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Nestled between the Khasa Knusung and Hanumante
Rivers in the Kathmandu Valley, the city of Bhaktapur
signals a high point in Nepalese architecture. The
city flourished during the Malla period (AD
1200-1769) of Nepalese history; evidence of this prosperity
can be seen in such regal constructions as the Palace
of 55 Windows, the monumental gates and a number
of superb temples. Craftsmanship of exceptional quality
is visible on temple façades, window and doorframes,
and building design. A massive earthquake in 1934
damaged or destroyed many structures in the city,
some of which are now being repaired, although further
restoration work is needed.
ARCHITECTURE
Bhaktapur today covers an area of approximately ten
square kilometres. The heart of the city and the location
of many of its monuments is the dazzling Durbar Square:
a showcase for the city's mesmerizing façades
and brilliant carvings. King Bhupatindra Malla (1690-1720)
ordered and oversaw the engineering of many of the magnificent
buildings in the city's central square. His most impressive
achievement, the Palace of 55 Windows, provides
breathtaking examples of the extraordinary skill with
which the craftsmen executed their work. The detail
on the windows is exquisite, and the balcony is a masterpiece
of woodcarving.
The Golden Gate, built by King Ranjit Malla
- the last monarch of the Malla Kingdom - serves as
the entrance to the main courtyard of the palace.
Widely considered one of the most beautiful structures
in the city, the gate is embellished by richly carved
examples of monsters and demons. A second gate, the
Lion Gate, constructed during the reign of
King Bhupatindra Malla, is the largest in the Valley
and is also adorned by masterfully carved monster-like
figures. Of the many statues in Nepal, that of King
Bhupatindra Malla, which graces Durbar Square, is
arguably the most magnificent. Also in the square,
the stone temple of Batsala Devi displays the
same fabulous carvings, as well as a colossal bronze
bell, known as the "Bell of Barking Dogs",
on its terrace. The enormous bell was placed on the
terrace in 1737 and used to sound the beginning of
curfew.
Outside the square stand a number of other marvelous
temples. The greatest is the Nyatapola Temple,
a five-storey pagoda built in 1702. Towering above
Taumadhi Square, this pagoda - the tallest in the
Valley at 30 metres - stands on a five-storey terraced
platform. On each of the terraces sits a pair of figures:
elephants, lions, griffins, and Baghini and Singhini,
the tiger and lion goddesses. The Bhairavnath Temple
began as a one-storey pagoda during the reign of King
Jagat Jyoti Malla, and was later reconstructed into
a three-storey temple in 1718 by Bhupatindra. The
temple, noted for its artistic grandeur, is dedicated
to Lord Bhairav, the god of terror. One of the older
temples in Bhaktapur is the Dattatraya Temple,
dedicated to the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
Built during the reign of Kink Yakchhya Malla in 1427,
some say the temple was constructed from the trunk
of a single tree. Nearby, the ornate Purjari Math
(a Hindu monastery) is decorated with expert word
carvings and the celebrated peacock windows.
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