The cannon, which defended the local rulers of Bishnupur from attacks by the Marathas, is exhibited on the way back from the Maa Chinmasta Temple to the main town. One of the historical attractions of Bishnupur, the cannon is 3.84 m in length and has a barrel of 28.5 cm. It was built under raja Gopal Singh in 1742, a Malla ruler, for protection against the Maratha invasion.

 

Built with iron, the cannon is unaffected by rain, sun and other climatic conditions. It is also rust free. The word 'dala' means enemy and 'mardan' means to destroy. The canon stands as a fine example of the bravery and spirit of the Malla rulers, and is a must-visit. It was rediscovered by the British in 1919.