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{{Short description|Archaeological site in India and Nepal}}
{{About|the medieval city|Municipality in Nepal|Simraungadh (Municipality)}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Simraungadh
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| image = Simraongarh city plan (1991-92).jpg
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| caption = Location of the medieval city of Simraungadh on the India-Nepal border following archaeological excavations
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| founded = 11th century
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| demolished = 1324
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'''Simraungadh''', (also referred to as '''Simramapura''', '''Simraongarh''' or '''Simroungarh''') ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|iː|m|r|aʊ|n|g|ɜːr|}}) was a fortified city<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lunden|first1=Staffan |year=1994 |title=A Nepalese Labyrinth |journal=Caerdroia |volume=26 |pages=13–21 |url=http://www.labyrinthos.net/C26%20Nepalese%20Labyrinth.pdf}}</ref> and the main capital of the [[Karnats of Mithila]],<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bu61AAAAIAAJ&q=Karnat+rulers+of+Simraon |title=Civilizational Regions of Mithila & Mahakoshal |last=Jha |first=Makhan |date=1982 |publisher=Capital Publishing House |language=en}}</ref> founded by its first ruler, [[Nanyadeva]]<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Os8BAAAAMAAJ&q=Nanyadeva |title=Mithila Under the Karnatas, C. 1097-1325 A.D |last=Sinha |first=Chandreshwar Prasad Narayan |date=1979 |publisher=Janaki Prakashan |language=en}}</ref> in 1097.<ref name='Mithila'>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JO4toCiJ2ecC&q=%25E0%25A4%25A8%25E0%25A4%25BE%25E0%25A4%25A8%25E0%25A5%258D%25E0%25A4%25AF%25E0%25A4%25A6%25E0%25A5%2587%25E0%25A4%25B5 |title=Mithilak Itihas |trans-title=मिथिलाक इतिहास|last=Chaudhary |first=Radhakrishna |publisher=Ram Vilas Sahu |isbn=9789380538280 |pages=70–112 |language=hi}}</ref><ref name='TFC'>{{cite journal |last1=Cimino Maria |first1= Rosa|date= August 1986|title=Simraongarh The forgotten city and its art |url= http://lib.icimod.org/record/9735/files/6966.pdf|access-date=3 February 2019|language= en |journal= Contribution to Nepalese Studies |volume= 13 |issue= 3 |pages=277–288 }}</ref><ref name='Anceint'>{{cite journal |last1=Garbini |first1= Riccardo|date= October–November 1993|title=A Fragmentary Inscription From Simraongarh, The Ancient Mithila Capital |url=http://www.doa.gov.np/downloadfile/ancient_nepal_135_full_1498121466.pdf|access-date=3 February 2019|language= en |journal= Ancient Nepal |issue= 135 |pages=1–9 }}</ref> At the present time, the excavations show that the city is located on the [[India–Nepal border|India-Nepal border]]. There is also a [[Simraungadh (Municipality)|municipality]] by the same name in [[Nepal]].<ref name="Investigation">{{cite journal |last1=Vidale |first1=M |last2=Lugli |first2=F |title=Archaeological Investigation at Simraongarh |journal=Ancient Nepal |date=1992 |page=2 |url=http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/ancientnepal/pdf/ancient_nepal_126-127_01.pdf |accessdate=6 August 2020}}</ref>
The archaeological site is currently split between [[Bara district]] in Nepal in the north and [[East Champaran]] in [[Bihar]], [[India]] in the south, both falling within the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila cultural region]].<ref name=Jha2019>{{cite book |last1=Jha |first1=Pankaj |title=A Political History of Literature: Vidyapati and the Fifteenth Century |date=2019 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780199489558 |page=27 |doi=10.1093/oso/9780199489558.001.0001 |url=https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780199489558.001.0001/oso-9780199489558}}</ref><ref name='fortifactions'>{{cite journal |last1=Vidale |first1= M. |last2=Balista |first2= C. |last3=Torrieri |first3= V.|date= October–November 1993|title=A Test Trench Through the Fortifications of Simraongarh |url=http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/ancientnepal/pdf/ancient_nepal_135_02.pdf |access-date=11 March 2021|language= en |journal= Ancient Nepal |issue= 135 |pages=10–21 }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Shah Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq arrives in Tirhut. Depicted by eyewitness Muhammad Sadr Ala-i in his BasaUn al-uns, ca.1410. Istanbul, Topkapi Palace Museum Library, Ms. R.1032.jpg|thumb|upright=2|Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq leading his troops in the capture of the city of Simraungadh (1324). A 1410 Jalayrid Mongol illustration of the ''Basātin al-uns'', a book written by [[Muhammad Sadr Ala-i|Akhsatan Dehlavi al-Hindi]], a member of the Tughluq court and an ambassador to Iran. Ca.1410 copy of 1326 lost original. Istanbul, Topkapi Palace Museum Library, Ms. R.1032.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=ÇAĞMAN |first1=FİLİZ |last2=TANINDI |first2=ZEREN |title=Selections from Jalayirid Books in the Libraries of Istanbul |journal=Muqarnas |date=2011 |volume=28 |pages=230, 258 Fig.56 |jstor=23350289 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/23350289.pdf |issn=0732-2992}}</ref>]]
[[Harisimhadeva|Harisingh Dev]] (r. 1295 to 1324 CE), the sixth descendant of [[Nanyadeva]] was ruling the Tirhut Kingdom. At the same time, the [[Tughlaq dynasty]] came to power and ruled the [[Delhi sultanate]], and whole of [[Northern India]], from 1320 to 1413 CE. In 1324 CE, the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty and Delhi Sultan, [[Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq|Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq]] turned his attention towards [[Bengal]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VwYcAQAAMAAJ |title=History of Muslim rule in Tirhut, 1206-1765, A.D. |last=Choudhary |first=Radhakrishna |date=1970 |publisher=Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series Office |language=en}}</ref> The Tughlaq army invaded Bengal and on his way back to Delhi, The sultan heard about the Simraungarh which was flourishing inside the jungle.<ref>{{cite book|last=Thapa|first=Netra Bahadur |year=1981 |publisher= Ratna Pustak Bhandar |title=A Short History of Nepal |pages=38–39 |url=https://pahar.in/mountains/Books%20and%20Articles/Nepal/1981%20A%20Short%20History%20of%20Nepal%20by%20Thapa%20s.pdf}}</ref> The last king of the [[Karnats of Mithila|Karnata dynasty]], Harisingh Dev didn't show his strength and left the fort as he heard the news of approaching army of the Tughlaq Sultan towards the Simraungarh.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Abdusi Akhsatan Dehlavi|first=Mohammad bin Sadr Taj |year=1301–1335 |publisher= Center for Persian Research |title=Basatin-Ul Uns |pages=XXI |url=https://archive.org/details/BasateenUl-Uns-MuhammadBinSadrTajAbdoosiAkhsitanDehlaviFarsi}}</ref> The Sultan and his troop stayed there for 3 days and cleared the dense forest. Finally on day 3, the army attacked and entered the huge fort whose walls was tall and surrounded by 7 big [[ditch]]es.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Firishtah |first=Muḥammad Qāsim Hindū Shāh Astarābādī |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KzrN2oNBAL4C |title=History of the Rise of the Mahomedan Power in India, Till the Year A.D. 1612 |date=1829 |publisher=Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green |language=en}}</ref>

The remains are still scattered all over the Simroungarh region. King Harisingh Deva fled northwards into the then Nepal. The son of Harisingh Dev, Jagatsingh Dev married Nayak Devi, the widowed princess of [[Bhaktapur]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://simroungarh.wix.com/home |title = Simroungarh | Nepal | Heritage & Archaeological Site}}</ref>

==Medieval city plan and fortification==
[[File:City plan according to Cassiano Beligatti in 1740.svg|thumb|City plan according to Cassiano Beligatti in 1740]]
The medieval city of Simraungadh was enclosed within an impressive system of earthen ramparts and infilled ditches.<ref name='book'>{{Cite book |last=Khanāla |first=Mohanaprasāda |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wadPAQAAMAAJ |title=Simaraunagaḍhako itihāsa |trans-title=History of Simraungadh |date=1999 |publisher=Nepāla ra Eśiyālī Anusandhāna Kendra, Tribhuvana Viśvavidyālaya |language=ne}}</ref> The fortification of the medieval city has a rectangular shape and ground plan. The fortifications of Simraungadh are called '''Baahi''' locally<ref>{{Cite web |title=बारा जिल्लाको ऐतिहासिक पर्यटकीय गन्तव्य सिम्रौनगढ |trans-title=Simraungadh is a historical tourist destination of Bara district |url=https://nepalpatra.com/visit/89242/ |access-date=2021-03-11 |website=nepalpatra.com |language=Nepali}}</ref> and remembered as a [[Labyrinth]].<ref name='Investigation'/> The fort is spread in 6 [[Kos (unit)|Kos]]<ref name='survey'>{{cite journal |last1=Sharma |first1= Janak Lal |date= January 1968|title=चितवनदेखि जनकपुरसम्मका केही पुरातात्विक स्थल|trans-title=Some archeological sites from Chitwan to Janakpur |url=http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/ancientnepal/pdf/ancient_nepal_02_02.pdf |access-date=11 March 2021|language= Nepali |journal= Ancient Nepal |issue= 2 |pages=1–10 }}</ref> and the main enclosure is about 7.5 km north–south and 4.5 km east–west. The eastern and western sides of the fort were built over two natural embankments. The western side of the fort was dry in comparison to the eastern side.<ref name='fortifactions'/> The Labyrinth and the powerful defence system of the city were well planned to protect from the river floods, and enemies and regulate agriculture from controlled flow of water from the ditches showing the ability of the Kingdom.

During the reign of [[Ramasimhadeva|Rama Singh Deva]] ([[Reign|r.]] 1227 - 1285 CE) over Simraungadh, the Tibetan monk [[Dharmasvamin]] visited the fortified city in 1236 AD on his way back to [[Nepal]] and [[Tibet]] from [[Nalanda]]. He made the following remarks regarding the palace and fortification system of Pa-ta (Simraungadh), {{Cquote|quote=The city was surrounded by seven tall walls, and the palace had eleven large gates and was surrounded by 21 ditches filled with water and rows of trees. The height of the city walls was equal to that of a Tibetan fort. The protective measures were taken due to [[Tughlaq dynasty|Tughlaq armies]], who led an army expedition but failed to reach it.}}

After the fall and decline of the Karnat dynasty from Simraungadh,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Giri |first=Sheetal |title=डोय राज्यको स्थापना र पतन |trans-title=Rise and fall of Doy Kingdom |url=https://nagariknews.nagariknetwork.com/arts/349181-1601458479.html |access-date=2021-03-12 |website=Nagarik News |language=ne}}</ref> the region was either controlled by [[Oiniwar Dynasty|Oiniwar rulers]] or Makwanpur rulers until the [[Unification of Nepal]] in 1768 AD. During the period, an Italian Missionary traveller Cassiano Beligatti, with seven other missionaries reached this place on their way to [[Kathmandu Valley]] from [[Patna]] on 29 February 1740.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Landon |first=Perceval |title=Nepal |date=2007 |publisher=Rupa & Co |isbn=978-81-291-1084-8 |location=New Delhi, India |pages=175–176 |oclc=244248214}}</ref> He describes his journey on his travelling manuscript about this place is as follows, {{Cquote|quote=There were some old ruins, and some seemed to be remains of substantial buildings. The city was situated in the quasi-labyrinth enclosed by high walls and was impossible to enter except in a single spot. There were four fortresses, which were evenly distributed from place to place within the enclosures of the labyrinth; and these enclosures had a distance from one side to the other of about a Kos or two miles, and the walls were extremely high with a width in proportion.<ref name='Lunden'>{{cite journal |last1=Lundén |first1= Staffan |date= June 1998 |title=A Nepalese Labyrinth |url=https://gup.ub.gu.se/file/208264 |access-date=11 March 2021|language= English |journal= Istituto Italiano per l'Africa e l'Oriente (IsIAO) |volume= 48|issue= 1/2 |pages=117–134 }}</ref>}}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px">
File:Simroungarh Toran Dwar Statue.jpg|Simraungadh Toran Dwar Statue
File:Pillar at Simroungarh.jpg|Pillar at Simraungadh
File:Statue of Brahma from Simroungarh at National Museum Kathmandu.jpg|Statue of Brahma from Simraungadh at National Museum Kathmandu
File:12th century Stone Inscription from Simroungarh in Tirhuta script.jpg|12th century Stone Inscription from Simraungadh in Tirhuta script
File:Simroungarh Brahma statue.jpg|Simraungadh Brahma statue
File:Simroungarh Gautam Buddha.jpg|Statue of the [[Buddha]] found at Simraungadh
File:Simroungarh Dwarpal in Ranivas.jpg|[[Dvarapala]] found at Simraungadh
File:Simroungarh Shiva statue probably.jpg|[[Shiva]] found at Simraungadh
File:Simroungarh Garuda.jpg|Statue of [[Garuda]]
File:Simroungarh Bhairav.jpg|[[Bhairava]] statue
</gallery>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{coord missing|Bihar}}

[[Category:Historical geography of Nepal]]
[[Category:11th-century establishments in Nepal]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 11th century]]
[[Category:1320s disestablishments in Asia]]
[[Category:Capitals of Mithila]]

Simraungadh (medieval city) - Revision history

Drsandeepjhaliver: put up new place