Heritage Site Asurgarh – Narla in Kalahandi Neglected: The A.S.I must held responsible

Asurgarh [Narla], District Kalahandi, a contemporary metropolis of Sisupalgarh, Kosambi, Ahichatra, Ujjaini and other ancient Indian cities remains unexcavated and unpreserved in true sense of the term. After the finding of the largest hoard of Punch – marked coins [Total 539] from the fort area in 1966, and the trial trenches laid down by late Prof. N.K Sahu in 1973, to determine its cultural sequences [from C 300BC to 500AD], Archaeological Survey of India has declared the Fort as ‘Protected Monument’ and pitched a Sign Board and posted two guards at the site. The stone embankment provided by the A.S.I, Bhubaneswar Circle in 2008 to protect the western wall of the fort from the river action of the Sandol is haphazard in nature.


The significance of Asurgarh in Indian Archaeology, History, and Culture needs no elaboration. The fort, antiquities and its environment itself speak volume of its importance in India as emporium of Bead trade, Political hob of the Atavikas and Kantarakas from 4th century BC up to the 5th century AD. Its hydraulic system is unparallel. The fort was planned in rectangular as per the Kautilyan principle of Durgavidhana and ancient Indian geometrical formula. The fortification covers around twelfth hector of land. Still today the height and width of the fortified wall measures 11 m x 7.5 m and the encircle moat measures 36 m in width. Moreover, this heritage site has been a pride of the people of Western Orissa.

Yet, Asurgarh is not excavated horizontally nor it is preserved scientifically. Many mounds are already demolished. Bulldozer was used to remove the mud walls surrounding the habitation site [outside the fort] during 2005-2007. Archaeological Survey of India has been a mute spectator of the waning out of this ancient metropolitan centre of India located in Kalahandi district. As such, A.S.I has failed to perform its duty and responsibility, asserts Prof, Dr. A. K Nanda, the Convenor of Kalahandi Vision 2020, a non – political Forum recently formed in Kalahandi under the leadership of Sri. Bhakta Charan Das, M.P [Parliament] and others. Dr.Nanda has further warned massive people’s agitation against A.S.I and Government, if it fails to do horizontal excavation and scientific preservation of Asurgarh during 2010-2011.