Nyatapola Temple
The Nyatapola Temple (न्यातपौ देग, nyata five-story, pola steps) is the highest temple in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal . It is located on Taumadhi Square, southeast of Durbar Square, in Bhaktapur . Nyatapola Temple is also known as the Temple of the Terrible. It has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979 .
history
The Nyatapola Pagoda is dedicated to the Hindu deity Lakshmi . The 30-meter-high five-story temple was built by Nepal's King Bhupatindra Malla (1696–1722) between 1702 and 1708. Due to its construction, the temple survived the effects of a major earthquake in 1934 with only minor damage. During an earthquake in 1990, the top of the five roofs of the temple fell, which had already been renovated under King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah Dev (1911–1950, 1951–1955). In 1996, this damage was repaired in nine months, using both new and original materials.
Exterior building description
The pagoda stands on a stepped base with five terraces. The stairs that lead up this plinth are flanked by a different pair of figures on each floor. On the bottom floor two famous fighters, then two elephants, two lions and two (bird) griffins and on the top floor the tiger deity Baghini and the lion deity Singhini. Each pair is said to be ten times stronger than the pair on the floor below. The two strong fighters on the bottom floor are Jaya Malla and Phatta Malla, who are said to be ten times stronger than any other person.
The inside of the temple
Inside the temple there is a statue of the deity Siddhilakshmi Bhavani, the greatest and most powerful tantric deity. The temple chamber has a gate on each of its four sides and the main gate faces south. The roof of the temple, which rests on 108 rafters, is covered with special red adobe bricks, which can be damaged by earthquakes, but offer a high level of protection against insects and rain. Brass bell wind chimes hang in the rafters. There are 48 bells in the fifth, 80 in the fourth, 104 in the third, 128 in the second and 168 bells in the first roof. In addition, four Ganesha statues are set up in the temple , one in each corner; however, the statue in the northeast corner was stolen.
bibliography
- Report on the Nyatapola Temple , with additional literature
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Report on the Nyatapola Temple , (Eng.)
Coordinates: 27 ° 40 ′ 17.1 ″ N , 85 ° 25 ′ 46.1 ″ E