Architectural Wonders of Nepal

Geography of Nepal

• Located in the southern slopes of the mid-Himalayas
• Composed of high mountains, including Mount Everest
• Situated between 26˚22' and 30˚27' north latitude and 80˚4' and 80˚12' east longitude
• Total land area is 147,181 square kilometers
• Kathmandu is the capital and largest urban agglomerate of Nepal

Climatic Seasons of Nepal

• Spring: March to May, warm and dusty with rain showers
• Summer: June to August, monsoon season with lush and green hills
• Autumn: September to November, cool with clear skies, popular trekking season
• Winter: December to February, cold at night and foggy in the morning, clear and pleasant afternoons

History and Social Aspects

• Newars and Gurkhas (of Tibetan-Mongol stock) settled in Nepal, establishing an indigenous style in art and architecture
• Gurkhas are soldiers from Nepal
• Newars are the indigenous people of the Kathmandu Valley, creators of its historic civilization
• Arts flourished during the reign of Mulla Rajas, particularly in the 14th, 15th, and early 18th centuries
• In 1768, a Gurkha Raja seized the kingdom, establishing a Gurkha Dynasty that has ruled the country since

Religions of Nepal

• Hinduism: the first people to set foot in ancient Nepal, with beliefs recorded in the Vedas
• Buddhism: split into two main schools of thought, Hinayana and Mahayana, with Mahayanists believing in achieving nirvana by following Bodhisattvas
• Bhawani Temple, Bhatgaon: a pagoda and Tantric type, with five-storey overhung roofs
• Sacred Town of Pasupati (17th century): dedicated to Siva, with stone and wooden temples and a burning ghat by the river

Architectural Heritage of Nepal

• Stupas/Chorten: oldest monuments
• Multi-tiered Temples: characteristic architectural feature
• Newar Architecture:
  • Developed by indigenous inhabitants of Kathmandu valley
  • Typical formal feature: monumental pillar supporting a metal superstructure adorned with mystical symbols and portrait statuary
  • Use of wood and clay (bricks) as building materials, with metal used for ornaments
  • Street facades of houses, with interior courtyards, are elaborately treated
• Durbar Square: a generic name used to describe plazas opposite old royal palaces in Nepal

Traditional Nepalese Houses

• Three-storey buildings: Ground floor serves as a shop, with recessed first floor and overhanging upper level
• Trabeated system of construction
• Wooden posts, beams, and struts used in the houses, with clear intermingling of structure and ornamentation
• Bracket support overhanging precariously on building walls
• Covered with special clay tiles (jhingati) and metal gutters
• Windows have intricate lattice screens