The Current State of Wooden Architecture and Challenging Issues in Nepal

-Prof. Ar. Dan Heera Kansakar, Nepal

Kathmandu Valley Topographic Map

I.Historical development of wooden architecture in Kathmandu valley.

The Kathmandu valley also referred to as Nepal valley used to be a dominating power in the central part of the Himalayas two thousand years ago. The valley was under the rule of the Lichhavi Dynasty in the 5th and 6th century. One of the most famous examples of rich wooden architecture from this era is the Changu Narayan temple and Kasthamandapa. The Malla dynasty came to power in the late 12th century and ruled the Kathmandu valley till the 18th century. The following is a list of some of the UNESCO listed world heritage sites that exemplify the rich wooden architecture of Nepal:

Changu Narayan Temple

Cornice of Changu Narayan Temple South Side

Lower Roof Strut of Cangu Narayan Temple (Ananta Vishnu)

Lower Roof Strut of Changu Narayan Temple (Bhairava)

Lower Roof Strut of Changu Narayan Temple (Parshurama)

Lower Roof Strut of Changu Narayan Temple

Lower Roof Strut of Changu Narayan Temple (Bishworoop Krishna)

Lower Roof Strut of Changu Narayan Temple (Kubera)

Kashthamandapa Kashthamandapa of Kathmandu also known as Maru Sattal located at Maru Tol of Kathmandu city exist since 16th Century. Many of its supporting columns, especially the four 7 meter high centre posts appear to be among the oldest surviving timber structures in the Valley. Legend has it that the timber used in the construction of the Kashthamandapa came form a single tree Kashthamandapa is erected on a base of 18.70m x 18.73 and is 16.30m in height. Its construction demonstrates a very systematic way of the collection of loads and their distribution through posts and walls to the foundations.

SWAYMBHUNATH TEMPLE

BOUDDHANATH TEMPLE

KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE

A ROYAL CARVED CORNER WINDOW AT KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE

BHAKTAPUR DURBAR SQUARE

POST DETAIL AT BHAKTAPUR DURBAR SQUARE

A LATTICED WINDOW AT BHAKTAPUR

NYATAPOLA DEGA

DATTATREYA SQUARE

DATTATREYA SQUARE

PATAN DURBAR SQUARE

CORNER WINDOW A RARE CARVED CORNER WINDOW AT PATAN DURBAR SQUARE

FRONT ELEVATION OF PATAN DURBAR SQUARE

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
DRAWINGS AND PICTURES

FRONT ELEVATION OF CHAR NARAYAN TEMPLE

CHAR NARAYAN TEMPLE

SECTION OF CHAR NARAYAN TEMPLE

PLAN OF MAJU TEMPLE KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE

FRONT ELEVATION OF MAJU TEMPLE, KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE

DETAILS OF POST, LINTEL, AND BEAM

POST DETAIL

TRADITIONAL WINDOW DETAIL

TRADITIONAL WINDOW DETAIL

SECTIONAL ELEVATION OF TRADITIONAL NEWARI HOUSE

JOINT DETAIL

SECTIONAL ELEVATION OF TRADITIONAL NEWARI HOUSE

ELEVATOIN OF TRADITIONAL NEWRAI HOUSE

HANNOVER EXPO 2000

HIMALAYAN MANDAPA

PUBLIC BUILDING TREATED WITH TRADITIONAL WOODEN ARCHITECTURE IN FRONT FAADE WITHIN HISTORICALLY PROTECTED ZONE( BHAKTAPUR DURBAR SQUARE)

FLORA EXPO , HAMAMATSU,

JAPAN 2004

ENLIGHTMENT GARDEN

DWARIKAS HOTEL, KATHMANDU

A RESORT IN NAGARKOT

THE END THANK YOU!