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Temples & Squares
Bhaktapur 2004-2006
Potters' Square - click to enlarge
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Patan Patan
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Bhaktapur: Temples
& Squares Bhaktapur Town
Ghats
& religious life
Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur is the marvel of Kathmandu Valley and perhaps the most
popular of the three Newar towns of the Kathmandu Valley. Fourteen
kilometres east of Kathmandu, this peaceful, conservative town stands in
sharp contrast to the bustle of its two adjacent cities. The kings of
Bhaktapur ruled over Kathmandu and Patan from the twelfth century to the
14th century.
Bhaktapur is in many ways the most medieval of the three major cities in
the Kathmandu Valley. Despite recent development, the city still retains
a distinctly timeless air, with much of its glorious architecture dating
from the end of the 17th century.
Durbar
Square
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Newar art and architecture in Bhaktapur rival the best craftsmanship of the
Malla period (from the 12th to the the 18th century). Though a massive
earthquake of 1934 destroyed many temples, bahals (monastery
courtyards), and residences, the city is still a living proof of the
highest craft standards in this part of the world. |
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The Golden Gate
(left) was built in 1753 and since them it has earned fame as
the most magnificent piece of metal craft in the entire country.
The superbly crafted image of Goddess Taleju (tantric Goddess, a
manifestation of Durga) is at the center and is a four-headed
figure with ten arms. The top of the gate is adorned with a
figure of Garuda. The panels depicting many deities around the
doorframes are skilfully crafted and may be the finest in the
valley. |
NB: Klik på billedet for forstørrelse / Click on photos to
enlarge
Nyatapola,
Taumadhi Tol
Stalls in front of
Bhairabnath Mandir (Temple) in
Taumadhi Tol
Bhakatapur's second main square is Taumadhi Tol, which
features the five-roofed Nyatapola, the highest temple in
the valley
Templet Nyatapola ligger på pladsen Taumadhi Tol.
Den 30 m høje pagode blev bygget i 1702 og er nok det bedste
eksempel på traditionel nepalesisk pagodearkitektur.
(Kineserne lærte at bygge pagoder af den nepalesiske arkitekt
Arniko.)
Nyatapola
temple (nyata=five, pola=roof) with its unmatchable five-tier
pagoda is dedicated to Goddess Siddhi Lakshmi (tantric Goddess).
The architectural design is superb with skillfully carved
windows, beams, 20 pillars and 108 struts. It was built by King
Bhupatindra Malla in 1702. There are five pairs of statues
flanking the steps leading to the temple. These pairs of
guardians on each plinth are placed in order of increasing
strength. The first two figures are the two Malla era wrestlers
believed to have equalled the strength of ten men. On the next
higher plinth are the elephants, then the lions, the griffins
and finally two demi-Goddesses represented by a tigress and a
lioness, Vyagrini and Singhini (Simhini) respectively. Each
successive figure is supposed to be ten times stronger than the
one before it.
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Bhairabnath Mandir |
Bhairabnath Mandir |
Taumadhi Tol |
NB: Klik på billedet for forstørrelse / Click on photos to
enlarge
Potters' Square
Potters' Square
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Pottery is very clearly what this square is all about.
Under shady open verandahs or tin-roofed sheds all
around the square, potters' wheels spin and clay is
moulded. In the square itself, thousands of finished
pots sit out in the sun to dry, and are sold in the
stalls around the square
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During harvest
time the pots have to give way to rice.
På Pottemagernes plads, Potters' Square, er kornet blevet
sigtet og nu males det i morteren. Midt på pladsen finder man et Ganesh-tempel.
Potters' Square
NB: Klik på billedet for forstørrelse / Click on photos to
enlarge
Dattatraya Square
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Dattatraya Square
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Dattatraya Mandir
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At the east of the square
stands the large Dattatraya Mandir. This is a
three-storey pagoda style temple and is said to be the oldest in
Bhaktapur and is believed to have been built out of wood from a
single tree in 1427 during the reign of King Yaksha Malla.
NB: Klik på billedet for forstørrelse / Click on photos to
enlarge
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Bemærk Newar-kulturens fine
træskærerarbejder omkring vinduer og balkoner
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The Peacock Window with its
elaborate window-lattice carving |
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I en lille
gyde bag Dattatraya-pladsen finder man det berømteste eksempel
på newarernes filigran-træskærerarbejde: Påfuglevinduet
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Patan Patan
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Bhaktapur: Temples
& Squares Bhaktapur Town
Ghats
& religious life
Last update January 07
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