NEPAL
Nepal is the only Hindu kingdom in the world and has innumerable temples depicting the religious life of the residents. Even though the majority of the population is Hindu, a substantial number of Budhists also live in the country.
The three most important religious places in Kathmandu are the Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Swayabhunath, in addition to the temple of Goddess Taleju (See my article on KumariDevi for further information on Taleju).
1. PASHUPATHINATH TEMPLEPashupathinath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, said to have been built in the fifth century in richly ornamented Pagoda style. This was mostly destroyed by Mughal invaders in 14th century. The present structure was built in 19th century by Dharma Dutta of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. However the original Shivling and Nandi still exist. The priests who perform the services at this temple have been Brahmins from South India since the time of Malla King Yaksha Malla. This tradition is believed to have been started at the request of Adi Shankaracharya. The temple is a square, two-tiered in pagoda style, built on a single-tier plinth, and stands 23.6 meters above the ground with richly ornamented gilt and silver-plated doors on all sides. The Bagmati River runs next to Pashaputinath Temple. The banks are lined with many ghats (bathing spots) for use by pilgrims.
2. BOUDHANATH TEMPLEThis temple is located about 10 kms from Kathmandu and is the largest stupa in Nepal and one of the largest in the world. The Stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s, many decided to live around. The original Bouddhanath is said to have been built just after the demise of Lord Budha. However the one in existance seems to have been built in the 15th century after the Mughal invasion.
The base of the stupa has 108 small depictions of the Dhyani Buddha Amitabha and is surrounded with a brick wall with 147 niches, each with four or five prayer wheels engraved with the mantra, om mani padme hum. At the northern entrance where visitors must pass is a shrine dedicated to the goddess of smallpox, Ajima. Thousands of prayer flags are hoisted up from the top of the stupa downwards and dot the parameters of the complex.
3. SWAYAMBHUNATH TEMPLEThis was built in the fifth century and is revered by both Hindus and Budhists.
The stupa consists of a dome at the base. Above the dome, there is a cubical structure present with eyes of Buddha looking in all four directions with the word "unity" in the main Nepali dialect between them. There are pentagonalToran present above each of the four sides with statues engraved in them. Behind and above the torana there are thirteen tiers. Above all the tiers, there is a small space over which the Gajur is present.
4. DURBAR SQUAREThis is situated in the old part of Kathmandu and is literally full of temples. The area is divided into two quadrangles. The outer quadrangle has the Kasthamandap, Kumari Ghar(see my article on KumariDei) and Shiva-Parvati Temple while the inner quadrangle has the Hanuman dhoka and the main palace.
DURBAR SQUARE
Durbar Square is a conglomeration of pagoda and shikhara-style temples grouped around a fifty-five window palace of brick and wood. The square is one of the most charming architectural showpieces of the Valley as it highlights the ancient arts of Nepal. The golden effigies of kings perched on the top of stone monoliths, the guardian deities looking out from their sanctuaries, the wood carvings in every place-struts, lintels, uprights, tympanums, gateways and windows-all seem to form a well-orchestrated symphony. The main items of interest in the Durbar Square are:
1. The Lion Gate :
Dating as far back as 1696 A.D., this gate is guarded on either side by two huge statues of lions. Alongside, there are two stone images of Bhairav (the dreadful aspect of Shiva) and Ugrachandi (the consort of Shiva in her fearful manifestation).
2. The Golden Gate :
The Golden Gate is said to be the most beautiful and richly moulded specimen of its kind in the entire world. The door is surmounted by a figure of the goddess Kali and Garuda (the mythical man-bird) and attended by two heavenly nymphs. It is also embellished with mythical creatures of marvellous intricacy. It is placed like a jewel, flashing innumerable facets in the handsome setting of its surroundings. The gate was erected by King Ranjit Malla and is the entrance of the main courtyard of the Palace of Fifty-five Windows.
3. The Palace of Fifty-five Windows :
This magnificent palace was built during the reign of King Yakshya Malla in A.D. 1427 and was subsequently remodelled by King Bhupatindra Malla in the seventeenth century. Among the brick walls with their gracious settings and sculptural design, is a balcony with Fifty-five Windows, considered to be a unique masterpiece of woodcarving.
4. The Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla:
This statue showing King Bhupatindra Malla in the act of worship is set on a column facing the palace. Of the square's many statues, this is considered to be the most magnificent.
Lalitpur is on the Baghmati River, in the Kathmandu Valley, just south of Kathmandu.
The site of Lalitpur is very old, having parts of ancient walls and Hindu temples dating from the 3rd century BC and Buddhist temples of the 15th and 16th centuries. Founded about AD 650, Lalitpur was the capital of the traditional first king of Nepal. During the Middle Ages the area was alternately an independent Newar kingdom or subservient to Kathmandu or Bhaktapur, until the Shah dynasty conquered it in 1768.
1. DURBAR SQUAREThis whole square is a cluster of fine pagoda temples and stone statues; it is at the same time the business hub of the city. At every step one comes across a piece of art or an image of a deity, testifying to the consummate skill of Patan's anonymous artists. The ancient palace of the Malla kings and the stone baths associated with various legends and episodes of history are especially interesting to visitors. The stone temple of Lord Krishna and the Royal Bath (Tushahity) with its intricate stone and bronze carvings are two other masterpieces in the same vicinity.
2. ASHOKA STUPAS
Popularly believed, though not proven without doubt to have been built by Ashoka, the Buddhist Emperor of India, these stupas stand at four different corners of Patan, giving the whole city a monastic character. All these Buddhist mounds were built in 250 A.D.at the time when Buddhism was making headway in the Kathmandu Valley.
Bhaktapur earlier known as Budgaon is a UNESCO World heritage site. Bhaktapur was built by King Anand Dev in 889 A.D.
Nepal is the only Hindu kingdom in the world and has innumerable temples depicting the religious life of the residents. Even though the majority of the population is Hindu, a substantial number of Budhists also live in the country.
- KATHMANDU(KANTIPUR)
The three most important religious places in Kathmandu are the Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Swayabhunath, in addition to the temple of Goddess Taleju (See my article on KumariDevi for further information on Taleju).
1. PASHUPATHINATH TEMPLEPashupathinath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, said to have been built in the fifth century in richly ornamented Pagoda style. This was mostly destroyed by Mughal invaders in 14th century. The present structure was built in 19th century by Dharma Dutta of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. However the original Shivling and Nandi still exist. The priests who perform the services at this temple have been Brahmins from South India since the time of Malla King Yaksha Malla. This tradition is believed to have been started at the request of Adi Shankaracharya. The temple is a square, two-tiered in pagoda style, built on a single-tier plinth, and stands 23.6 meters above the ground with richly ornamented gilt and silver-plated doors on all sides. The Bagmati River runs next to Pashaputinath Temple. The banks are lined with many ghats (bathing spots) for use by pilgrims.
2. BOUDHANATH TEMPLEThis temple is located about 10 kms from Kathmandu and is the largest stupa in Nepal and one of the largest in the world. The Stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s, many decided to live around. The original Bouddhanath is said to have been built just after the demise of Lord Budha. However the one in existance seems to have been built in the 15th century after the Mughal invasion.
The base of the stupa has 108 small depictions of the Dhyani Buddha Amitabha and is surrounded with a brick wall with 147 niches, each with four or five prayer wheels engraved with the mantra, om mani padme hum. At the northern entrance where visitors must pass is a shrine dedicated to the goddess of smallpox, Ajima. Thousands of prayer flags are hoisted up from the top of the stupa downwards and dot the parameters of the complex.
3. SWAYAMBHUNATH TEMPLEThis was built in the fifth century and is revered by both Hindus and Budhists.
The stupa consists of a dome at the base. Above the dome, there is a cubical structure present with eyes of Buddha looking in all four directions with the word "unity" in the main Nepali dialect between them. There are pentagonalToran present above each of the four sides with statues engraved in them. Behind and above the torana there are thirteen tiers. Above all the tiers, there is a small space over which the Gajur is present.
4. DURBAR SQUAREThis is situated in the old part of Kathmandu and is literally full of temples. The area is divided into two quadrangles. The outer quadrangle has the Kasthamandap, Kumari Ghar(see my article on KumariDei) and Shiva-Parvati Temple while the inner quadrangle has the Hanuman dhoka and the main palace.
- BUDGAON(BHAKTAPUR)
DURBAR SQUARE
Durbar Square is a conglomeration of pagoda and shikhara-style temples grouped around a fifty-five window palace of brick and wood. The square is one of the most charming architectural showpieces of the Valley as it highlights the ancient arts of Nepal. The golden effigies of kings perched on the top of stone monoliths, the guardian deities looking out from their sanctuaries, the wood carvings in every place-struts, lintels, uprights, tympanums, gateways and windows-all seem to form a well-orchestrated symphony. The main items of interest in the Durbar Square are:
1. The Lion Gate :
Dating as far back as 1696 A.D., this gate is guarded on either side by two huge statues of lions. Alongside, there are two stone images of Bhairav (the dreadful aspect of Shiva) and Ugrachandi (the consort of Shiva in her fearful manifestation).
2. The Golden Gate :
The Golden Gate is said to be the most beautiful and richly moulded specimen of its kind in the entire world. The door is surmounted by a figure of the goddess Kali and Garuda (the mythical man-bird) and attended by two heavenly nymphs. It is also embellished with mythical creatures of marvellous intricacy. It is placed like a jewel, flashing innumerable facets in the handsome setting of its surroundings. The gate was erected by King Ranjit Malla and is the entrance of the main courtyard of the Palace of Fifty-five Windows.
3. The Palace of Fifty-five Windows :
This magnificent palace was built during the reign of King Yakshya Malla in A.D. 1427 and was subsequently remodelled by King Bhupatindra Malla in the seventeenth century. Among the brick walls with their gracious settings and sculptural design, is a balcony with Fifty-five Windows, considered to be a unique masterpiece of woodcarving.
4. The Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla:
This statue showing King Bhupatindra Malla in the act of worship is set on a column facing the palace. Of the square's many statues, this is considered to be the most magnificent.
- PATAN ( LALIT PUR)
Lalitpur is on the Baghmati River, in the Kathmandu Valley, just south of Kathmandu.
The site of Lalitpur is very old, having parts of ancient walls and Hindu temples dating from the 3rd century BC and Buddhist temples of the 15th and 16th centuries. Founded about AD 650, Lalitpur was the capital of the traditional first king of Nepal. During the Middle Ages the area was alternately an independent Newar kingdom or subservient to Kathmandu or Bhaktapur, until the Shah dynasty conquered it in 1768.
1. DURBAR SQUAREThis whole square is a cluster of fine pagoda temples and stone statues; it is at the same time the business hub of the city. At every step one comes across a piece of art or an image of a deity, testifying to the consummate skill of Patan's anonymous artists. The ancient palace of the Malla kings and the stone baths associated with various legends and episodes of history are especially interesting to visitors. The stone temple of Lord Krishna and the Royal Bath (Tushahity) with its intricate stone and bronze carvings are two other masterpieces in the same vicinity.
2. ASHOKA STUPAS
Popularly believed, though not proven without doubt to have been built by Ashoka, the Buddhist Emperor of India, these stupas stand at four different corners of Patan, giving the whole city a monastic character. All these Buddhist mounds were built in 250 A.D.at the time when Buddhism was making headway in the Kathmandu Valley.
Bhaktapur earlier known as Budgaon is a UNESCO World heritage site. Bhaktapur was built by King Anand Dev in 889 A.D.
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