Nepal: Frieze over the entrance to the Hanuman Dhoka depicting scenes from the Mahabharata, Durbar Square, Kathmandu (1996)

The Hindu god Krishna is depicted with Arjuna and Vishvarupa (centre), and on the left with two of his favourite gopini or 'milkmaids', Rukmini and Satyabhama. On the right, there is a royal couple, which in all likelihood represents King Pratapa Malla and his major wife.

The Hanuman Dhoka, or royal palace, takes up most of the eastern side of Durbar Square. Built four centuries ago by Nepal's Malla kings, only a small part of the complex is open to the general public. At the left of the entrance stands a statue of Hanuman, the monkey god of Hindu mythology, after which the palace is named. Within the main courtyard is a likeness of Narasimha, the half-man, half-lion incarnation of Vishnu, disembowelling a demon.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

Rainer Krack

Credit:

Pictures From Asia