ASI approves excavation at ancient Balirajgarh fort in Madhubani

Patna: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has granted approval for excavation work at the remains of the ancient Balirajgarh fort in Madhubani district, JD(U) national executive president and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Jha said on Friday.Balirajgarh, also known locally as Raja Bali ka Garh and associated with King Bali of Ramayana fame, is one of the 71 centrally protected sites of national importance in Bihar under the ASI’s Patna circle. Spread over 176 acres, the site was first identified in 1884 by George Abraham Grierson, then Madhubani sub divisional magistrate, Babubarhi MLA Meena Kumari said while raising the issue in the Bihar legislative assembly on the last day of the budget session on Friday.

She urged the govt to develop it as a tourist destination with proper facilities.Tourism minister Arun Shankar Prasad, however, said the site’s protected status prevents the state govt from undertaking development work there.Located about 260km north of Patna and 38 km from Madhubani district headquarters, the fort dates back to the 2nd century BC and remained in use until the Pala period. Excavations in 2014 yielded around 400 antiquities, including terracotta human and animal figurines, beads, bangle fragments and parts of ceilings.

Jha described the ASI’s decision as a moment of immense joy. A letter dated Feb 20 from the director (archaeology) to the superintending archaeologist, Patna circle, approved the “archaeological works code for conducting excavation at the remains of ancient fort of Garh, locally known as Raja Bali ka Garh, Balirajgarh… as per the area to be excavated duly marked in red colour on the attached site plan of the site herewith”.The letter further stated, “A complete list of antiquities found during the excavation should be intimated to this office… A detailed report of the results of the excavation should be submitted to the director general within three months of the completion of the fieldwork… This approval is valid for one year from the date of issue of this letter.”“I have been in constant communication with the secretary of the Union ministry of culture and the director general of the ASI for the past few days in this regard. The area designated for excavation is marked in red in the attached site plan. This excavation will be conducted under the direction of Dr Hari Om Sharan, superintending archaeologist, ASI, Patna circle. Scientific excavation of this historical site has the full potential to shed new light on the ancient civilization, culture, and glorious past of Mithila,” Jha said.