During the reign of the Baise-Chaubis, the Sinja of Jumla was considered a powerful state in western Nepal. Sinja was considered powerful in terms of language and culture, as well as economic, social, and geopolitical aspects.

‘Until 1846, there was a big bazaar in Sinja, various costumes made of wool were exported from China, goods were sent to the surrounding states from the Sinja bazaar,’ said historian Ramananda Acharya, ‘Sinja’s trade relations also extended to India, due to that relationship it was a self-sufficient state.’ 

The Sinja region is now spread over Sinja, Hima and Kanakasundari rural municipalities. Its population is 32,200. But due to government neglect, the Sinja civilization has reached the point of extinction.   

This kingdom was founded by King Jalandhar in 1444 BC. He and his successors ruled Sinja, the birthplace of the Khas language, for almost 300 years. ‘The Nepali language is believed to have evolved from the Khas language. King Jalandhar was a devotee of Shiva. He named Sinja by combining the previous letter of Shiva, ‘Si’, and the previous letter of his name, ‘Ja’,’ said Sinja Rural Municipality Chairman Purna Prasad Dhital. ‘There is a history of the Khas king invading the Nepal Valley in the east twice and establishing the Karta kingdom, and incorporating the kingdoms of Kumaon and Gadwal in the west into his empire.’ According to Kanakasundari Rural Municipality Chairman Damodar Prasad Acharya, the Jumla kingdom was more prosperous and powerful during the reigns of Kings Nagaraj and Baliraja. ‘Until the Gorkha army captured it on Asoj 3, 1846, the last king of Jumla, Suryaman, ruled this kingdom,’ he says. ‘Sinja Valley was the capital of the Khas Mallas. Even today, ancient and historical heritage including copperplates, goldplates, inscriptions in the Nepali language are preserved here.’

There are three dozen religious sites in the Sinja Valley, including Kanakasundari Temple, Pandav Cave, Budhumashta, Kanakasundari Naudhara Temple. One can reach Karnali's major tourist destination Raratal via the Sinja Valley via the Nagma-Gamgadhi road. But locals are worried that the Sinja civilization is in crisis. 'Ancient and historically important stone pillars, devals, mugrahas, ruins of ancient settlements and other structures are in a neglected state,' said Navin Shahi of Hima Rural Municipality-3. 'If they are not protected in time, there is a risk of their destruction.' According to him, the Pandav Cave, Birat Durbar, Kanakasundari Temple and other structures have also not been protected.

The goddess who is still worshipped in Sinja, which is said to have been inhabited by Queen Brinda of Jalandhar, is called Brindavasini. Hima Rural Municipality Chairman Laxman Bahadur Shahi said that Brinda is depicted as a virtuous and ascetic woman in the Puranas. ‘The Nepali language, civilization, culture and traditions were born by learning the Khas language and Sinja,’ he said. ‘Although a master plan has been prepared to develop Sinja as an archaeological heritage, its implementation has been delayed due to lack of budget.’ Similarly, the ‘Sinja Civilization Development and Conservation Bill-2078’ was registered in the Karnali Provincial Assembly on Asoj 10, 2078 for the development of the Sinja region.’

The bill was registered as the first ‘non-governmental bill’ of the Karnali Provincial Assembly by Naresh Bhandari, a Provincial Assembly member elected from Jumla. But the bill became inactive after the first term of the Provincial Assembly ended. The master plan was prepared in 2070 BS after nearly 5 years at the initiative of the then Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Jagdish Prasad Pokharel. ‘Neither the master plan was implemented nor the bill was passed,’ said the rural municipality chairman Shahi, ‘We do not have a budget, the state and federal governments do not send any budget.’ 

Former House of Representatives member Gajendra Bahadur Mahat said that the Sinja region is not only a historical and religious but also an important destination from a natural point of view.’ ‘The vast green fields here are attractive to anyone, the Hima River flowing through the middle of the valley has also added to its beauty, the agricultural produce here once reached Tibet,’ he said, ‘The people here were self-reliant in production through the barter (water) system, ‘After the fall of Sinja state during the unification of Nepal, Karnali gradually became dependent.’

Ramananda Acharya, an expert in the Khas language and editor of the Khas dictionary ‘Khasiya Aankhar’, said that the history of the vast Jumla state and Khas civilization originated from Kailash and Sinja. ‘At that time, the Jadans from the north and south and the Khasans from the south established the Khas kingdom,’ he said. ‘King Nagaraj ruled the kingdom with Hat Sinja as its capital. The Sinja kingdom collected taxes from 32 regions, due to which it was considered an economically prosperous kingdom.’ He claimed that the word ‘Manu’ is associated with the god of the Khas civilization and Kathmandu was formed through Kathmandu.’

During the unification of Nepal, the Gorkha army’s two attacks on the Sinja kingdom failed. ‘In the third attack, the Gorkha kingdom attacked here during Dashain. On the one hand, it was the time for farming and on the other hand, the local armies went on vacation during Dashain. After the attack, the Sinja empire was defeated,’ Acharya said. ‘The last king managed to escape and reach Tibet.’