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That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed.<br/><br/> A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> Durbar Square is now a relatively large open space, surrounded by buildings on its fringes but clear of any constructions in the centre. On the west side, the square is accessed through Durbar Square Gate, built by Bhupatindra Malla (1696-1722) as a main entry point to the area. He also erected the figures of monkey god Hanuman and Narasinha, the half-man, half-lion deity, along the lines of the Hanuman and Narasinha figures near the palace gate in Kathmandu.
The Bhairavnath Temple stands on the eastern side of Taumadhi Tol. Built under King Jagajjyoti Malla (1614-1637), the temple originally possessed only a single floor, but in 1718 Bhupatindra Malla and his son added two floors, and placed a golden roof on top.<br/><br/> The temple is decicated to Bhairavnath, or Akash Bhairav, the destroyer of demons, who was installed 'for the protection of the country and the removal from sin and distress of the people'.<br/><br/> The Bhairavnath Temple is the focus of the Bisket Jatra, the New Year celebrations in Bhaktapur (13-14 April). Small figures of Bhairavnath and his divine spouse Bhadrakali are carried on separate chariots around town, to finally meet at the Bhairavnath Temple in a riotous celebration. Local lore has it that Bhairavnath, when left to his own devices, can become very mean-spirited, and he is in a much better mood when his wife is around. The figure of the feared Bhairavnath, incidentally, is a mere 30 centimetres high, his equally obnoxious wife only 25.
That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed.<br/><br/> A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> Durbar Square is now a relatively large open space, surrounded by buildings on its fringes but clear of any constructions in the centre. On the west side, the square is accessed through Durbar Square Gate, built by Bhupatindra Malla (1696-1722) as a main entry point to the area. He also erected the figures of monkey god Hanuman and Narasinha, the half-man, half-lion deity, along the lines of the Hanuman and Narasinha figures near the palace gate in Kathmandu.
This Nyatapola Temple was built in 1708 by King Bhupatrindra Malla (r. 1696 - 1722). Bhupatindra placed a chudamani (a jewel worn in a head-dress) in the foundation to give the temple supernatural strength, and started the construction by personally carrying three bricks to the site. The king’s example spurred the populace into rapid action, and within five days the people of Bhaktapur had brought together all the materials necessary for the work.<br/><br/> In the earthquake of 1934, when all buildings around were shaken to the core and many were completely destroyed, the Nyatapola Temple escaped almost unscathed.<br/><br/> The Nyatapola Temple was most likely dedicated to the mysterious Tantric goddess Siddhi Lakshmi, whom it was hoped would neutralise the negative influence of the adjacent Bhairavnath.
The Bhairavnath Temple stands on the eastern side of Taumadhi Tol. Built under King Jagajjyoti Malla (1614-1637), the temple originally possessed only a single floor, but in 1718 Bhupatindra Malla and his son added two floors, and placed a golden roof on top.<br/><br/> The temple is decicated to Bhairavnath, or Akash Bhairav, the destroyer of demons, who was installed 'for the protection of the country and the removal from sin and distress of the people'.<br/><br/> The Bhairavnath Temple is the focus of the Bisket Jatra, the New Year celebrations in Bhaktapur (13-14 April). Small figures of Bhairavnath and his divine spouse Bhadrakali are carried on separate chariots around town, to finally meet at the Bhairavnath Temple in a riotous celebration. Local lore has it that Bhairavnath, when left to his own devices, can become very mean-spirited, and he is in a much better mood when his wife is around. The figure of the feared Bhairavnath, incidentally, is a mere 30 centimetres high, his equally obnoxious wife only 25.
The Bhairavnath Temple stands on the eastern side of Taumadhi Tol. Built under King Jagajjyoti Malla (1614-1637), the temple originally possessed only a single floor, but in 1718 Bhupatindra Malla and his son added two floors, and placed a golden roof on top.<br/><br/> The temple is decicated to Bhairavnath, or Akash Bhairav, the destroyer of demons, who was installed 'for the protection of the country and the removal from sin and distress of the people'.<br/><br/> The Bhairavnath Temple is the focus of the Bisket Jatra, the New Year celebrations in Bhaktapur (13-14 April). Small figures of Bhairavnath and his divine spouse Bhadrakali are carried on separate chariots around town, to finally meet at the Bhairavnath Temple in a riotous celebration. Local lore has it that Bhairavnath, when left to his own devices, can become very mean-spirited, and he is in a much better mood when his wife is around. The figure of the feared Bhairavnath, incidentally, is a mere 30 centimetres high, his equally obnoxious wife only 25.
This Nyatapola Temple was built in 1708 by King Bhupatrindra Malla (r. 1696 - 1722). Bhupatindra placed a chudamani (a jewel worn in a head-dress) in the foundation to give the temple supernatural strength, and started the construction by personally carrying three bricks to the site. The king’s example spurred the populace into rapid action, and within five days the people of Bhaktapur had brought together all the materials necessary for the work.<br/><br/> In the earthquake of 1934, when all buildings around were shaken to the core and many were completely destroyed, the Nyatapola Temple escaped almost unscathed.<br/><br/> The Nyatapola Temple was most likely dedicated to the mysterious Tantric goddess Siddhi Lakshmi, whom it was hoped would neutralise the negative influence of the adjacent Bhairavnath.
King Bhupatindra (r. 1696-1722) was one of the great builders of his time. He added new wings to the Bhaktapur royal palace, remodelled its courtyard to accommodate a temple dedicated to Taleju Bhavani, and set a glass pane into one of the windows in the Palace of Fifty-five Windows. The glass had been presented to him by an Indian, and glass still being an unknown commodity in the country, it became an item of intense curiosity. Bhupatindra also built the famous five-roofed Nyatapola Temple, which was to become the unofficial symbol of Bhaktapur.
The Bhairavnath Temple stands on the eastern side of Taumadhi Tol. Built under King Jagajjyoti Malla (1614-1637), the temple originally possessed only a single floor, but in 1718 Bhupatindra Malla and his son added two floors, and placed a golden roof on top.<br/><br/> The temple is decicated to Bhairavnath, or Akash Bhairav, the destroyer of demons, who was installed 'for the protection of the country and the removal from sin and distress of the people'.<br/><br/> The Bhairavnath Temple is the focus of the Bisket Jatra, the New Year celebrations in Bhaktapur (13-14 April). Small figures of Bhairavnath and his divine spouse Bhadrakali are carried on separate chariots around town, to finally meet at the Bhairavnath Temple in a riotous celebration. Local lore has it that Bhairavnath, when left to his own devices, can become very mean-spirited, and he is in a much better mood when his wife is around. The figure of the feared Bhairavnath, incidentally, is a mere 30 centimetres high, his equally obnoxious wife only 25.
The Bhairavnath Temple stands on the eastern side of Taumadhi Tol. Built under King Jagajjyoti Malla (1614-1637), the temple originally possessed only a single floor, but in 1718 Bhupatindra Malla and his son added two floors, and placed a golden roof on top.<br/><br/> The temple is decicated to Bhairavnath, or Akash Bhairav, the destroyer of demons, who was installed 'for the protection of the country and the removal from sin and distress of the people'.<br/><br/> The Bhairavnath Temple is the focus of the Bisket Jatra, the New Year celebrations in Bhaktapur (13-14 April). Small figures of Bhairavnath and his divine spouse Bhadrakali are carried on separate chariots around town, to finally meet at the Bhairavnath Temple in a riotous celebration. Local lore has it that Bhairavnath, when left to his own devices, can become very mean-spirited, and he is in a much better mood when his wife is around. The figure of the feared Bhairavnath, incidentally, is a mere 30 centimetres high, his equally obnoxious wife only 25.
This Nyatapola Temple was built in 1708 by King Bhupatrindra Malla (r. 1696 - 1722). Bhupatindra placed a <i>chudamani</i> (a jewel worn in a head-dress) in the foundation to give the temple supernatural strength, and started the construction by personally carrying three bricks to the site. The king’s example spurred the populace into rapid action, and within five days the people of Bhaktapur had brought together all the materials necessary for the work.<br/><br/> In the earthquake of 1934, when all buildings around were shaken to the core and many were completely destroyed, the Nyatapola Temple escaped almost unscathed.<br/><br/> The Nyatapola Temple was most likely dedicated to the mysterious Tantric goddess Siddhi Lakshmi, whom it was hoped would neutralise the negative influence of the adjacent Bhairavnath.
The Bhairavnath Temple stands on the eastern side of Taumadhi Tol. Built under King Jagajjyoti Malla (1614-1637), the temple originally possessed only a single floor, but in 1718 Bhupatindra Malla and his son added two floors, and placed a golden roof on top.<br/><br/> The temple is decicated to Bhairavnath, or Akash Bhairav, the destroyer of demons, who was installed 'for the protection of the country and the removal from sin and distress of the people'.<br/><br/> The Bhairavnath Temple is the focus of the Bisket Jatra, the New Year celebrations in Bhaktapur (13-14 April). Small figures of Bhairavnath and his divine spouse Bhadrakali are carried on separate chariots around town, to finally meet at the Bhairavnath Temple in a riotous celebration. Local lore has it that Bhairavnath, when left to his own devices, can become very mean-spirited, and he is in a much better mood when his wife is around. The figure of the feared Bhairavnath, incidentally, is a mere 30 centimetres high, his equally obnoxious wife only 25.
That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed. A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> Durbar Square is now a relatively large open space, surrounded by buildings on its fringes but clear of any constructions in the centre. On the west side, the square is accessed through Durbar Square Gate, built by Bhupatindra Malla (1696-1722) as a main entry point to the area. He also erected the figures of monkey god Hanuman and Narasinha, the half-man, half-lion deity, along the lines of the Hanuman and Narasinha figures near the palace gate in Kathmandu.
Rani Pokhari (Queen’s Pond), located off the northern end of the Tundikhel, is one of Kathmandu’s more attractive landmarks. The pond was dug between 1665 and 1670 by King Pratapa Malla to comfort his wife Bhavan Lakshmi over the death of their son Chakrabatindra Malla who had been trampled to death by an elephant.<br/><br/> In later years, the pond was used for trial by ordeal, in which the representatives of two conflicting parties had to submerge themselves in the water, the one with the greater lung capacity winning the case. With the beginning of Rana rule the ordeals were discontinued.
King Pratap Malla (1624 - 1674), of the Malla Dynasty and the ninth king of Kantipur, erected this column in 1670, preceeding two similar columns in Bhaktapur and Patan. The column is topped by a statue of King Pratap Malla and his two wives and five sons.
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.<br/><br/> The Nasal Chowk (Courtyard of Dance) derives its name from Nachaleshvar (also Nritshevar), the 'Lord of Dance', a manifestation of Shiva, and there is an inconspicuous shrine to that god on the eastern side of the courtyard. Originally used for dance and theatre performances, at the beginning of the Shah Dynasty, Nasal Chowk became the setting for royal coronations, ceremonies previously held in the adjoining Mul Chowk. In the middle of Nasal Chowk, there is a platform, dating back to 1826, on which King Birendra was officially crowned in 1975 (after having effectively become king in 1972).
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.<br/><br/> 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.
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.<br/><br/> The Nasal Chowk (Courtyard of Dance) derives its name from Nachaleshvar (also Nritshevar), the 'Lord of Dance', a manifestation of Shiva, and there is an inconspicuous shrine to that god on the eastern side of the courtyard. Originally used for dance and theatre performances, at the beginning of the Shah Dynasty, Nasal Chowk became the setting for royal coronations, ceremonies previously held in the adjoining Mul Chowk. In the middle of Nasal Chowk, there is a platform, dating back to 1826, on which King Birendra was officially crowned in 1975 (after having effectively become king in 1972).
Patan’s Durbar Square is the best preserved of the three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley, the one least changed from its original form. On the square itself, which measures about 160 by 70 metres at its widest, there are some 30 monuments, including the extensive old palace complex, and another 30 can be found in the immediate vicinity. In addition, all around, craftsmen conduct their business in ways little changed in centuries.
Rani Pokhari (Queen’s Pond), located off the northern end of the Tundikhel, is one of Kathmandu’s more attractive landmarks. The pond was dug between 1665 and 1670 by King Pratapa Malla to comfort his wife Bhavan Lakshmi over the death of their son Chakrabatindra Malla who had been trampled to death by an elephant.<br/><br/> In later years, the pond was used for trial by ordeal, in which the representatives of two conflicting parties had to submerge themselves in the water, the one with the greater lung capacity winning the case. With the beginning of Rana rule the ordeals were discontinued.
Rani Pokhari (Queen’s Pond), located off the northern end of the Tundikhel, is one of Kathmandu’s more attractive landmarks. The pond was dug between 1665 and 1670 by King Pratapa Malla to comfort his wife Bhavan Lakshmi over the death of their son Chakrabatindra Malla who had been trampled to death by an elephant.<br/><br/> In later years, the pond was used for trial by ordeal, in which the representatives of two conflicting parties had to submerge themselves in the water, the one with the greater lung capacity winning the case. With the beginning of Rana rule the ordeals were discontinued.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rani Pokhari (Queen’s Pond), located off the northern end of the Tundikhel, is one of Kathmandu’s more attractive landmarks. The pond was dug between 1665 and 1670 by King Pratapa Malla to comfort his wife Bhavan Lakshmi over the death of their son Chakrabatindra Malla who had been trampled to death by an elephant.<br/><br/> In later years, the pond was used for trial by ordeal, in which the representatives of two conflicting parties had to submerge themselves in the water, the one with the greater lung capacity winning the case. With the beginning of Rana rule the ordeals were discontinued.
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.
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.
This Nyatapola Temple was built in 1708 by King Bhupatrindra Malla (r. 1696 - 1722). Bhupatindra placed a chudamani (a jewel worn in a head-dress) in the foundation to give the temple supernatural strength, and started the construction by personally carrying three bricks to the site. The king’s example spurred the populace into rapid action, and within five days the people of Bhaktapur had brought together all the materials necessary for the work.<br/><br/> In the earthquake of 1934, when all buildings around were shaken to the core and many were completely destroyed, the Nyatapola Temple escaped almost unscathed.<br/><br/> The Nyatapola Temple was most likely dedicated to the mysterious Tantric goddess Siddhi Lakshmi, whom it was hoped would neutralise the negative influence of the adjacent Bhairavnath.
The Malla Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of Nepal c. 1201–1769. It was during their reign that the people living in and around the Kathmandu Valley began to be called 'Newars', meaning citizens of Nepal. The Mallas were the ruling clan of the Malla Mahajanapada. They have claimed Kshatriya status themselves.<br/><br/> The first of the Malla kings came to power in Kathmandu Valley around 1200. The Malla period was a golden age that stretched over 600 years, though it was frequently blighted by fighting over the valuable trade routes to Tibet.
Rani Pokhari (Queen’s Pond), located off the northern end of the Tundikhel, is one of Kathmandu’s more attractive landmarks. The pond was dug between 1665 and 1670 by King Pratapa Malla to comfort his wife Bhavan Lakshmi over the death of their son Chakrabatindra Malla who had been trampled to death by an elephant.<br/><br/> In later years, the pond was used for trial by ordeal, in which the representatives of two conflicting parties had to submerge themselves in the water, the one with the greater lung capacity winning the case. With the beginning of Rana rule the ordeals were discontinued.
The Bhairavnath Temple stands on the eastern side of Taumadhi Tol. Built under King Jagajjyoti Malla (1614-1637), the temple originally possessed only a single floor, but in 1718 Bhupatindra Malla and his son added two floors, and placed a golden roof on top.<br/><br/> The temple is decicated to Bhairavnath, or Akash Bhairav, the destroyer of demons, who was installed 'for the protection of the country and the removal from sin and distress of the people'.<br/><br/> The Bhairavnath Temple is the focus of the Bisket Jatra, the New Year celebrations in Bhaktapur (13-14 April). Small figures of Bhairavnath and his divine spouse Bhadrakali are carried on separate chariots around town, to finally meet at the Bhairavnath Temple in a riotous celebration. Local lore has it that Bhairavnath, when left to his own devices, can become very mean-spirited, and he is in a much better mood when his wife is around. The figure of the feared Bhairavnath, incidentally, is a mere 30 centimetres high, his equally obnoxious wife only 25.
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.
The towering Taleju Temple was constructed in its present form by Mahendra Malla in 1559 to house the Mallas’ family goddess Taleju Bhavani, a manifestation of the ferocious Kali or Durga. Unusually, there is no image or statue of her in the main shrine; instead she is represented by a yantra, a magical diagram.<br/><br/> The temple reaches a height of 35 metres, making it the highest temple in the Kathmandu Valley. Such height was necessary in order to enable Taleju to 'communicate spiritually' with another Taleju temple in Bhaktapur, which was located at a slightly higher elevation. Aside from its unusual height, the temple was given a unique design, with a five-tiered base covered by a three-tiered, richly ornamented roof.
That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed.<br/><br/> A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> The Vatsala Temple, a few metres southeast of the Bhupatindra Pillar, was built in 1672 CE by Jagatprakasha Malla. Its most conspicuous feature is a bell, about four feet high and set in a massive stone frame, which was added by Ranajit Malla in 1737. The bell was rung to call the faithful to the morning prayers conducted for the goddess Taleju.
The Kizil Caves (also romanized Qizil Caves, spelling variant Qyzyl; Uyghur: Qizil Ming Öy; Chinese: 克孜尔千佛洞; pinyin: Kèzīěr Qiānfú Dòng; literally 'Kizil Cave of a Thousand Buddhas') are a set of 236 Buddhist rock-cut caves located near Kizil Township (克孜尔乡) in Baicheng County, Xinjiang, China. The site is located on the northern bank of the Muzat River 75 kilometres (by road) northwest of Kucha (Kuqa). This area was a commercial hub of the Silk Road.<br/><br/> The caves are said to be the earliest major Buddhist cave complex in China, with development occurring between the 3rd and 8th centuries. Although the site has been both damaged and looted, at least 1000 square metres of wall paintings - mostly Jataka stories - remain.<br/><br/> Mallabhum (Bengali: মল্লভূম) was the kingdom ruled by the Malla kings of Bishnupur primarily in the present Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
The Kizil Caves (also romanized Qizil Caves, spelling variant Qyzyl; Uyghur: Qizil Ming Öy; Chinese: 克孜尔千佛洞; pinyin: Kèzīěr Qiānfú Dòng; literally 'Kizil Cave of a Thousand Buddhas') are a set of 236 Buddhist rock-cut caves located near Kizil Township (克孜尔乡) in Baicheng County, Xinjiang, China. The site is located on the northern bank of the Muzat River 75 kilometres (by road) northwest of Kucha (Kuqa). This area was a commercial hub of the Silk Road.<br/><br/> The caves are said to be the earliest major Buddhist cave complex in China, with development occurring between the 3rd and 8th centuries. Although the site has been both damaged and looted, at least 1000 square metres of wall paintings - mostly Jataka stories - remain.<br/><br/> Mallabhum (Bengali: মল্লভূম) was the kingdom ruled by the Malla kings of Bishnupur primarily in the present Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
The Kizil Caves (also romanized Qizil Caves, spelling variant Qyzyl; Uyghur: Qizil Ming Öy; Chinese: 克孜尔千佛洞; pinyin: Kèzīěr Qiānfú Dòng; literally 'Kizil Cave of a Thousand Buddhas') are a set of 236 Buddhist rock-cut caves located near Kizil Township (克孜尔乡) in Baicheng County, Xinjiang, China. The site is located on the northern bank of the Muzat River 75 kilometres (by road) northwest of Kucha (Kuqa). This area was a commercial hub of the Silk Road.<br/><br/> The caves are said to be the earliest major Buddhist cave complex in China, with development occurring between the 3rd and 8th centuries. Although the site has been both damaged and looted, at least 1000 square metres of wall paintings - mostly Jataka stories - remain.<br/><br/> Mallabhum (Bengali: মল্লভূম) was the kingdom ruled by the Malla kings of Bishnupur primarily in the present Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal.