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Architecture of Kathmandu Valley - The sacred space

The Pagoda style State temple
Characteristic and unique of the Kathmandu Valley architecture are the multi-roofed pagoda temples, quintessential of Nepali architecture, distinguished by the intricate woodwork that decorate both religious and civil buildings. Although has been usually regarded as of Chinese origin the pagoda style can be described as a provincial Indian Architectural style. Evidences are the wooden pagodas found in Kashmir, before Muslim invasion, and in some degree the pyramidal superstructure of the Orissan Jagamohans.
Typified by Pasupati temple the typical pagoda is a brick structure with forward sloping roofs in multiple tiers as many as six, often on a multi terraced platform (Nyatapola at Baktapur). The widely projecting roofs are sustained by intricately carved roof struts with at the top a bell shaped element from which descends a metal banner called pataka. The temples of Taleju, the Malla tutelary goddess, present in all the three Durbar squares of the valley, are all in the typical Nepalese style. The temple of Changu Narayan and Matsyendranath in Patan may also be cited as typical examples. Stone shikara temple are also present like the famous Krishna Mandir and Maha Buddha in Patan.
The roof struts are perhaps the most fascinating part of the temple, brighty decorated as they are with gods, goddesses and animals, erotic subjects. Beautifully carved toranas are placed over the temple doorways with the main temple deity in the centre and makaras and apsaras at the sides.

Pagoda style temple

Nyatapola temple at Baktapur Taumadhi Tole

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The civil architecture - the city as a mandala
The entire Kathmandu valley is often regarded as an unique immense mandala: a protected place separated from the surroundings by the ridges of the mountains. The microcosm so defined is protected by special shrines like the four Narayana temples located at the four cardinal points at the edge of the valley. This concept has been replicated in the state cities like the Buddhist Patan with stupas as markers, Kathmandu shaped as a circle, Bhaktapur protected by shrines dedicated to the eight goddesses.
Small rectangular portico covered by a hipped roof serve as a resting place or temporary shelter. Characteristics of the Newari city are also the chowks and the hiti public as well as private fountains. Traditional houses display fine elaborately carved wooden windows. Regrettably the avalanche of newer constructions all ignoring the tradition result in a sense of suffocating boredom if not even chaos.

Bhaktapur

Major ladmarks are the hiti (fountain) often with beautiful images of Uma Maheshevar

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Bahal - the Buddhist monastery
The layout of the Bahal always follows the same pattern: a square courtyard surrounded by buildings built on two levels with the cell of the deity on the opposite side to the entrance porch. The access door to the cell is marked by a torana. On the roof rises a structure like a small pagoda temple. In the courtyard, usually in axis with the cell are various small caityas with cult images facing the four cardinal points in the fashion of the Hindu 'caturmukha linga'

Bhaktapur

the miniature pagoda on top of the roofs of the courtyard of the Inacho Bahal

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Nepalese Bhuddist Caitya
The term caitya in Nepal is synonymous of stupa (the Tibetan chorten) and indicates a Buddhist funerary monument. The votive caityas are central in Nepal religious architecture: in city like Patan the caitya is a regular feature of every courtyard and in many urban spaces they gather in clusters. Svayambhunath and Bodhnath are the most famous examples of the Mahacaityas (great caityas). The characteristic element of the nepali caitya is the finial with the 'all-seeing eyes' with in between the curl of hair symbol of illumination. The main iconography are the five tathagatas (or dyani buddha) four of them facing the cardinal directions with Vairocana the fifth one above them.

Swayambhunath

Thirty-four votive caityas of various type form a cluster on top of the Swayambhunath hill

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Related Pages
- Architecture of Kathmandu Valley
- World Heritage Sites In Nepal

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