū. Saṃvat 55.

Slab of stone found in the village of Śatungal, near Balambū, Thānkot. Saṃvat 519.

Inscription carved on a slab of stone found in the village of Śatungal, near Balambū, Thānkot. Saṃvat 519.

Slab of stone found in a ditch next to Luk Mahādev, north to the village of Balambū, Thānkot. Saṃvat 482.

Inscription  carved on a slab of stone found in a ditch next to Luk Mahādev, north to the village of Balambū. Saṃvat 482. The exact text of this inscription is also found in other three inscriptions from the same date: the Chowkitar stone inscription of Ganadeva and Bhaumagupta (IN02022), the Kulāchetole Stele Inscription (IN02024) and the Kisipidi Inscription Stone Inscription 2 (IN02025), differing only from IN02024 and IN02025 in the name of the locality. Here and in IN02022 the place is called śītāṭikātale tegvalgrāma.

Regmi (1983a:42) writes about these inscriptions: “As it appears the stones are scattered in different villages, which are situated in close proximity to one another in a larger locality called sītāṭikātale (valley). Perhaps the area now covered by the villages of Thankot, Satungal, Kisipidi, Balambu and Chowkitar with the river Balkhu flowing from the northern side below the hills, the river itself forming a bed outsmarting the hilly bases, was known as sītaṭīkā and because it was an expansive belt the name tala was given to it.

We know that the Chowkitar inscription was addressed to the inhabitants of Tegvalagrāma. But two others are not known fully because of the first letter missing. However, the Kisipidi inscription gives a very meaningful name, Kichaprinchinggrama but the names appearing in the Satungal and Balambu stones do not provide a clue to their past names judged from the nature of the present names.”

Slab of stone lying in the Chowkitar field near Balambū, Thānkot. Saṃvat 454.

Inscription carved on a slab of stone lying in the Chowkitar field near Balambū, Thānkot. Saṃvat 454.