Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square

History of Architecture II

Palace
Architecture
Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square

● Kewal Lama
HISTORY OF THE PALACE
● The Royal Palace was originally at Dattaraya
square and was later moved to the Durbar
square.

● The palaces in Kathmandu Durbar Square

date back to the 10th century CE. It was the
residence of the Malla kings of Kathmandu.

● When Prithvi Narayan Shah invaded the

Kathmandu Valley in 1769, he also favored
the Kathmandu Durbar Square for his
palace.

● Other subsequent Shah kings continued to

rule from the square until 1896 when they
moved to the Narayan Hiti Palace.
PLAN OF KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE
● The hanuman dhoka durbar
complex is a blend of the various
styles of architectural monuments
that are prevailing in Nepal.

● The pagoda style of architecture

which is purely a Nepalese style
generally is a multistoried
complex built using bricks, woods
and mud and that can be mostly
seen in the square.
 PALACE
Old Palace
N
Vasantapur Tower (New palace)

Gaddi Baithak
Sundari Chowk
Temples

Oldest Palace
Degutale Temple Hanuman
dhoka gate
Mohan Panchamukhi Hanuman
Chowk Temple

Bhagwati
Temple Mul
chowk

Nasal Chowk
Bhaktapur
tower
Kirtipur
tower

Lohan
Chowk
Shiva Temple
Gaddi Baithak

Vasantapur Tower
 HANUMAN DHOKA
● Located at west side of
the durbar square.
● Traditional low amd
narrow style.
● Elaborately decorated
with carvings and
paintings of deities and
auspicious sign
● Placed statue of
hanuman
● Leads to the Nasal
Chowk
1673C.E

Entry from the gate Statue of Lord Narshingha Idol

 Sundari Chowk Mohan chowk
● Consists of Sundhara ● Commissoned in 1649 by King Pratap Malla.
● Artistically carved spout boundary lined with 36 ● Oldest part of the palace
images of gods and goddess. ● Located on north side of Nasal Chowk
● Malla king ritually bath each morning. ● Malla king’s private quarters
● Buidlings around it has intricatel wood carvings ● Royal residence courtyard for many years.
and stone carvings ● Three roofed temple of Agamechem.
● Lichhavi era carving of Krishna subduing the coils ● Intricate wood and stone carvings
of the Kaliya Serpent
 Jaldroni
● Interested in increasing the literacy of
his people, King Pratap Malla had
this 14 to 15 script inscription
installed alongside one of the palace
complexes main water spouts
located near the entryway to the
palace. Mentioned in the inscription
is the fact that King Pratap Malla
himself was fluent in all of the 14 to
15 scripts
Agamchhen
● Rises at the northeastern section of the
quadrangle.
● The word Agam Chhen is literally
translated to Hidden Temple or the Secret
Temple.
● It was named so because no one, except
for the Malla rulers, were allowed to enter
the temple. The reason was because the
shrine housed the traditional family deity
of the Malla rulers.
 Panchamukhi Hanuman temple MUL CHOWK
N

Nasal chowk

● the stunning,
circular, five-tiered
Panchmukhi
Hanuman temple,
built by the Mallas
in circa 1655 AD.
 WINGS AROUND MUL CHOWK
● main court of the Malla kings
● Consists two story wings punctuated by
higher temple towers
● south wing contains a main shrine marked
by a gilded repoussé door and tympanum
flanked by large gilt copper personifications.
● Carved windows and doors
● On roof Jhingati tiles on mud bed.
● At the center of the tile paved courtyard is an
open air shrine marked by a gilt repoussé
canopy.
 NASAL CHOWK
Tribhuwan Museum

● Started by Ranas in 17th century and

continued until late 19th century by
Malla and Shah dynasties.
● Main seat of Shah kings for several
years
● Royal residence.
● To keep an eye on the people, to ensure
every household food was cooked or
not.
 NASAL CHOWK
Tribhuwan Museum

● Collection of artifacts that kings used and

historical arts that kings purchased.
● Includes attires that kings used to wear and
also the walking sticks, gloves and many
other items.
● Includes thrones, woodworks stoneworks
weapons that kings used in 19th century.
● The museum has separate section where
the bedroom and learning room of the kung
are recreated.
● Rebuilt by Junga Bahadur rana in european
style.
MASAN CHOWK
N

Degutale temple

Bhagwati temple
Masan
Chowk
Bhagwati Temple
● This Bhagwati Temple is very
popular for being the home to
Nuwakot Bhagwati.
● She was apparently brought to the
temple by King Prithivi Narayan
Shah from Nuwakot after his victory
over Kathmandu.
● We can easily presume the faith
that the king had over the goddess
from this very fact itself.
● It was built during the Malla period,
but the icon of the deity residing in
the shrine was stolen.
● King Prithivi Narayan Shah just
made this a new home for the
goddess he dearly believed in.
● Pujas are still done every day in this
temple.
●
●
Built by King Shiva Malla in 1620BS.
has been dedicated to the fearful god of power
Degutale Temple
Taleju Bhawani– the favorite goddess of the
Malla rulers.
● Located in Masan chowk.
● In fact, the faith of the king was so strong that he
built a column outside the palace premises
featuring himself, praying to the goddess with
utter devotion . . .
● The three storeyed temple
● Lower part of the temple is just an ordinary living
quarter and the main shrine starts high above the
ground.
● access to the temple is from the lower building.
● roof of the temples are gilded, and from the
corner of the roofs hang double banners.
● Window carvings on the second floor that are
panelled in silver.
● The temple enshrines the family deity of the
Malla rulers.
● Shah as well as the Malla rulers have added to
its grandeur.
● Devali Puja of the tutelary deity is done here by
the Newar community.
 LOHAN CHOWK
● Built by King Prithvi Narayan
Shah and his son.
● The towers are connected
with each other by four layers
Bhaktapur of cloisters and structurally
Kirtipur tower Tower formed square buildings.
Patan Tower ● The towers are structurally
Nau Tale Durbar correlated and architecturally
inseparable.
● The towers rest on a four
storied building.

LOHAN
CHOWK
 Kirtipur Tower Bhaktapur Tower Patan Tower

● Copper roof ● Octagonal plan ● Square plan

● Peculiar design and ● Traditional windows
complexity around
● Pinnacle on the top
● Used by Shah
rulers for
entertainment
purpose
 NAUTALE DURBAR
● Former royal palace.
● 3 floors were built by King Prithvi
Narayan.
● The lower three stories were made in the
Newari farmhouse style.
● After his death, his son completed this
tower including the 3 other towers.
● To create pleasant pavilion
● 9 floors, 4 tiered roof and 30.5m high
● Rectangular plan
● Copper pinnacle at the top
● upper floors have Newari style massive
windows, sanjhya and tikijhya,
● Struts are carved by carvings of gods and
animals
● Erotic carvings can be seen in top floors
● Massive window frames.

View from Nasal Chowk

 DETAIL PARTS

Doors Windows Struts

DAKH CHOWK
N

● Located at the middle of western wing of Nasal

Chowk.
● courtyard where the grapes are grown is called
Dakh Chowk.
● nicely decorated with the carving figures of tiger Dakh
heads and makara figures like a form of Demon Chowk

Heads.
● There is cannon exhibited with a heap of stone
balls that was used in Nepal Tibet wars at the
start of 20th century
 GADDI BAITHAK
History and Purpose:
● Built by Chandra Shumsher in 1908 AD
● In European architectural design (Neo
Classical)
● Illustrating the power through an identity
different from preceding rulers.
● Royal throne was kept in this hall giving
this historic hall its name, Gaddi Baithak.
● To provide a place for formal
meetings where formal meetings
where foreign delegates and
diplomats were received by king.
● The balconies of this durbar were
reserved for the royal family during
festivals to view the square below.
 GADDI BAITHAK
Architectural features (Exterior)
● Neoclassical design
● Covered in white plaster
● Greek columns nd adjoins a large
audience hall.
● Inscription on the western facade
where long title of Chandra Shumsher
has been engraved shows the power
of Rana regime during shah kings.
● Initiated the use of lime and metal as
new building materials.
● Embellished with greek and Roman
details.
● Ornamentation built in situ in brick
masonry covered with a white lime
stucco finish.
● Large columns are built in brick
masonry are tied to the main structure (West elevation)
using large wooden beams.
 GADDI BAITHAK
Architectural features (Interior)

● Hall size: 34 metres by 9.2 metres

and a height of 10.5 metres with a
gabled roof.
● East and west ends there are
mezzanine balconies overlooking
the main hall space.
● The ground floor is composed of 4
bays providing the base for the
grand hall above.
● Three major staircases on the
southwest, northeast and southeast
corners give access to the
mezzanine balconies as well as the
ground floor.
● Load bearing structure with brick
masonry in mud mortar with
intervals of lime mortar layers.
 GADDI BAITHAK
Architectural features (Interior)
● Extensive use of colors in ornamentation.
● The interior lime plasters details have been
painted in blue, green, gold and orange
shades.
● A polychromatic stained glass window was
used to form the backdrop for the royal
throne.
● Ventian mirrors
● Crystal chandeliers
● Large portraits
● Heavily wood carved decorative piece.
● Pressed tin ornamentation appliques
cornices, wall cladding as well as ceiling tiles
has been used along with the cast iron
balustrade for the staircases and balcony.
 GADDI BAITHAK
Damages due to earthquake

● Moisture in terms of capillary action from

the ground and rainwater penetration
from the terraces and roof are the main
culprits for the degeneration
Thank you…!!!