NEPALESE ARCHITECTURE

HISTORY OF
ARCHITECTURE

YEAR: I, SEMESTER: II

MALLA
ARCHITECTURE: –
PALACE

Asst. Professor SUNITA SHRESTHA

• Theoretical model, concept of perimeter goddesses is to define the
boundary of the town.
• Tar land (High Land)- for settlement area (town planned). Fallow Land
(Lower Land)- for agricultural purpose.

• Yakshya Malla divided the valley into three city (for three sons)-
Bhaktapur, Patan and Kathmandu.
• Each city wanted to be independent country.
• so 20 states independently run at the side of the valley.

• TOWNS:
• Temple Centric Town
• Capital Centric Town

• During Jayasthiti Malla, 36 (Kar – Occupation) was divided eg.

Tamrakar, Silpakar, Chitrakar, etc. and different craftsmen indicated on
different place.

• They were positioned by hierarchy. Central Palace- Pradhan, Amatyas

and others like concentric circle pattern.
• PALACE ARCHITECTURE: Palace in Vastushastra

• From the Lichhavi Period, Palace planning of different courtyard system

eg. Kailashkut Bhawan (3 courtyard).

• Such as Vedic system (separate courtyard for different purposes/

functions) usual range – 3 to 7 courts.

• Generally Kings courtyard is at the back of the Palace- Antapur or

innermost court.

• Amsubarma’s court had also King’s quarter called Antarasana (same

meaning).

• There are separate quarter ( Purasana) for Queen and Prince.

• Inner court (private meetings, "Anarasan”, Antahpura),

• There would be separate courts – Ahar mandapa (dining), Mahanasa

(kitchen) and temple court.
• In India (King Harsa – Amshuverma contemporary) similar
kind of concept for the Palace Architecture development
• Eg. Three courtyard, main building (Dhawalgriha), garden
and had Audience area, bath houses, state meetings,
temples etc.

• In Newari term, Layaku means Palace.

• The malla Palace has appearance of the large- free standing

courtyard complex with a garden at near and the clusters of
temples at the front.

• The structure of the palace building is closely related to a

typical domestic structure.

• Like – bed rooms- first floor, living room- second floor and
kitchen on the top floor.
• Malla ruled on Bhaktapur, Patan, and Kathmandu cities, more than
five centuries.

• Generally, Malla town lies in the centre of the territory and Palace are
Heart of the town/city.

• But in Bhaktapur located at the periphery. Generally, in the Palace

complex, there are two types of fortification-

• Physical Objects (walls, gates and military strength etc.)

• Belief in the powers of animals and gods (Hanuman, Narsingha,

Bhairav, a pair of lions etc.)_

• Durbar as groups of courtyard building with temple.

• Palace and Taleju +Degutale +Agam+Hanuman

• Bhaktapur Palace > Bhupatindra Malla (1690s)

• Yaksyamalla
• 55-windowed Palace (1697)

• Kathmandu Palace > Mahendramalla, Taleju

1563AD,
 Pratapmalla (1630s)
• Degutale > tower temples
• Nautale durbar (1769) > living towers

• Patan Palace > Siddhinarasimhamalla (1630s)

• Sundari chowk (1727)
• Hanuman Dhoka Palace
is the largest of the
Malla palaces of
Kathmandu valley .
• it has been in use for
over four centuries of
Malla and Shah rules.
• As the royal residence
and center of
administration and
national rituals
• The palace is the finest standards of artistry, craft and construction of the
traditional Nepali architecture in brick and wood.
• It has interconnected
courtyard buildings.
• An exquisite expanse of
a front public square .
• Public temples, pavilions and rest-houses.
• Back garden with ponds and courts with religious images.
• With an array of temples and pavilions styled with multiple tiered roofs
and rising in several floors.
• Each of which was built to accommodate a specific and specialized
living, socio-religious or public function requirement of the kings and their
rule,
• It presents a full summary of evolution, development and expression of
palace architecture of the Malla period.
• Initial Malla palaces were built with two or three storied courtyard
buildings sited along a main road.
• A number of inward looking quadrangles built tightly and adjoining
each other provided the basic form for the architecture of the palace.
• In front on the outside, a public court is formed populated with a
number of temples and rest houses
• Following the construction of Degutale temple by King Pratap Malla
in the year 1670 AD in the palace in Kathmandu,
• Temples built towering over terraces and roofs of the palace
courtyards defined a new skyline and roof architecture for the
Malla palace
• its front public space has become like a chain of triangulated
spaces giving one an experience of informality and organic
accretion and growth in the public space.
• Pratap Malla built his statue in • Including Basantpur tower (1770),
metal sitting in perpetual three other towers and terrace
devotion atop a stone pillar pavilions can be seen in Hanuman
opposite to Degutale temple. Dhoka palace.
• This feature also came to be a • Both the secular and religious
standard for the fore court towers define the corners of the
space of the Malla palaces. key quadrangles of Nasalchowk
and Lohanchowk.
 Naming of the Palace:

• The palace gets its name from the

image of the deity Hanuman
erected at its entrance by King
Pratap Malla in the year 1672 AD -
‘dhoka’ being a Nepali word for
the door.
• Over the north-east corner of the
entrance quadrangle, there is a
five tiered temple with circular
roofs
• Built by King Pratap Malla for the
worship of Hanuman in his five-
faced ‘panchamukhi’ form.
• Before Pratap Malla installed the image of Hanuman that gave the palace
its popular name to the Nepalese, it was called ‘Gunapo’ palace .

• The earlier structure is Tana Deul.

• The first Malla king to rule from the valley probably Raya malla after king
Ratna Malla,
• Ruled and built the Palace and Taleju (1501 AD).
• The main Palace complex are Northern part of the present day complex.
• Mahindra Malla built lots of buildings (Mahindreshwor Mahadeo – 1561
AD) and
• Extended granular form of Taleju (1564 AD) along with south courtyard.
• The first Malla period record of building is found in the Jaggannath
Temple, that has an inscribed image dedicated by King Mahendra Malla in
1563 AD.
• The Kathmandu Palace has several courtyards till the earthquake
(1934’s).
• The Palace was extended upto Nepal Bank Limited.
• Malla kings continued ruling from the palace and the square and the
Shah kings also made it the ruling palace.
• The development and expansion of Hanuman Dhoka palace proceeded
towards the south and south-west

• Kings Mahendra Malla, Pratap Malla and Prithvinarayan Shah were the
most enthusiast among the builder Kings of the Hanuman Dhoka palace.
• After earthquake reduced to present condition.
• In the palace square itself, the Kasthamandap sattal-temple is known to
have been extant at least since 1143 AD
• It had 35 courtyards (Prime Minister- Jung Bahadur Rana), now only 12 of
them remaining.
• The palace architecture has been recognized for their ‘extravagant style,
for their scale and complexity’ and as ‘elements of artistic and
architectural beauty’
• The residential quadrangle of the Malla palace is built of two or three
storied wings and follows the general pattern of the Newar courtyard
house.
• Most quadrangles of the palace are three storied, each with semi-open
colonnaded dalan and associated store rooms with small doors on the
sides in ground floor.
• Sleeping rooms with small square latticed tikijhya windows in a variety of
design and
• Living space with large projected windows in the form of sanjhya,
bimanjhya and/or gaajhya windows
• Each symmetrically composed single bayed wing of the quadrangle is
topped with a jhingati tiled pitched roof with large overhangs propped by
inclined struts flying out from the cornices in the wall.
• The external faces of all
walls were done in dachi
apa glazed bricks
embellished with string
courses.
• Cornices made of baa
apa patterned glazed
bricks.
• The doors, windows and
struts profusely and
finely carved
• The motifs and themes of
carvings and decorative
brickwork in the palaces
were mostly religious as
the king was conceived
as personification of
Vishnu.
• The quadrangle used for key religious activities, called
the Mulchowk, is central to the total scheme of the
palace.

• Interconnected with each other with the objective of

securing the courts

• The corners of the key quadrangles were often built

over with temple towers, which added to further
religious aura to the palace complex.

• Some quadrangle had their corners built over with open

pavilions, presumably as security watch post.
• Apart from the Mul chowk (1564 AD), no building from
Mahindra Malla’s Palace (1561 to 1574AD).

• Oldest residential unit of the Palace is Karnel (masan) chowk.

• Pratap Malla constructed two residential buildings –

• a) Mohan chowk (1649 AD-Principal residence).

• b) Sundari chowk (1651 AD) built in imitation of the Sundari

chowk of the Patan Palace.

• It has Nasal chowk, Bhandarkhal etc.

• Prithivi Narayan Shah added Basantapur durbar (1769 AD)

and four Towers over corners of the Lohan chowk.

• Gaddhi Baithak built in 1908AD.

social & cultural
activities are
performed in
the Open spaces
• In Durbar square, three different distinct parts of
development can be seen in several stages.

• A) Northen part- fairly traditional Newari architecture.

• B) Further down towards South- white lime plaster work,

foliated arches, floral pattern design can seen in the
structures.

• These are muslim influence (only exterior and interior have

traditional style)

• C) Southern part – Post Victorian (Neo Classical) style built

by Chandra Shamsher.

• Traditional, Muslim, Neo-classical (Post-Victorian)

 Chowk is surrounded by buildings such as sundari chowk, mul chowk,
Keshav Narayan chowk, Nasal chowk, Lohan chowk etc)
Mulchowk :
• Main (head) chowk of the entire palace
area.
• Built in 1564 CE by Mahendra Malla.

• It lies at the centre of the Royal Buildings

.
• This chowk is devoted to the Malla’s
goddess, Taleju (family god brought from
India.

• In Malla period, the chowk was used for

some special religious functions (wedding
coronation, other royal ritual etc. ,

• It is generally two storied building.

• It was originally inhibited by priests only
• Built in 1649 CE by Pratap
Malla himself and his family
• As a principle residence
• Built in Chaukwath style,
• Inner courtyards with four
corner towers
• Three of these exist;
Panchamukhi hanuman,
Agamchhen temple and a
Puja tower
• Built in 1651 CE by Pratap Malla.
• Well proportionate three storied
building like as courtyard house
style.
• It is residential space/quarters for
the royal Family.
• Centrally it is sunken bathing
area.
• A water fountain and the image of
Narayan can be found.
• Imitation of the Sundari chowk of
the Patan Palace.
 Built by Pratap Malla and named after the figure of the dancing Shiva
(Nasaleshvara) found in a small white-washed shrine on the western side
of the courtyard

• During the malla period this

inner courtyard was the scene of
royal audiences, plays and
dance performances.
• The importance of courtyard
increased during the Shah
period,
• when aside from many
celebrations, it became a venue
for the coronation of the Shah
kings.
• Prithvi Narayan Shah and his
son Pratap Shah were
responsible for the erection of the
four towers set on the three
lower storeys of the courtyard
style building.
• These towers are:
• Vilas Mandir or Lalit tower (SE)
• Lakshmivilas or Bhaktaur tower
(NE)
• Bangla Mandir or Kirtipur Tower
(NW)
• Nautale or Basantapur Tower
(SW)
 N – Lohan Chowk
Bhaktapur Tower
Kritipur Tower Basantapur Tower

Lalitpur Tower
• Judda sadak (New Road) was built after the
earthquake of 1934.
• Connecting the palace area with the parade
ground (Tundikhel)
• This brought about the separation of large
sections of the palace gardens (Bhandarkhal)
• On the south of the road which until the
earthquake housed the royal stables
• The tendency to go taller building is only after Shah Period.

• Structurally innovative, coming to Nautale Durbar, where

kind of technology were applied (timber post and brick
filler).

• End of the Malla period, some innovative works were tried

(circular roof, octagonal roof etc)

• Basantapur Tower is last palace, Bangal tower (from the

Bangal only for the roof)

• Different architectural style, practice in different time period

can be seen.
• These are imposing multi-tiered roof generally
3-5 storied structure.

• Shapes are squared, circular and octagonal.

• Erected on the courtyard building of the

Palace.

• The structure are dedicated to the goddess-

Angan deo (Ista devata)
3)Degutale:

• it is the largest tower with three storied Pagoda

style tower.

• Facing towards street, but access is only from

the courtyard.

• Temple structure dedicated to Sakti cult.

• It is grandular and tallest structure in the Malla

palace profile.
4) Water Body: POKARIS (PONDS)

• In the middle of the courtyard built water body for King’s

bath (Tusa Hiti- Sundari chowk Patan)

• The Hiti might be built as a part of King’s daily ritual

devotions because the walls are carved with the various
figures of gods and goddess.

• Another type of water body is large water tank with fountain

(built in Bhandarkkhel).

• A Golden Lotus is placed at the centre.

• The big size wells and water spout are built inside courtyard
buildings or junction of the roads.

• Which is used for drinking and cleaning purposes.

• The two pokharis in the
palace garden were laid
out by Pratap Malla
• In 1663 CE he placed in
the Nag Pokhari the post
topped with a gilded
serpent’s head.
• About the same time the Narayan
Pokhari
Narayan Pokhari was
consecrated c

• This is a copy of the Nag

c
Narayan in Pokhari
Budhanilkantha
• The south-west end of the
Hanumandhoka palace
complex is formed the building
of Gaddibaithak built in 1908
by Chandra Sumsher.

• Purpose - meeting foreign

dignitaries during ceremonies
and festivities

• That continued to be held in

Hanumandhoka palace after
the Shah kings were moved to c
Narayanhiti palace in 1896 Gaddi
Baithak
• it is essentially a large hall with its west and south facades designed in
post-victorian English Neoclassical architectural style.
• West façade with its impressive proportioning and composition of the
neo-classical facade elements .

• Such as columns,
decorative arches and
pediments, pilasters,
cornices and parapets,
• Makes a emphatic
statement of the changing
times in Nepali
architecture.
• Courtyard System

• It consists of TWO distinct sections:

• 1) Palace with its temples and courtyards
• 2) Group of Temples built in front of the palace complex.

• 2-3-4 floors, No towers in early days

– Temple towers of the Mallas
– Living towers of the Shahs

• House- Palace
• Main Entrance

• Construction : Brick wall gable, Jhingati-tile roof, doors, windows, struts

• Telia tiles floor etc.
• Use of courts: Residence, worship, bath, garden, ponds, entertainment,
etc.
Source: S. R. Tiwari
Source: S. R. Tiwari
Source: S. R. Tiwari
 Durbar Square
• Built between 1620-1684 AD
• Location - Patan
• Entrance and Orientation
• No axiality.
• Geometric planning in layout
• Tripurasundari Mandala & 
• 4.69m, 6.62m, 4.69m
• 16m, 11.31m, 9.38m
• 16÷= & 2x4.69=9.38
• Planned Layout
• Architectural Form
• Main Street
• Main Square
• Relation with residential
architecture
Source: S. R. Tiwari
• Gate and falecha
Source: S. R. Tiwari
Source: S. R. Tiwari
• Initially it was ruled by Seven groups jointly advisors or
priests (Pradhan) on behalf of the Malla.

• They ruling from Keshav Mohan Chowk.

• Later Siddhinarsimha Malla removed them from the power

and Malla rule strated, ruled from Sundari Chowk.

• Centrally planned town, geometrically almost tried to be

centre. Geometrically axial planning.

• Entrance to Malla Palaces, along the main street.

• The route of Mangal Bazaar developed as a major road.

• The previous route to the palace was the road from Patan
Dhoka following Patuko hill (northernside).

• Historical development of Malla Palaces had already been

existed.

• Additional of courtyards leads to informal development.

• Patan Palace is least organic than compare to Kathmandu

Palace (grew as per need) and Bhaktapur Palace (formal
planning of Tripur Palace).

• Where schematic development are workout.

• Majority combination of Patan durbar is three courts.

• 1) Keshav Mohan Chowk

• 2) Mul Chowk and

• 3) Sundari Chowk.

• Siddhinarsimha Malla built the Sundari Chowk in 1627AD,

• Just mirror reflection theme of Keshav Mohan Chowk with
the axis of Degutale apex.

• Later Keshav Mohan Chowk rebuilt as Kwatha.

• Mulchowk was built at last phase.

• The whole construction of changing was completed more

or less within 1627 – 1680 AD.
• After 20 years, Bhandarkhal constructed at Sundari chowk.

• The Char Narayan in square built after Siddhinarsimha Malla.

• Some images at the North of the bhandarkhal are even older

than Char Narayan,

• Which proves that the old route to the palace was from
Northern part before the rule of the Siddhinarsimha malla.

• Square courts – Space for

– Living,
– worship (mulchowk, Talaju, Degutale),
– Defense (Chaukhat, Kwath, Kot),
– Bathing (Ponds/stone conduits),
– Garden (Bhandarkhal – flower for worship)

Interlinking doors
• it is Single bayed with parallel load bearing walls.

• Initially it had north entrance.

• Three dalans on the three faces, except in South.

• At the frieze level, the courses in the ground floor are carved with
Shivalingas (570 nos.). Which are so arranged that tells the main
entrance at the north.

• At South, can find continuous carving of shivalingas defining no dalans.

• It built on the concept of Vastupurusha Mandala.

• During renovation in 2034 BS, there has been removing & replacing of
images.

• Still one old image of Indra untouched which is placed according to the
Vastupurusha Mandala.

• Carving on the different doors with different motifs, erotic carving

related to Kamadevea.
Source: S. R. Tiwari
Sundari Chowk –
Ground Floor Plan
• Palace architecture is similar to residential.
• Courtyard house is for common people.

• Ground floor was not used.

• First floor is just bed room.
• Second floor is living room.
• Falecha- guard used to stay.

• In Sundari Chowk, the north east room would be King +Queen bed room ,
• Five bayed entrance door between two walls of Mulchowk and Sundari
Chowk. In this chowk, have a north side entrance. Later south door
opened for priest.

• Mulchowk built at the last probably it closed the door way of Sundari
Chowk, which is interconnected by Agam Mandir.

• In bed room, there is mural painting of the Machhindra Nath Jatra on the
wall in north side.
• First floor is long continuous rooms.

• Where rooms are not interconnected as per security

purpose.

• Discontinuous as many functions held by King there.

Approached from many access.

• Second floor again discontinuous but connected through

balcony.
• It is not usual characteristic of Durbar. May be later added.
• The unique character of this Palace is corner window (only
three corner windowed building).
• Tusa hiti was built in the centre of the courtyard in octagonal
shape ( king’s devotion towards the eight nagas).
4 STAIRS : 4 Apartments
Gr Floor Stair & anteroom
access from Peti in Court,
(Corner stair also accessed
directly from outside )
F Floor 2 small rooms, stair
and 1 large room
Units separate
S Floor Living and other
spaces
linked through balcony to other
units.

Source: S. R. Tiwari
Sundari Chowk –
First Floor Plan
Sundari Chowk –
Second Floor Plan
• From one court to another courtyards has interlocking doors.
• The Palace has Towers and Temples.

• King court would not be in outer part, there are different courts to come
for the king.
• There is no formal path way, one must go through different courts. Which
are good from defense point of view.

• Courtyards are single bay construction,

• it has Doorways dalan, window etc.

• Doorway have Toranas, inside the dalans also have torans.

• Different types of windows Sanjhyal, Gaajhyal, Vimanjhyal, Tikijhyal,

Kajhyal, Pashukhajhyall, Bakoo Jhya, Kun Jhya,etc.

• Concept of guarding is already there.

• Still at Keshav Mohan chowk ; Lions,
• In Sundari chowk; Ganesh & Narshimha are placed as mythological
guardian to the Palaces.
• The constr. technology is load bearing system (brick and mud motor).

• Construction materials – Brick, timber, mud floor / , tiling, Jhingati roof etc.

• Timber used for joists, frame, windows, doors, floor planks, etc.
• The foundation would be brick. Some has got footing.

• it is said that Sundari chowk building has got no foundation, wall itself
acting as foundation.

• Roofs to have ridge, centre post raised in King post truss, roofs are
supported by struts.
• The corridors / balconies walkways (cantilevers) are supported by struts.

• Windows and doors are not load bearing components. So A lots of

carving (Krishna) had done.

• The windows openings are normally slope narrow out.

• Sundari chowk is 3 storeyed building (same as Keshav Mohan chowk).
Mul chowk was 2 ½ or 2 storeyed building.
• After earthquake (1934 AD) Rana constructed in two bay wall
construction.

• In Keshav Mohan chowk, only three wings are of Malla style.

• The whole layout in Patan is based on certain proportion.

• Diagonal of Sundari chowk is equal to side of the Mulchowk and Keshav

Mohan chowk.

• Which shows that Sundari Chowk built with the first principle of layout
applied.

• Mulchowk of Patan is 2 ½ floors.

• Degutale was done in 16th century AD.

• Degutale is even lower than present day.
• It is four storeyed structure, which dedicated to goddess Taleju Bhawani

• Inside temple had one room for king, who could retire for meditation,
prayers, and mantra recitation.
• The earlier court is at the northern or kwatha.

• Mulchowk – dedicated to goddess durga, small gilt

sanctuary (Istadevta) located in the inner court.

• It had two storeyed wings building, surrounded by

courtyard where lived palace priests.

• In courtyard, various dances and ceremonies were

performed.

• The Agamdevta temple erected in the southern wing of the

mulchowk.

• Bhandarkhal has a Pokhari having tunnel to flow of water

to Bagmati (Shankhamul).
• The most important structure in every palace is the Taleju
Temple, which contains the House god of the kings.

• In Patan, there is a triple – roofed temple on a three –

storeyed palace base dating from 1671 AD.

• The corner of the roof were cut back to create the octagonal
towers

• The three main chowk ( Keshar narayan chowk, Mul chowk

and Sundari chowk has no organized communication, built
as separate units.

• Each chowk has its own main gate leading to square,

smaller one at the rear which lead to the garden.
social & cultural
activities are
performed in
the Open spaces
• The palaces and adjoining groups of temples were surrounded by walls
and gates that acted as fortifications.

• All the temples standing in front of the palace in durbar square have been
so arranged that their entrance steps or main doors are faced to the
palace.

• Eg. Three Shikhara – style temples (Krishna, Narasinha, Shiva – like

Indian stone temple) .

• There are seven temples in the traditional style. Eg. Mani Ganesh,
Bhimsen, Char narayan, Harishanker etc.

• Other building of the palace area are : Manimandapa, Mandapa, Mani

Hiti, Dharmashala.

• The Keshar Narayan cowk – started in1675 AD to 1734 AD. By Shrinivasa

Malla. It was extension to the palace.
• BHAKTAPUR PALACE :
• The Palace lies at the northern edge of the town
• Several alleys connect the palace complex with the most
important town square,
• The Taumadi Tol, dominated by the five-tiered Nyatapol
temple and Bhairab temple

• First Malla Palace at Bhaktapur.

• Believe that it was built in ca. 1150 AD.

• Originally it was built by Ananda Malla along with planning of

the Bhaktapur city (Satellite towns).
 Tripur was consecrated with ‘sapta-gantha-kuta’
A seven storied temple for clan deity
Inside palace courts

Later Khanda chowk, partly courtyard to the south added.

Major adding is Uttarasala, Daxinasala which makes the palace from
Tripur to Panchapur (1205 AD ca).
Tripur was acting as a major role for solving problems of the towns,
which proved that it was a Palace.
• The planning of such a granular form was not at one time.

• It took several centuries.

• Bhaktapur palace had 99 courtyards. The town starts from

Siddhipokhari to Eastward with which leads to palace court.
entry gateway

• The palace construction was continued either in Vedic or in

Lichchhavi style.

• Harisimhadev from Karnataka to Simaraungarh and came to

rule in the valley, that he brought the Taleju with him and put
in Mulchowk. So Mulchowk is part of the Tripur Palace.

• The interesting concepts of palace planning is a big square

for public area (public activities). Not in lichchhavi palace
planning.
• Tripur Palace comprise with the major three courtyards (Kumari Chowk,
Mul Chowk (Talaju – 1324 AD) and Bairav Chowk- 1580 AD).

• Later Palace was extended to Panchapur (five courts) by adding

Daxinsala and Uttersala.

• Last structure palace built, half of the square, in “U” shaped structure just
like Khandakot in 55 windows palace, built by Bhupatindra Malla in 1698
AD.

• Palace has Bhandarkhal – Garden (flowers to worship the god and

goddess).

• Nag Pokhari – water ritual, along with durbar square for public activities
and temple clustered.

• In 1662 CE Jagat Prakash Malla built the Basantapur Darbar, a type of

leisure house for the queens

• No temple tower. Because weakness of soil character.

• It had 99 courtyard but in 1742 AD only 12 courtyards (in 1842 AD) and
The interesting part of the Bhaktapur is 55 windows (Viman
Jhyal) palace (1697 AD).
It has Kaa jhya to have breaking of monotony.
After 1934’s earthquake, could not re-establish in the same
position. Only 54 windows replaced.
• 2003 AD, the renovation work has been going on to protect the
deteriorating images of the 55 windows palaces.

• Earlier building was 2 ½ floor, after earth quake it has 3 ½ floor.

• The group of Tikijhya are in various elevations, every windows &

doorways having Toranas with Bhairb & Matrikas. It is important and
beautiful from exterior views.

• King bed room lies in the first floor, decoratively wall surfaces are
treated.
• Several alcoves in the shape of corresponding utensils used by the king
eg Karuwa, Hookka, Panas etc.

• There is mural painting of the Vishwa Roop in the king’s bed room.
Which is still untouched and intact form.

• They were trying to have technical innovation eg. South East corner
room having double wall thickness than other.

• In upper floor having double columns and beams (like in shops). This is
an example of checking the lateral forces by providing the shear wall. The
opening lie in the ground floor is false.
 • Tantrik Visworup-
Siva+Shakti
• Krishna Charitra
• Daily life, Hunting scenes,
etc.
• ~80 sq.m.
• Main Bed room
• Special rituals
* Durbar and the durbar square The Square
* Durbar as groups of courtyard Palace parallel to square
buildings with temples The main gate
Temples
Sattals
Festivities
• The temples and rest houses with in the palace premises destroyed
by earthquake of 1934 have hardly been rebuilt
• Only the platforms and lions guarding their former entrances mark
the site
• Of the palace fortifications only the gate at the western approach and
a two-storeyed structure to the east remain
• There were at least three temple groups: one in front of the palace,
one to the east and one to the south-west, which were formerly
separated by a two-storeyed building used by the military
• A three-tiered Shiva temple on five stepped plinths dominated the
eastern group of temples,
• Pashupatinath temple the central group and the two-tiered Krishna
temple dominated the south-western group
• There are significant records of the donors, constructions, and
renovations of the complexes inside the Durbar Square since 1614.

• According to the archives, the last three kings of Bhaktpaur, Jitamitra

Malla, Bhupatindra Malla, and Ranajit Malla, played the chief roles in
shaping the present Durbar Square.

• During his twenty-three years as king starting in 1673, Jitamitra,

influenced by the arts, made many extensive changes to the Durbar
Square
• Jitamitra also repaired the Nag Pokhari built by Jagatir Malla between
1613-1636 CE

• In the Pokhari he had a wooden post with a gilt head of Vasukai (snake
god) erected

• This sunken pond included a golden water spout in a niche which was
richly adorned with fine stone sculptures.

• This place might have served as the bathing area of the kings, as did the
Sundari Chowk of the Patan and Ktm Places

• Hence, it would be a fair assumption that this bathing area of the palace
might have once been enclosed by buildings to form a courtyard
• Jitamitra added another palace wing, the Thanbu Durbar, northeast
of the Mul Chowk.
• He designed fountains, gardens, and a pavilion for the new wing. In
1696, shortly before his demise, he built a sikhara temple of
Siddhilaxmi next to the temple of Vatsaladevi.
• A rare feature added to the temple was the animal sculptures
standing on either side of the steps to the temple
• After his death, his son, Bhupatindra Malla, continued to make
additions to the Durbar Square

• In 1678 CE Beko Chowk and Siddhi Chowk were constructed

• Bhupatindra Malla refurbished Mul Chowks and many half
finished wings were completed
• The roof of the Taleju temple was metal gilded and crowned
with golden finials by him
• The king had the Malati Chowk built in 1707 CE with the stone
idols of Hanuman and Narasingha guarding its entrance
• The figures of Ugrachanda and Bhairab were installed on either
side of a gate at the western end of the palace leading to the
Basantapur Chowk in 1707 CE
• They are still standing today, but now only guard the entrance to a
garden
• Bhupatindra Malla also built four modest monuments: the
temples of Jagannatha and Rameswar, a sikhara style brick
temple Kedarnath, and a two-storied pagoda style temple of
Badrinath near the gate of the Durbar Square
• Yakseswar Mahadev, a temple built as a duplicate of Pashupati is
another of the oldest monuments in the Durbar Square.
• This temple situated at the South end of the Durbar Square is
believed to have been erected by Yaksha Malla (ruled 1428-1482)

• The sun dhoka or the golden gate was

gilded during Ranajit Malla’s reign in 1754 CE
• The gate is decorated with the images of
Kalash and other deities at both sides
and a detailed sculpture of Taleju, above the
gate looking at those entering the gate.
• The flags, spires, umbrellas, elephants, and
lions at the roof of the gate also add to its
notability
• The three storied rectangular temple of Bhairava, the
wrathful form of Lord Shiva, was enlarged from its single
story, when reconstructed in 1717.
• There are seven golden gajurs, spires on its topmost roof.
• Next to it is Nyatapola, the five storied temple, made in 1702, is
unique. It has five slanting roofs supported by one
hundred eight struts and standing on five plinths.
• The steep flight of steps rising to the entrance of the temple is
flanked on either side by sculptures of wrestlers, elephants,
lions, griffins, and sculptures of the deities.
• These guardians are arranged in order of their powers; the one
above is said to have ten times more strength that the one below.
• So the goddess Siddhi Laxmi, to whom the temple is believed
to been dedicated, has ten times more power than the two deities
on the topmost level of the stairs.
•Wrestlers Jayamel
and Phattu
•Elephants
•Lions
•Griffins
•Goddesses (Siddhi
Lakshmi’s lion-
bodied protectors)
• An eight sided pavilion of Chasalin Mandap, stands in front of
the Fifty- Five Window Palace
• It was originally made by Yaksha Malla in remembrance of his
queen, but has been reconstructed after its destruction by the
earthquake. With windows that open in all directions, the
Chasalin Mandap, offers a prime view of the Durbar Square.