architecture of nepal

china & india

nepal lies between two great eastern civilization

1. kathmandu

2. bhaktapur

3. patan

main cities of nepal

wood, metals, naural stone, brick & tiles

materials used

sub-tropical (low lands) to arctic (higher altitudes)

climate

Hinduism (85 %) Buddhism (7.8 %) Islam (3.5%)

religion percentage

Chomrong (nepal) Prayer Manis

what are these?

Emperor Ashoka

introduced buddhism in Katmandu Valley

Newars

blank of the central kathmndu valley had apparently developed a flourishing hindu-buddhist culture

courtyards

houses are designed with

shops

ground floor of houses served as

temples, picturesque towns, intricate native crafts

INDIA + CHINA

arch’l character

wood & clay bricks, stone & wood (temples), stone & clay (rural house)

walls

Lintels

• blank over openings are of timber and often in three parts, stepping upwards towards the inside

• Double pitched

• Timber Roofing

• Bracket support

• Pagoda form

• Clay tiles (jhingati)

ROOFS

timber columns, brackets forming support

columns

amalaka

Spires

spires (amalaka), conical spires (13 buddhist heavens), frieze, all seeing one, tingling bells & lamps

MOULDINGS & ORNAMENTS

Chorten

Nepali Stupa

Swayambunath (kathmandu)

originally an ashoka tumulus on a hill, stands on a low narrow plinth (base or podium)

Plinth

base or podium

All seeing one

embossed in metal an divory on each of the 4 sides

Bodnath (kathmandu)

3 platforms - 12m high

14 m high spure resembling the final of swayambhunath

revered by buddhist as well as nepalese hindus

Gaya-jatri

festival to worship the holy cows

Krishna Temple

Pasupathi Nath

Bhairavanath Temple

Kathmandu Temple

Bhairab

Changu Narayan

temples

bhimsen temple

renowned for its three interconnected golden windows

krishna temple

typical sikhara spire with clusters of small pavillions on each side of the 3 arcaded storey

vishwanath temple

dedicated to lord shiva

roof supports are decorated with erotic carvings

stone linga is enshrined inside

pasupathinath (patan)

original pagoda styled temple

one of the most famous places of hindu pilgrimage in the world

dedicated to lord shiva the guardian deity of nepal

Kali (black) Bhairab

is one of shiva’s forms seen in the Bhairab Temple

Changu Narayan (kathmandu)

one of the oldest hindu temples of the valley dedicated to vishnu

Durbar square

anient royal residential square of Malla Kings

Generic name used to describe plazas opposite old royal palaces in Nepal

Golden Gate (bhaktapur)

famous as the richest piece of art in the whole kingdom

Bhupatindra Malla Statue (bhaktapur)

famous for its arts in column

by Raja Yakhsa Malla

Palace of 55 windows (national gallery) (bhaktapur)

old palace

remarkable for its carved balcony of 55 windows

by Raja Yaskhsha Malla