Pagoda Features

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Tiered roofing
The most striking architectural feature in Nepalese architecture is the series of huge projecting roofs set one above another. They are generally square in plan and diminish in size from the bottom to the top. Two and three tiered pagodas were most common in Kathmandu; however, there are some single tiered, three four-tired and some five-tiered pagodas. The projection of the roofs protects the walls from the heavy monsoon rain and the strong sunlight. Although the roof overhang of residential buildings is only about one meter, roofs over temples may overhang up to four meters.

The shape of a pagoda roof depends upon the shape of the structure in plan. Square pagodas are most common, but sometimes we find rectangular, octagonal or circular pagodas also. The pagoda roofs are sloped, and they overhang from the inner cella walls. They are supported on the outer edge by wooden struts on wooden pillars or the brick walls.                               



 

 

 

 

  Octagonal Pagoda   

Wooden struts are called Tundals, and they are another important feature of Nepalese pagoda. They are wooden     structures carved with different deities for whom the temple is dedicated to and other related gods of the temple. Usually they are placed under the roof, to support sloping roofs, but sometimes they are just provided for aesthetics purpose.

Wooden windows   
Lavishly decorated wooden windows are placed on each level of the tiered roofed temples and palaces. They are always placed on odd numbers (1,3,5..) depending upon the size of the wall.

        

                   Wooden struts at the  temple of Changu

A bay widow flanked by smaller ones on the sides, is another common type of wooden windows. These windows are used both  in residences and temples. They are usually put on the third floor.  These windows are slanted outward exposing their beauty to the floor below. They are either open type or are closed with wooden lattice, which helped to get privacy in the room and provide ventilation at the same time . Each wooden strip of latticework is carved separately and interlocked together.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wooden window Detail   

Gold plated entrance gate of a palace

 

 

Doorways
A lot of emphasis was given to doors of temples and palaces. They are either of carved wood or embossed metal ones.   As per the importance given to the temple, they are plated with gold or silver.
Doors to the temples and the palaces have very low height, about 4.5 feet to 5 feet. They believed that the gods and the kings are very superior to men, and should always bow head when entering their place.
 

The pinnacle or the gajur is the top most portion of the structure. Mostly single gajur is provided but sometimes we even find two smaller gajurs on the either side of the big one. Heavy metals like copper, brass, and iron are used for making these pinnacles. They are they plated with silver and gold in major temples. Originally, gajurs might have been provided to cover the top joint of the four sided sloping roof but now they mark as the pride to the structures. 

 

 

 

 

 

Pinnacles at top of a roof 

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