South Asia

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 Nepal

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 Nepalese Architecture

• Mainly influenced by China, India and

Tibet as it situated along these
countries’ trade routes.

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 Nepalese Architecture

• Pagoda style is prominent among

Hindu temples in the country.
• Pagoda architectural tradition and
traditional Tibetan Buddhist
architecture are widely used among
Buddhist temples throughout the
country instead of stupas
• Mugal style, summit style, dome
style also have great scope in Nepal.

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 Newar Architecture

• Indigenous style of architecture by

the Newari people in the Kathmandu
valley in Nepal.
• Used in buildings ranging from
stupas and chaitya monastery
buildings to courtyard structures and
distinctive houses.
• Marked by striking brick work and a
unique style of wood carvings
• Propagated by Nepalese architect
Arniko

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 The Great Drigung Kagyud
Lotus Stupa

Lumbini, Nepal
• Stupa constructed by the German
Tara Foundation
• Contains a hollow crown partly
covered in glass, revealing a small
Buddha within
• The domed ceiling of the main
prayer room is covered in Buddhist
murals.

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 Swayambhunath Stupa

Kathmandu, Nepal
• An ancient religious architecture atop a hill in the Kathmandu
Valley, west of Kathmandu city.
• Tibetan name for the site means 'Sublime Trees’

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 Swayambhunath Stupa

Carvings of the Panch Buddhas (five Buddhas) on

each of the four sides of stupa.
• Vairochana (occupies the center and is the
master of the temple)
• Akshobhya (faces the east and represents the
cosmic element of consciousness)
• Ratna Sambhava (faces the south and
represents the cosmic element of sensation)
• Amitabha (represents cosmic element of
Sanjna and always faces the west)
• Amoghsiddhi (represents the cosmic element
of conformation and faces the north)

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 Boudhanath Stupa

• The stupa’s massive mandala makes

it one of the largest spherical stupas
in Nepal.
• Large amounts of gold were used to
decorate the building.
• Took almost seven years to finish
the stupa
• Built in the 14th century after the
Mughal invasions

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 Pasupatinath Temple
• Hindu temple located along Bagmati
River at the northeast of Kathmandu
Valley.
• Constructed by Lichhavi King
Shupuspa in 15th century after the
previous building had been
consumed by termites.
• Beautifully carved wooden rafters on
which they rest (tundal)
• The two-level roofs are of copper
with gold covering.
• The temple resides on a square base
platform with a height of almost
23m from base to pinnacle which is
made of gold.
• It has four main doors, all covered
with silver sheets. 11
 Maju Dega

• Built in 1692 by Queen Mother

Riddhi Laxmi (mother of infant King
Bhupatendra Malla).
• The doorway, columns, windows and
struts are all carved from wood.
• Inside the temple, an enormous
shiva linga, the emblem of Lord
Shiva, is located

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 Maju Dega

• Constructed during the reign of King

Siddhinarasimha Malla and his son
Srinivasa Sukriti, built in
the Shikhara style.
• Patan – one of the oldest known
Buddhist cities, center of
both Hinduism and Buddhism with
136 bahals or courtyards and 55
major temples.
• Stone carvings along the beam
above the first floor narrate the
events of the Mahabharata while
the second-floor pillar are visual
carvings from Ramayana
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Krishna Temple and Maju Dega

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