Nepal, 

 country of Asia, lying along the southern slopes of the Himalayan

mountain ranges.
 It is a landlocked country located between India to the east, south,
and west and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north.
 Its territory extends roughly 500 miles (800 kilometres) from east to
west and 90 to 150 miles from north to south. The capital
is Kathmandu.

Pre- historic period:

• 257 BC (earliest recorded history)
•The Pillars inscripted by Emperor Ashoka, at Lumbini and in Kathmandu
•Lumbini- birthplace of Guatama Buddha.

1. Lichchavi period (500-900 AD)

• Considered as the golden age of Nepal
• originated in India ( Vaishali and Muzaffarpur )
 • it maintained close ties to India, and had an economic and political
relations with Tibet thus becoming a cultural centre linking central and
southern Asia
•The era ended when Amusuvarman founded the Thakuri dynasty.

Changunarayn

- Oldest Hindu temple

- Constructed 14th century
- One of the 7 structure cited by UNESCO

2. Thakuri Dynasty ( 900-1200 AD)

• replaced the Lichchavis by the Thakuri rulers signified the start of new era
as ' Nepal Era'
 To commemorate this important event, Raghv Dev started the 'Nepal Era'
which began form 20th October, 869 A.D.
Kasthmandap
3. Malla Period ( 1200-1769 AD)
 Malla era attained the glorification of Nepal architecture.
 Kathmandu valley get three distinct Durbar square:
- Kathmandu Durbar square
- Pata Durbar square
– Bhaktapur Durbar square
*Durbar square- generic name used to describe plazas opposite old palaces
in Nepal.

(Kathmandu Durbar Square)

(Patan Durbar square)

( Bhaktapur square)

-Typical formal feature is the monumental pillar supporting a metal

superstructure adorned with mystical symbols, group of dynasties and portrait
statuary of royalties. The temples were mainly pagoda.
 * These three became the epitome of traditional Nepalese Architecture.
*The great age of Nepali architecture come to a dramatic end when King
Prithvi Narayan Shah invaded the valley in 1769.

4. Shah dynasty (1800-1950)

• Evolution of contemporary art
• influences of colonial Architecture from British Empire at India.
Some Examples:
- Thapathali Durbar

- Dharahara

- Seto Durbar
 5. Modern Architecture (stared 1950)
• starts from about the time the Sarashwati Sadan(2000 BS) was built, which was
a milestone in the history of modern Architecture.
Sarashwati Sadan

- designed by Bed Prasad Lohani

-1st concrete structure in Nepal
- simple, functional, and structurally stable
 Thapathali Durbar
 a palace complex in Kathmandu, the capital of the Nepal.
 It was initially built by Nain Singh Thapa of the but was later occupied by Jung Bahadur
Rana.

Dharahara
 also called Bhimsen Tower, was a nine-storey, 61.88-metre-tall (203.0 ft).
 Tower at the centre of Sundhara, Kathmandu, Nepal. 
 It was built in 1832, was a part of the architecture of Kathmandu recognized
by UNESCO.

Seto Durbar

 Was a Rana palace in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

 Incorporated in an impressive courtyards, furnishings and guest halls.
 Seto Durbar was built by Bir Shumsher JBR in 1893 CE.