TiaBurwell25 at 01:05, 15 April 2025

2025-04-15T01:05:19Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Dalmadal Cannon
| image = Dalmadol Canon of Bishnupur 03.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = The historic Dalmadal Cannon.
| type = Cannon
| origin = [[Mallabhum kingdom|Mallabhum]], West Bengal, India

| is_ranged = yes
| is_bladed = no
| is_explosive = no
| is_artillery = yes
| is_vehicle = no
| is_missile = no
| is_UK = no

| service = 18th century
| used_by = Malla Dynasty
| wars = Defense against Maratha invasions<ref name="maratha">{{cite book
| editor-last1 = Sengupta
| editor-first1 = Kaustubh Mani
| editor-last2 = Das
| editor-first2 = Tista
| author-link =
| date = 12 August 2021
| title = Rethinking the Local in Indian History: Perspectives from Southern Bengal
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=0wg0EAAAQBAJ
| location =
| publisher = Taylor & Francis
| page = 
| isbn = 9781000425529
| lccn = 2021007732
| quote = Narrating the legend of Madanmohan, the patron god of Bishnupur, who assumed human form and fired the famous Dalmadal Cannon to oust the bargis (Maratha invaders), she argues that divine myths have deep cultural roots that influenced the production of local histories.}}</ref>

| designer = Jagannath Karmakar<ref name="detail">{{cite news
| last = Chatterjee
| first = Annesha
| date = 27 June 2019
| title = Bengal's artillery
| url = https://www.thestatesman.com/supplements/voices/bengals-artillery-1502770581.html
| url-status = live
| work = [[The Statesman (India)]]
| location = [[Kolkata]]
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240927150025/https://www.thestatesman.com/supplements/voices/bengals-artillery-1502770581.html
| archive-date = 27 September 2024
| access-date = 27 September 2024
| quote = Jagannath Karmakar, an experienced blacksmith and engineer from the district of Bishnupur was the principle man behind the manufacture of the cannon. Iron was the principle metal used in the casting. It should be mentioned that though the canon remained in an open area for a considerable amount of time, yet no rust or destructive modifications appeared on the body of the cannon. The canon being 12-feet in length and 5972 kilograms in weight is much wider than the Jahan Kosha cannon.
}}</ref>
| design_date = 1742
| developed_from =
| developed_into =
| unit_cost = Rs. 1.25 lakh<ref name = "detail"/> (historical)
| production_date = 1742 <ref name="details">{{cite book
| editor-last1 = Sengupta
| editor-first1 = Kaustubh Mani
| editor-last2 = Das
| editor-first2 = Tista
| author-link =
| year = 2009
| title = Heritage Tourism: An Anthropological Journey to Bishnupur
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_0_o9Qj1LOEC
| location =
| publisher = Mittal Publications
| page = 55
| isbn = 9788183242943
| lccn = 2009310777}}</ref>
| number = 1
| variants =

| spec_label =
| mass = 12 MT (296 maund)<ref name ="details"/>
| length = {{convert|3.8|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| part_length =
| width =
| height =
| diameter = {{convert|28.5|cm|mm|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite book
| author-last1 = Marriott
| author-first1 = Leo
| author-last2 = Forty
| author-first2 = Simon
| author-link =
| year= 2017
| title = Heavyweights: The Military Use of Massive Weapons
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=mr1GDwAAQBAJ
| location =
| publisher = Book Sales
| page = 53
| chapter = Indian 16th century cannon
| isbn = 9780785835493}}</ref>
| crew =
| passengers =

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| barrels = 1
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| carriage = Masonry platform
| elevation =
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| ref =
}}
The '''Dalmadal Cannon''', also known as the '''Dal Madal Kaman''', was built under the orders of [[Gopal Singha Dev|Raja Gopal Singha]] in 1742 at the cost of Rs. 1.25 lakh, an enormous sum for the time.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Bhattacharya
| first = Snigdhendu
| date = 3 March 2018
| title = Encroachments ruin Bishnupur's chance of making it to the World Heritage List
| url = https://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/encroachments-ruin-bishnupur-s-chance-of-making-it-to-the-world-heritage-list/story-S6XqJVT0Lr6eNp0xYCBTRN.html
| url-status = live
| work = [[Hindustan Times]]
| location = [[Bishnupur (West Bengal)|Bishnupur]]
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240927155708/https://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/encroachments-ruin-bishnupur-s-chance-of-making-it-to-the-world-heritage-list/story-S6XqJVT0Lr6eNp0xYCBTRN.html
| archive-date = 27 September 2024
| access-date = 27 September 2024}}</ref> The blacksmith Jagannath Karmakar forged the cannon, which weighs approximately 296 maunds (around 11,840 kg) and has a length of 3.8 meters. The cannon's body was constructed by connecting 63 iron rings together, giving it a rust-proof finish. Its impressive size is marked by a circumference of 6'10" in the middle and front and 8'3.5" at the rear.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Sengupta
| first = Somen
| date = 15 March 2023
| title = Every cannon scripts the scientific advancement of its time: Amitabha Karkun
| url = https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/meet-amitabha-karkun-the-septuagenarian-cannon-expert-of-bengal/cid/1922750
| url-status = live
| work = [[The Telegraph (India)]]
| location = [[Kolkata]]
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240927155026/https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/meet-amitabha-karkun-the-septuagenarian-cannon-expert-of-bengal/cid/1922750
| archive-date = 27 September 2024
| access-date = 27 September 2024}}</ref><ref name= "details"/>

== Design and Features ==
The Dalmadal Cannon is designed with an opening for inserting gunpowder, located on the upper rear section. A small square groove, known as the Ranjakghar, was used to ignite the cannon by filling it with gunpowder.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Basu
| first = Anasuya
| date = 20 September 2020
| title = The evidence of guns that smoke no more
| url = https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/cannons-in-bengal-the-evidence-of-guns-that-smoke-no-more/cid/1792477
| url-status = live
| work = [[The Telegraph (India)]]
| location =
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240927231803/https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/cannons-in-bengal-the-evidence-of-guns-that-smoke-no-more/cid/1792477
| archive-date = 27 September 2024
| access-date = 28 September 2024}}</ref><ref name="details"/> The middle section of the cannon is fitted with two iron sticks, each about 6 feet long and 4 feet in circumference, that were used to connect it to two iron wheels.<ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Griffiths
| first1 = Walter G.
| last2 = Bagchi
| first2 = K. N.
| year = 1947
| title = Introducing India
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=3meOhS2hEngC
| volume = 1
| publisher = Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal
| page = 72
| isbn =
}}</ref>

== Legend and Myth ==
A popular local legend surrounds the Dalmadal Cannon, claiming that it was miraculously fired by Lord [[Madanamohana|Madan Mohan]], the tutelary deity of the Malla kings, to protect Bishnupur from the Maratha invader Bhaskar Rao.<ref>{{cite news
| url = https://sundayguardianlive.com/culture/bishnupur-magnolious-bequest-west-bengal
| title = Bishnupur: A magnolious bequest in West Bengal
| date = 17 May 202
| publisher = [[The Sunday Guardian]]
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240927161306/https://sundayguardianlive.com/culture/bishnupur-magnolious-bequest-west-bengal
| archive-date = 27 September 2024
| access-date = 27 September 2024
}}</ref> According to the myth, during a Maratha attack, Lord Madan Mohan himself operated the cannon, causing the invaders to retreat.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.asikolkata.in/bankura.aspx
| title =Dalmadal Gun and the platform on which it is mounted
| website = asikolkata.in
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240927160752/https://www.asikolkata.in/bankura.aspx
| archive-date = 27 September 2024
| access-date = 27 September 2024
}}</ref> This divine intervention story has become a cherished part of Bishnupur's cultural lore.

== Tourism and Cultural Importance ==
The Dalmadal Cannon is part of Bishnupur's rich cultural landscape, which includes numerous UNESCO-listed terracotta temples.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1087/
| title = Temples at Bishnupur, West Bengal
| website =
| publisher = [[UNESCO]]
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240508152927/https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1087
| archive-date = 8 May 2024
| access-date = 27 September 2024}}</ref> Over the years, the cannon has become a focal point for tourists interested in the military history of the Malla dynasty. The site can be visited year-round, and entry is free. It forms a central piece in Bishnupur's historical tourism circuit, which includes notable sites like the [[Rasmancha]] and [[Madan Mohan Temple, Bishnupur|Madanmohan Temple]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://bankuratourism.com/places-in-bankura/bishnupur-bankura/
| title = Dalmadal Canon
| website = bankuratourism.com
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240927230446/https://bankuratourism.com/places-in-bankura/bishnupur-bankura/
| archive-date = 27 September 2024
| access-date = 28 September 2024}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Mallabhum kingdom]]
* [[Temples of Bishnupur]]
* [[Madan Mohan Temple, Bishnupur]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Dalmadal Cannon}}

{{Mallabhum}}

[[Category:Tourist attractions in Bankura district]]
[[Category:Weapons of India]]
[[Category:Mallabhum]]
[[Category:Bankura district]]
[[Category:Cannon]]

Dalmadal Cannon - Revision history

TiaBurwell25 at 01:05, 15 April 2025