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The most revered Hindu site in Nepal is the extensive Pashupatinath Temple complex, five kilometres east of central Kathmandu. The focus of devotion here is a large silver Shivalingam with four faces of Shiva carved on its sides, making it a 'Chaturmukhi-Linga', or four-faced Shivalingam. Pashupati is one of Shiva’s 1,008 names, his manifestation as 'Lord of all Beasts' (pashu means 'beasts', pati means 'lord'); he is considered the guardian deity of Nepal.<br/><br/> The main temple building around the Shivalingam was built under King Birpalendra Malla in 1696, however the temple is said to have already existed before 533 CE. In 733 CE, King Jayadeva II erected in its precincts a stone tablet which chronicled all the kings of Nepal, beginning with the sun god. During the Muslim raids of 1349 the temple was largely destroyed, but in 1381 Jayasinharama Varddhana of Banepa restored it. Further renovations were conducted towards the end of the Malla period, and the latest extensive improvements were made in 1967.<br/><br/> Since the temple's inception, all the rulers of Nepal have taken great pains to pay their respects to it, to make donations, and to finance extensions.
Located four kilometres north of Bhaktapur at the end of a high ridge (1,677 metres), the temple of Changu Narayan is one of the oldest in the Kathmandu Valley, and the most sacred to worshippers of Vishnu.<br/><br/> The original construction of Changu Narayan, or Vishnu of the Moving Hill, is attributed to Licchavi king Hari Datta Varma around 325 CE. The earliest inscription found dates back to the year 464 in the reign of King Manadeva I, but there are indications that the temple must have existed long before.
The most revered Hindu site in Nepal is the extensive Pashupatinath Temple complex, five kilometres east of central Kathmandu. The focus of devotion here is a large silver Shivalingam with four faces of Shiva carved on its sides, making it a 'Chaturmukhi-Linga', or four-faced Shivalingam. Pashupati is one of Shiva’s 1,008 names, his manifestation as 'Lord of all Beasts' (pashu means 'beasts', pati means 'lord'); he is considered the guardian deity of Nepal.<br/><br/> The main temple building around the Shivalingam was built under King Birpalendra Malla in 1696, however the temple is said to have already existed before 533 CE. In 733 CE, King Jayadeva II erected in its precincts a stone tablet which chronicled all the kings of Nepal, beginning with the sun god. During the Muslim raids of 1349 the temple was largely destroyed, but in 1381 Jayasinharama Varddhana of Banepa restored it. Further renovations were conducted towards the end of the Malla period, and the latest extensive improvements were made in 1967.<br/><br/> Since the temple's inception, all the rulers of Nepal have taken great pains to pay their respects to it, to make donations, and to finance extensions.
The most revered Hindu site in Nepal is the extensive Pashupatinath Temple complex, five kilometres east of central Kathmandu. The focus of devotion here is a large silver Shivalingam with four faces of Shiva carved on its sides, making it a 'Chaturmukhi-Linga', or four-faced Shivalingam. Pashupati is one of Shiva’s 1,008 names, his manifestation as 'Lord of all Beasts' (pashu means 'beasts', pati means 'lord'); he is considered the guardian deity of Nepal.<br/><br/> The main temple building around the Shivalingam was built under King Birpalendra Malla in 1696, however the temple is said to have already existed before 533 CE. In 733 CE, King Jayadeva II erected in its precincts a stone tablet which chronicled all the kings of Nepal, beginning with the sun god. During the Muslim raids of 1349 the temple was largely destroyed, but in 1381 Jayasinharama Varddhana of Banepa restored it. Further renovations were conducted towards the end of the Malla period, and the latest extensive improvements were made in 1967.<br/><br/> Since the temple's inception, all the rulers of Nepal have taken great pains to pay their respects to it, to make donations, and to finance extensions.
The most revered Hindu site in Nepal is the extensive Pashupatinath Temple complex, five kilometres east of central Kathmandu. The focus of devotion here is a large silver Shivalingam with four faces of Shiva carved on its sides, making it a 'Chaturmukhi-Linga', or four-faced Shivalingam. Pashupati is one of Shiva’s 1,008 names, his manifestation as 'Lord of all Beasts' (pashu means 'beasts', pati means 'lord'); he is considered the guardian deity of Nepal.<br/><br/> The main temple building around the Shivalingam was built under King Birpalendra Malla in 1696, however the temple is said to have already existed before 533 CE. In 733 CE, King Jayadeva II erected in its precincts a stone tablet which chronicled all the kings of Nepal, beginning with the sun god. During the Muslim raids of 1349 the temple was largely destroyed, but in 1381 Jayasinharama Varddhana of Banepa restored it. Further renovations were conducted towards the end of the Malla period, and the latest extensive improvements were made in 1967.<br/><br/> Since the temple's inception, all the rulers of Nepal have taken great pains to pay their respects to it, to make donations, and to finance extensions.
The most revered Hindu site in Nepal is the extensive Pashupatinath Temple complex, five kilometres east of central Kathmandu. The focus of devotion here is a large silver Shivalingam with four faces of Shiva carved on its sides, making it a 'Chaturmukhi-Linga', or four-faced Shivalingam. Pashupati is one of Shiva’s 1,008 names, his manifestation as 'Lord of all Beasts' (pashu means 'beasts', pati means 'lord'); he is considered the guardian deity of Nepal.<br/><br/> The main temple building around the Shivalingam was built under King Birpalendra Malla in 1696, however the temple is said to have already existed before 533 CE. In 733 CE, King Jayadeva II erected in its precincts a stone tablet which chronicled all the kings of Nepal, beginning with the sun god. During the Muslim raids of 1349 the temple was largely destroyed, but in 1381 Jayasinharama Varddhana of Banepa restored it. Further renovations were conducted towards the end of the Malla period, and the latest extensive improvements were made in 1967.<br/><br/> Since the temple's inception, all the rulers of Nepal have taken great pains to pay their respects to it, to make donations, and to finance extensions.
The most revered Hindu site in Nepal is the extensive Pashupatinath Temple complex, five kilometres east of central Kathmandu. The focus of devotion here is a large silver Shivalingam with four faces of Shiva carved on its sides, making it a 'Chaturmukhi-Linga', or four-faced Shivalingam. Pashupati is one of Shiva’s 1,008 names, his manifestation as 'Lord of all Beasts' (pashu means 'beasts', pati means 'lord'); he is considered the guardian deity of Nepal.<br/><br/> The main temple building around the Shivalingam was built under King Birpalendra Malla in 1696, however the temple is said to have already existed before 533 CE. In 733 CE, King Jayadeva II erected in its precincts a stone tablet which chronicled all the kings of Nepal, beginning with the sun god. During the Muslim raids of 1349 the temple was largely destroyed, but in 1381 Jayasinharama Varddhana of Banepa restored it. Further renovations were conducted towards the end of the Malla period, and the latest extensive improvements were made in 1967.<br/><br/> Since the temple's inception, all the rulers of Nepal have taken great pains to pay their respects to it, to make donations, and to finance extensions.
The most revered Hindu site in Nepal is the extensive Pashupatinath Temple complex, five kilometres east of central Kathmandu. The focus of devotion here is a large silver Shivalingam with four faces of Shiva carved on its sides, making it a 'Chaturmukhi-Linga', or four-faced Shivalingam. Pashupati is one of Shiva’s 1,008 names, his manifestation as 'Lord of all Beasts' (pashu means 'beasts', pati means 'lord'); he is considered the guardian deity of Nepal.<br/><br/> The main temple building around the Shivalingam was built under King Birpalendra Malla in 1696, however the temple is said to have already existed before 533 CE. In 733 CE, King Jayadeva II erected in its precincts a stone tablet which chronicled all the kings of Nepal, beginning with the sun god. During the Muslim raids of 1349 the temple was largely destroyed, but in 1381 Jayasinharama Varddhana of Banepa restored it. Further renovations were conducted towards the end of the Malla period, and the latest extensive improvements were made in 1967.<br/><br/> Since the temple's inception, all the rulers of Nepal have taken great pains to pay their respects to it, to make donations, and to finance extensions.
The most revered Hindu site in Nepal is the extensive Pashupatinath Temple complex, five kilometres east of central Kathmandu. The focus of devotion here is a large silver Shivalingam with four faces of Shiva carved on its sides, making it a 'Chaturmukhi-Linga', or four-faced Shivalingam. Pashupati is one of Shiva’s 1,008 names, his manifestation as 'Lord of all Beasts' (pashu means 'beasts', pati means 'lord'); he is considered the guardian deity of Nepal.<br/><br/> The main temple building around the Shivalingam was built under King Birpalendra Malla in 1696, however the temple is said to have already existed before 533 CE. In 733 CE, King Jayadeva II erected in its precincts a stone tablet which chronicled all the kings of Nepal, beginning with the sun god. During the Muslim raids of 1349 the temple was largely destroyed, but in 1381 Jayasinharama Varddhana of Banepa restored it. Further renovations were conducted towards the end of the Malla period, and the latest extensive improvements were made in 1967.<br/><br/> Since the temple's inception, all the rulers of Nepal have taken great pains to pay their respects to it, to make donations, and to finance extensions.
In former centuries, the priests of Dattatreya Temple resided in the Pujari Math, a few metres to the east of the temple. The exact date of the original construction is unknown. It is assumed that the Pujari Math was completed a few years after the Dattatreya Temple, so as to provide its priests with a suitable residence. The tradition of adding Maths to temples had been established by the Adi Shankaracharya (a spiritual teacher) in 8th century in India.<br/><br/> The Pujari Math in Bhaktapur was financed by a wealthy 16th century merchant, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri, a follower of the teachings of the Adi Shankaracharya. Having amassed a large fortune in trade with Tibet, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri donated a considerable portion of his wealth for the construction of the Math.<br/><br/> Due to Gosain's excellent relations with Tibet, even the rulers of Nepal’s northern neighbour began to make donations to the establishment. Every year, they would send one tola (11,664 grams) of gold, one tola of silver, a horse, a woollen carpet, 365 walnuts and 216 Rupees (twice the sacred number 108). These donations went on for four centuries and were only discontinued in 1904. Furthermore, prosperous local citizens would present the Pujari Math with grants of land— the Math became probably the most financially secure priests’ residence in the whole country.
In former centuries, the priests of Dattatreya Temple resided in the Pujari Math, a few metres to the east of the temple. The exact date of the original construction is unknown. It is assumed that the Pujari Math was completed a few years after the Dattatreya Temple, so as to provide its priests with a suitable residence. The tradition of adding Maths to temples had been established by the Adi Shankaracharya (a spiritual teacher) in 8th century in India.<br/><br/> The Pujari Math in Bhaktapur was financed by a wealthy 16th century merchant, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri, a follower of the teachings of the Adi Shankaracharya. Having amassed a large fortune in trade with Tibet, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri donated a considerable portion of his wealth for the construction of the Math.<br/><br/> Due to Gosain's excellent relations with Tibet, even the rulers of Nepal’s northern neighbour began to make donations to the establishment. Every year, they would send one tola (11,664 grams) of gold, one tola of silver, a horse, a woollen carpet, 365 walnuts and 216 Rupees (twice the sacred number 108). These donations went on for four centuries and were only discontinued in 1904. Furthermore, prosperous local citizens would present the Pujari Math with grants of land— the Math became probably the most financially secure priests’ residence in the whole country.
In former centuries, the priests of Dattatreya Temple resided in the Pujari Math, a few metres to the east of the temple. The exact date of the original construction is unknown. It is assumed that the Pujari Math was completed a few years after the Dattatreya Temple, so as to provide its priests with a suitable residence. The tradition of adding Maths to temples had been established by the Adi Shankaracharya (a spiritual teacher) in 8th century in India.<br/><br/> The Pujari Math in Bhaktapur was financed by a wealthy 16th century merchant, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri, a follower of the teachings of the Adi Shankaracharya. Having amassed a large fortune in trade with Tibet, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri donated a considerable portion of his wealth for the construction of the Math.<br/><br/> Due to Gosain's excellent relations with Tibet, even the rulers of Nepal’s northern neighbour began to make donations to the establishment. Every year, they would send one tola (11,664 grams) of gold, one tola of silver, a horse, a woollen carpet, 365 walnuts and 216 Rupees (twice the sacred number 108). These donations went on for four centuries and were only discontinued in 1904. Furthermore, prosperous local citizens would present the Pujari Math with grants of land— the Math became probably the most financially secure priests’ residence in the whole country.
In former centuries, the priests of Dattatreya Temple resided in the Pujari Math, a few metres to the east of the temple. The exact date of the original construction is unknown. It is assumed that the Pujari Math was completed a few years after the Dattatreya Temple, so as to provide its priests with a suitable residence. The tradition of adding Maths to temples had been established by the Adi Shankaracharya (a spiritual teacher) in 8th century in India.<br/><br/> The Pujari Math in Bhaktapur was financed by a wealthy 16th century merchant, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri, a follower of the teachings of the Adi Shankaracharya. Having amassed a large fortune in trade with Tibet, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri donated a considerable portion of his wealth for the construction of the Math.<br/><br/> Due to Gosain's excellent relations with Tibet, even the rulers of Nepal’s northern neighbour began to make donations to the establishment. Every year, they would send one tola (11,664 grams) of gold, one tola of silver, a horse, a woollen carpet, 365 walnuts and 216 Rupees (twice the sacred number 108). These donations went on for four centuries and were only discontinued in 1904. Furthermore, prosperous local citizens would present the Pujari Math with grants of land— the Math became probably the most financially secure priests’ residence in the whole country.
The Royal Palace supposedly dates back to the Licchavi period (5th-13th century), but, with the exception of a few inscriptions, there is little substantial evidence for this. In the earliest inscription, which hails from the year 643 CE and which was found at the Keshav Narayan Chowk, Licchavi King Narendra Deva announced the abolition of three types of taxes, presumably making him popular with his subjects. This indicates that there may at the time have been a palace at the site of Keshav Narayan Chowk, which is part of the present royal palace complex.<br/><br/> The royal palace as seen today in Durbar Square has its origins in the 14th century; however, the most active building period was the 17th century.
The Royal Palace supposedly dates back to the Licchavi period (5th-13th century), but, with the exception of a few inscriptions, there is little substantial evidence for this. In the earliest inscription, which hails from the year 643 CE and which was found at the Keshav Narayan Chowk, Licchavi King Narendra Deva announced the abolition of three types of taxes, presumably making him popular with his subjects. This indicates that there may at the time have been a palace at the site of Keshav Narayan Chowk, which is part of the present royal palace complex.<br/><br/> The royal palace as seen today in Durbar Square has its origins in the 14th century; however, the most active building period was the 17th century.
Immediately west of the Royal Palace entrance gate, the rusty-red Jagannath Temple, built in 1653 by Mahendra Malla, enshrines a figure of the Chaturmurti Vishnu, the 'Four-Figured Vishnu'. This particular form of Vishnu is also called Jagannath, 'Lord of the World', and the etymological root of the English word 'juggernaut'.<br/><br/> The main shrine in the Jagannath Temple is accessible only to priests. The large struts under the roof are covered with erotic carvings. These carvings, which are fairly crudely executed, occupy the base of larger and more refined carvings representing gods and goddesses. The latter are dressed in regal finery, adorned with crowns and jewellery, and wear serene expressions on their faces.
Immediately west of the Royal Palace entrance gate, the rusty-red Jagannath Temple, built in 1653 by Mahendra Malla, enshrines a figure of the Chaturmurti Vishnu, the 'Four-Figured Vishnu'. This particular form of Vishnu is also called Jagannath, 'Lord of the World', and the etymological root of the English word 'juggernaut'.<br/><br/> The main shrine in the Jagannath Temple is accessible only to priests. The large struts under the roof are covered with erotic carvings. These carvings, which are fairly crudely executed, occupy the base of larger and more refined carvings representing gods and goddesses. The latter are dressed in regal finery, adorned with crowns and jewellery, and wear serene expressions on their faces.
Kathmandu is an unexpected and extravagant mixture of peoples and religions, child-goddesses, bare-foot porters padding in back alleys, and sacred cows. The Kathmandu most people come to see is the Old City, a tangled network of narrow alleys, stores and temples located around central Durbar Square.
The Kumari Bahal is the residence of the so-called 'Living Goddess'. The building was erected about 1760-62 by King Jayaprakasha Malla in order to accommodate the Kumari Devi, or 'Virgin Goddess', supposed to be the living incarnation of goddess Taleju.<br/><br/> Designed more like a house than a temple, the Kumari Bahal is built around a central courtyard, called Kumari Chowk, the 'Courtyard of the Kumari'. The most notable feature of the building is its wooden windows, expertly carved with a profusion of ornaments and deities.<br/><br/> Each day in the afternoon, large crowds gather in the courtyard to witness the Kumari’s short appearance at her window, accompanied by a female guardian or priestess.
Immediately west of the Royal Palace entrance gate, the rusty-red Jagannath Temple, built in 1653 by Mahendra Malla, enshrines a figure of the Chaturmurti Vishnu, the 'Four-Figured Vishnu'. This particular form of Vishnu is also called Jagannath, 'Lord of the World', and the etymological root of the English word 'juggernaut'.<br/><br/> The main shrine in the Jagannath Temple is accessible only to priests. The large struts under the roof are covered with erotic carvings. These carvings, which are fairly crudely executed, occupy the base of larger and more refined carvings representing gods and goddesses. The latter are dressed in regal finery, adorned with crowns and jewellery, and wear serene expressions on their faces.
Immediately west of the Royal Palace entrance gate, the rusty-red Jagannath Temple, built in 1653 by Mahendra Malla, enshrines a figure of the Chaturmurti Vishnu, the 'Four-Figured Vishnu'. This particular form of Vishnu is also called Jagannath, 'Lord of the World', and the etymological root of the English word 'juggernaut'.<br/><br/> The main shrine in the Jagannath Temple is accessible only to priests. The large struts under the roof are covered with erotic carvings. These carvings, which are fairly crudely executed, occupy the base of larger and more refined carvings representing gods and goddesses. The latter are dressed in regal finery, adorned with crowns and jewellery, and wear serene expressions on their faces.
The Kumari Bahal is the residence of the so-called 'Living Goddess'. The building was erected about 1760-62 by King Jayaprakasha Malla in order to accommodate the Kumari Devi, or 'Virgin Goddess', supposed to be the living incarnation of goddess Taleju.<br/><br/> Designed more like a house than a temple, the Kumari Bahal is built around a central courtyard, called Kumari Chowk, the 'Courtyard of the Kumari'. The most notable feature of the building is its wooden windows, expertly carved with a profusion of ornaments and deities.<br/><br/> Each day in the afternoon, large crowds gather in the courtyard to witness the Kumari’s short appearance at her window, accompanied by a female guardian or priestess.
The Kumari Bahal is the residence of the so-called 'Living Goddess'. The building was erected about 1760-62 by King Jayaprakasha Malla in order to accommodate the Kumari Devi, or 'Virgin Goddess', supposed to be the living incarnation of goddess Taleju.<br/><br/> Designed more like a house than a temple, the Kumari Bahal is built around a central courtyard, called Kumari Chowk, the 'Courtyard of the Kumari'. The most notable feature of the building is its wooden windows, expertly carved with a profusion of ornaments and deities.<br/><br/> Each day in the afternoon, large crowds gather in the courtyard to witness the Kumari’s short appearance at her window, accompanied by a female guardian or priestess.
Shiva (Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, meaning 'auspicious one') is a major Hindu deity, and is the Destroyer or Transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine.<br/><br/> Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power, he lives a life of a sage at Mount Kailash. In the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, Shiva is seen as the Supreme God and has five important works: creator, preserver, destroyer, concealer, and revealer (to bless).
Woodcarvings have been an integral part of houses and temples in Nepal since the 12th century and the art reached its peak during the 15th and 16th centuries CE. Wood being an abundant raw material, woodcarvings were simply everywhere: wooden doors, windows, cornices, pillars, struts or beams in Newar houses were all adorned with complex ornamental patterns. Temples, too, received a generous share of attention, but here, naturally, religious motifs were dominant.<br/><br/> The woods of various trees were employed, including sisu, champa, deodar, haldu and teak; but the most favoured wood was that of the sal tree. The sal tree (<i>Shorea robusta</i>), formerly found in abundance in the Tarai and the valleys of the higher mountain ranges, provided the most hardy of Nepalese woods, reputed to last a thousand years, whether exposed to air or water, or for that matter, termites. Growing to a majestic height of 30-40 metres, a single tree would provide the carvers with an enormous amount of raw material.<br/><br/> On a spiritual level, sal was supposedly favoured by Vishnu and inhabited by a spirit, which, if worshipped, granted rain. In some villages, sal was revered as the dwelling place of Van Devi, the 'Goddess of the Forests', to whom offerings were made. Since the construction of a temple warranted only the best material, wood from the tall sal tree was often employed. Sal wood allowed temples to survive many centuries, through hundreds of monsoons and the occasional earthquake.
Embekka Devalaya (Embekke Temple) was built by King Vikramabahu III (r. 1357 - 1374). The main attraction here is the superbly maintained carvings on the columns in the Drummers' Hall. The finest of the 500 or so figures are the dancer, a double-headed eagle, the swans and the soldiers.<br/><br/> Kandy is Sri Lanka's second biggest city with a population of around 170,000 and is the cultural centre of the whole island. For about two centuries (until 1815) it was the capital of Sri Lanka.
Embekka Devalaya (Embekke Temple) was built by King Vikramabahu III (r. 1357 - 1374). The main attraction here is the superbly maintained carvings on the columns in the Drummers' Hall. The finest of the 500 or so figures are the dancer, a double-headed eagle, the swans and the soldiers.<br/><br/> Kandy is Sri Lanka's second biggest city with a population of around 170,000 and is the cultural centre of the whole island. For about two centuries (until 1815) it was the capital of Sri Lanka.
Construction of the Shwezigon Pagoda began during the reign of King Anawratha (r. 1044 -1077) and was completed during the reign of King Kyanzittha, in 1102.<br/><br/> Bagan, formerly Pagan, was mainly built between the 11th century and 13th century. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana (the City of the Enemy Crusher) and also known as Tambadipa (the Land of Copper) or Tassadessa (the Parched Land), it was the capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma.
Construction of the Shwezigon Pagoda began during the reign of King Anawratha (r. 1044 -1077) and was completed during the reign of King Kyanzittha, in 1102.<br/><br/> Bagan, formerly Pagan, was mainly built between the 11th century and 13th century. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana (the City of the Enemy Crusher) and also known as Tambadipa (the Land of Copper) or Tassadessa (the Parched Land), it was the capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma.
Construction of the Shwezigon Pagoda began during the reign of King Anawratha (r. 1044 -1077) and was completed during the reign of King Kyanzittha, in 1102.<br/><br/> Bagan, formerly Pagan, was mainly built between the 11th century and 13th century. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana (the City of the Enemy Crusher) and also known as Tambadipa (the Land of Copper) or Tassadessa (the Parched Land), it was the capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma.
Construction of the Shwezigon Pagoda began during the reign of King Anawratha (r. 1044 -1077) and was completed during the reign of King Kyanzittha, in 1102.<br/><br/> Bagan, formerly Pagan, was mainly built between the 11th century and 13th century. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana (the City of the Enemy Crusher) and also known as Tambadipa (the Land of Copper) or Tassadessa (the Parched Land), it was the capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma.
Construction of the Shwezigon Pagoda began during the reign of King Anawratha (r. 1044 -1077) and was completed during the reign of King Kyanzittha, in 1102.<br/><br/> Bagan, formerly Pagan, was mainly built between the 11th century and 13th century. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana (the City of the Enemy Crusher) and also known as Tambadipa (the Land of Copper) or Tassadessa (the Parched Land), it was the capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma.
Kandy is Sri Lanka's second biggest city with a population of around 170,000 and is the cultural centre of the whole island. For about two centuries (until 1815) it was the capital of Sri Lanka.
Embekka Devalaya (Embekke Temple) was built by King Vikramabahu III (r. 1357 - 1374). The main attraction here is the superbly maintained carvings on the columns in the Drummers' Hall. The finest of the 500 or so figures are the dancer, a double-headed eagle, the swans and the soldiers.<br/><br/> Kandy is Sri Lanka's second biggest city with a population of around 170,000 and is the cultural centre of the whole island. For about two centuries (until 1815) it was the capital of Sri Lanka.
Woodcarvings have been an integral part of houses and temples in Nepal since the 12th century and the art reached its peak during the 15th and 16th centuries CE. Wood being an abundant raw material, woodcarvings were simply everywhere: wooden doors, windows, cornices, pillars, struts or beams in Newar houses were all adorned with complex ornamental patterns. Temples, too, received a generous share of attention, but here, naturally, religious motifs were dominant.<br/><br/> The woods of various trees were employed, including sisu, champa, deodar, haldu and teak; but the most favoured wood was that of the sal tree. The sal tree (<i>Shorea robusta</i>), formerly found in abundance in the Tarai and the valleys of the higher mountain ranges, provided the most hardy of Nepalese woods, reputed to last a thousand years, whether exposed to air or water, or for that matter, termites. Growing to a majestic height of 30-40 metres, a single tree would provide the carvers with an enormous amount of raw material.<br/><br/> On a spiritual level, sal was supposedly favoured by Vishnu and inhabited by a spirit, which, if worshipped, granted rain. In some villages, sal was revered as the dwelling place of Van Devi, the 'Goddess of the Forests', to whom offerings were made. Since the construction of a temple warranted only the best material, wood from the tall sal tree was often employed. Sal wood allowed temples to survive many centuries, through hundreds of monsoons and the occasional earthquake.
Woodcarvings have been an integral part of houses and temples in Nepal since the 12th century and the art reached its peak during the 15th and 16th centuries CE. Wood being an abundant raw material, woodcarvings were simply everywhere: wooden doors, windows, cornices, pillars, struts or beams in Newar houses were all adorned with complex ornamental patterns. Temples, too, received a generous share of attention, but here, naturally, religious motifs were dominant.<br/><br/> The woods of various trees were employed, including sisu, champa, deodar, haldu and teak; but the most favoured wood was that of the sal tree. The sal tree (<i>Shorea robusta</i>), formerly found in abundance in the Tarai and the valleys of the higher mountain ranges, provided the most hardy of Nepalese woods, reputed to last a thousand years, whether exposed to air or water, or for that matter, termites. Growing to a majestic height of 30-40 metres, a single tree would provide the carvers with an enormous amount of raw material.<br/><br/> On a spiritual level, sal was supposedly favoured by Vishnu and inhabited by a spirit, which, if worshipped, granted rain. In some villages, sal was revered as the dwelling place of Van Devi, the 'Goddess of the Forests', to whom offerings were made. Since the construction of a temple warranted only the best material, wood from the tall sal tree was often employed. Sal wood allowed temples to survive many centuries, through hundreds of monsoons and the occasional earthquake.
The Kumari Bahal is the residence of the so-called 'Living Goddess'. The building was erected about 1760-62 by King Jayaprakasha Malla in order to accommodate the Kumari Devi, or 'Virgin Goddess', supposed to be the living incarnation of goddess Taleju.<br/><br/> Designed more like a house than a temple, the Kumari Bahal is built around a central courtyard, called Kumari Chowk, the 'Courtyard of the Kumari'. The most notable feature of the building is its wooden windows, expertly carved with a profusion of ornaments and deities.<br/><br/> Each day in the afternoon, large crowds gather in the courtyard to witness the Kumari’s short appearance at her window, accompanied by a female guardian or priestess.
The most revered Hindu site in Nepal is the extensive Pashupatinath Temple complex, five kilometres east of central Kathmandu. The focus of devotion here is a large silver Shivalingam with four faces of Shiva carved on its sides, making it a 'Chaturmukhi-Linga', or four-faced Shivalingam. Pashupati is one of Shiva’s 1,008 names, his manifestation as 'Lord of all Beasts' (pashu means 'beasts', pati means 'lord'); he is considered the guardian deity of Nepal.<br/><br/> The main temple building around the Shivalingam was built under King Birpalendra Malla in 1696, however the temple is said to have already existed before 533 CE. In 733 CE, King Jayadeva II erected in its precincts a stone tablet which chronicled all the kings of Nepal, beginning with the sun god. During the Muslim raids of 1349 the temple was largely destroyed, but in 1381 Jayasinharama Varddhana of Banepa restored it. Further renovations were conducted towards the end of the Malla period, and the latest extensive improvements were made in 1967.<br/><br/> Since the temple's inception, all the rulers of Nepal have taken great pains to pay their respects to it, to make donations, and to finance extensions.
Rudravarna Mahavihara, or Oku Bahal, was built in the mid-17th century. The temple is located around a courtyard which overflows with chaitya and metal figures of all kinds and sizes. There are massive Garudas, elephants, peacocks, figures of praying worshippers and a statue of Juddha Shamsher Rana, who granted the temple generous restoration aid after the earthquake of 1934.<br/><br/> In the corners of the courtyard, which is lined with oil lamp railings, there are bronze figures of the mischievous monkey god Hanuman, which show him variously eating a pumpkin, a banana and something which looks like a chapati, the traditional bread of the Indian subcontinent. Some sources suggest that the kings of Patan were crowned in this most elaborate of courtyards.<br/><br/> The temple complex is of a square design, and the building housing the main shrine is topped with a two-tiered roof. Inside, a profusely decorated figure of the Akshobhya Buddha is kept. Every day at around 3.30 pm a priest will come to open it up and perform some puja. At the beginning of the puja, the priest stands for a few moments on a pair of gilded, richly ornamented paduka, or sandals, the insignia of kings or deities; by standing on the paduka, the priest invokes the spirit of the gods. Then he beats a longish wooden tube, held over his shoulder, to wake up the deity in whose honour the puja is being held. The rite has probably been conducted in this manner for centuries.
Woodcarvings have been an integral part of houses and temples in Nepal since the 12th century and the art reached its peak during the 15th and 16th centuries CE. Wood being an abundant raw material, woodcarvings were simply everywhere: wooden doors, windows, cornices, pillars, struts or beams in Newar houses were all adorned with complex ornamental patterns. Temples, too, received a generous share of attention, but here, naturally, religious motifs were dominant.<br/><br/> The woods of various trees were employed, including sisu, champa, deodar, haldu and teak; but the most favoured wood was that of the sal tree. The sal tree (<i>Shorea robusta</i>), formerly found in abundance in the Tarai and the valleys of the higher mountain ranges, provided the most hardy of Nepalese woods, reputed to last a thousand years, whether exposed to air or water, or for that matter, termites. Growing to a majestic height of 30-40 metres, a single tree would provide the carvers with an enormous amount of raw material.<br/><br/> On a spiritual level, sal was supposedly favoured by Vishnu and inhabited by a spirit, which, if worshipped, granted rain. In some villages, sal was revered as the dwelling place of Van Devi, the 'Goddess of the Forests', to whom offerings were made. Since the construction of a temple warranted only the best material, wood from the tall sal tree was often employed. Sal wood allowed temples to survive many centuries, through hundreds of monsoons and the occasional earthquake.
The Kumari Bahal is the residence of the so-called 'Living Goddess'. The building was erected about 1760-62 by King Jayaprakasha Malla in order to accommodate the Kumari Devi, or 'Virgin Goddess', supposed to be the living incarnation of goddess Taleju.<br/><br/> Designed more like a house than a temple, the Kumari Bahal is built around a central courtyard, called Kumari Chowk, the 'Courtyard of the Kumari'. The most notable feature of the building is its wooden windows, expertly carved with a profusion of ornaments and deities.<br/><br/> Each day in the afternoon, large crowds gather in the courtyard to witness the Kumari’s short appearance at her window, accompanied by a female guardian or priestess.
Woodcarvings have been an integral part of houses and temples in Nepal since the 12th century and the art reached its peak during the 15th and 16th centuries CE. Wood being an abundant raw material, woodcarvings were simply everywhere: wooden doors, windows, cornices, pillars, struts or beams in Newar houses were all adorned with complex ornamental patterns. Temples, too, received a generous share of attention, but here, naturally, religious motifs were dominant.<br/><br/> The woods of various trees were employed, including sisu, champa, deodar, haldu and teak; but the most favoured wood was that of the sal tree. The sal tree (<i>Shorea robusta</i>), formerly found in abundance in the Tarai and the valleys of the higher mountain ranges, provided the most hardy of Nepalese woods, reputed to last a thousand years, whether exposed to air or water, or for that matter, termites. Growing to a majestic height of 30-40 metres, a single tree would provide the carvers with an enormous amount of raw material.<br/><br/> On a spiritual level, sal was supposedly favoured by Vishnu and inhabited by a spirit, which, if worshipped, granted rain. In some villages, sal was revered as the dwelling place of Van Devi, the 'Goddess of the Forests', to whom offerings were made. Since the construction of a temple warranted only the best material, wood from the tall sal tree was often employed. Sal wood allowed temples to survive many centuries, through hundreds of monsoons and the occasional earthquake.
The Fatimid Caliphate was an Ismaili Shia Islamic caliphate that spanned a large area of North Africa, from the Red Sea in the east to the Atlantic Ocean in the west. The dynasty ruled across the Mediterranean coast of Africa and ultimately made Egypt the centre of the caliphate.<br/><br/> At its height the caliphate included in addition to Egypt varying areas of the Maghreb, Sudan, Sicily, the Levant, and Hijaz.
Woodcarvings have been an integral part of houses and temples in Nepal since the 12th century and the art reached its peak during the 15th and 16th centuries CE. Wood being an abundant raw material, woodcarvings were simply everywhere: wooden doors, windows, cornices, pillars, struts or beams in Newar houses were all adorned with complex ornamental patterns. Temples, too, received a generous share of attention, but here, naturally, religious motifs were dominant.<br/><br/> The woods of various trees were employed, including sisu, champa, deodar, haldu and teak; but the most favoured wood was that of the sal tree. The sal tree (<i>Shorea robusta</i>), formerly found in abundance in the Tarai and the valleys of the higher mountain ranges, provided the most hardy of Nepalese woods, reputed to last a thousand years, whether exposed to air or water, or for that matter, termites. Growing to a majestic height of 30-40 metres, a single tree would provide the carvers with an enormous amount of raw material.<br/><br/> On a spiritual level, sal was supposedly favoured by Vishnu and inhabited by a spirit, which, if worshipped, granted rain. In some villages, sal was revered as the dwelling place of Van Devi, the 'Goddess of the Forests', to whom offerings were made. Since the construction of a temple warranted only the best material, wood from the tall sal tree was often employed. Sal wood allowed temples to survive many centuries, through hundreds of monsoons and the occasional earthquake.
Built in the mid-19th century, the Shwenandaw Monastery is the sole surviving buiding from the former wooden palace built by King Mindon (r. 1853 - 1878). The king died in this building in 1878.<br/><br/> Mindon's son and heir, King Thibaw (r. 1878 - 1885) believed the building to be haunted by his father's spirit and had it dismantled and reconstructed on the present site close to Mandalay Hill.<br/><br/> Mandalay, a sprawling city of more than 1 million people, was founded in 1857 by King Mindon to coincide with an ancient Buddhist prophecy. It was believed that Gautama Buddha visited the sacred mount of Mandalay Hill with his disciple Ananda, and proclaimed that on the 2,400th anniversary of his death, a metropolis of Buddhist teaching would be founded at the foot of the hill.
Built in the mid-19th century, the Shwenandaw Monastery is the sole surviving buiding from the former wooden palace built by King Mindon (r. 1853 - 1878). The king died in this building in 1878.<br/><br/> Mindon's son and heir, King Thibaw (r. 1878 - 1885) believed the building to be haunted by his father's spirit and had it dismantled and reconstructed on the present site close to Mandalay Hill.<br/><br/> Mandalay, a sprawling city of more than 1 million people, was founded in 1857 by King Mindon to coincide with an ancient Buddhist prophecy. It was believed that Gautama Buddha visited the sacred mount of Mandalay Hill with his disciple Ananda, and proclaimed that on the 2,400th anniversary of his death, a metropolis of Buddhist teaching would be founded at the foot of the hill.
Built in the mid-19th century, the Shwenandaw Monastery is the sole surviving buiding from the former wooden palace built by King Mindon (r. 1853 - 1878). The king died in this building in 1878.<br/><br/> Mindon's son and heir, King Thibaw (r. 1878 - 1885) believed the building to be haunted by his father's spirit and had it dismantled and reconstructed on the present site close to Mandalay Hill.<br/><br/> Mandalay, a sprawling city of more than 1 million people, was founded in 1857 by King Mindon to coincide with an ancient Buddhist prophecy. It was believed that Gautama Buddha visited the sacred mount of Mandalay Hill with his disciple Ananda, and proclaimed that on the 2,400th anniversary of his death, a metropolis of Buddhist teaching would be founded at the foot of the hill.
Built in the mid-19th century, the Shwenandaw Monastery is the sole surviving buiding from the former wooden palace built by King Mindon (r. 1853 - 1878). The king died in this building in 1878.<br/><br/> Mindon's son and heir, King Thibaw (r. 1878 - 1885) believed the building to be haunted by his father's spirit and had it dismantled and reconstructed on the present site close to Mandalay Hill.<br/><br/> Mandalay, a sprawling city of more than 1 million people, was founded in 1857 by King Mindon to coincide with an ancient Buddhist prophecy. It was believed that Gautama Buddha visited the sacred mount of Mandalay Hill with his disciple Ananda, and proclaimed that on the 2,400th anniversary of his death, a metropolis of Buddhist teaching would be founded at the foot of the hill.
Built in the mid-19th century, the Shwenandaw Monastery is the sole surviving buiding from the former wooden palace built by King Mindon (r. 1853 - 1878). The king died in this building in 1878.<br/><br/> Mindon's son and heir, King Thibaw (r. 1878 - 1885) believed the building to be haunted by his father's spirit and had it dismantled and reconstructed on the present site close to Mandalay Hill.<br/><br/> Mandalay, a sprawling city of more than 1 million people, was founded in 1857 by King Mindon to coincide with an ancient Buddhist prophecy. It was believed that Gautama Buddha visited the sacred mount of Mandalay Hill with his disciple Ananda, and proclaimed that on the 2,400th anniversary of his death, a metropolis of Buddhist teaching would be founded at the foot of the hill.
Built in the mid-19th century, the Shwenandaw Monastery is the sole surviving buiding from the former wooden palace built by King Mindon (r. 1853 - 1878). The king died in this building in 1878.<br/><br/> Mindon's son and heir, King Thibaw (r. 1878 - 1885) believed the building to be haunted by his father's spirit and had it dismantled and reconstructed on the present site close to Mandalay Hill.<br/><br/> Mandalay, a sprawling city of more than 1 million people, was founded in 1857 by King Mindon to coincide with an ancient Buddhist prophecy. It was believed that Gautama Buddha visited the sacred mount of Mandalay Hill with his disciple Ananda, and proclaimed that on the 2,400th anniversary of his death, a metropolis of Buddhist teaching would be founded at the foot of the hill.
Construction of the Shwezigon Pagoda began during the reign of King Anawratha (r. 1044 -1077) and was completed during the reign of King Kyanzittha, in 1102.<br/><br/> Bagan, formerly Pagan, was mainly built between the 11th century and 13th century. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana (the City of the Enemy Crusher) and also known as Tambadipa (the Land of Copper) or Tassadessa (the Parched Land), it was the capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma.
Built in 1894 by the 72 Chen (usually romanised as Chan in Cantonese) clans, the Chen Family Temple (Chenjia Si), also known as the Chen Clan Academy (simplified Chinese: 陈家祠; traditional Chinese: 陳家祠; pinyin: Chén Jiā Cí) is an academic temple in Guangzhou (Canton). The academy was built for the clans juniors', a place to live and prepare for the imperial examinations during the Qing Dynasty.
Pura Meduwe Karang is a Hindu temple at Kubutambahan approximately 12 km east of Singaraja in northern Bali.<br/><br/> The temple built in 1890 is dedicated to Batara Meduwe Karang (God of the land). The temple provides divine protection of crops and fertile soil. At the entrance are three rows of Ramayana images. The temple is walled and adorned with columns. There are two split gates and some pavilions.
UNESCO has proclaimed seven sites in the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sites— Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Bodhnath, Svayambhunath, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square and the Changu Narayan Temple.<br/><br/> Historically, the valley and adjoining areas made up a confederation known as Nepal Mandala. Until the 15th century, Bhaktapur was its capital when two other capitals, Kathmandu and Lalitpur, were established. After the annexation of the valley by the Gorkha Kingdom, and subsequent establishment of the valley as the capital of their empire, the designation of 'Nepal' was extended to every land they conquered.
The old silversmiths’ quarter centred on Baan Wua Lai (Spotted Cow Village) stretches along both sides of Wua Lai Road, to the south of Chiang Mai's old city. This long-established, prosperous community of artisans maintains a tradition that stretches back more than two centuries, to the time of Chao Kawila’s re-establishment of Chiang Mai in the years after 1797.<br/><br/> Silversmiths have long been valued and held in high esteem by Southeast Asian royal courts from Burma to Java, and in times past the Lan Na Kingdom was no exception.
The old silversmiths’ quarter centred on Baan Wua Lai (Spotted Cow Village) stretches along both sides of Wua Lai Road, to the south of Chiang Mai's old city. This long-established, prosperous community of artisans maintains a tradition that stretches back more than two centuries, to the time of Chao Kawila’s re-establishment of Chiang Mai in the years after 1797.<br/><br/> Silversmiths have long been valued and held in high esteem by Southeast Asian royal courts from Burma to Java, and in times past the Lan Na Kingdom was no exception.
The Kumari Bahal is the residence of the so-called 'Living Goddess'. The building was erected about 1760-62 by King Jayaprakasha Malla in order to accommodate the Kumari Devi, or 'Virgin Goddess', supposed to be the living incarnation of goddess Taleju.<br/><br/> Designed more like a house than a temple, the Kumari Bahal is built around a central courtyard, called Kumari Chowk, the 'Courtyard of the Kumari'. The most notable feature of the building is its wooden windows, expertly carved with a profusion of ornaments and deities.<br/><br/> Each day in the afternoon, large crowds gather in the courtyard to witness the Kumari’s short appearance at her window, accompanied by a female guardian or priestess.
Kālī is the Hindu goddess associated with eternal energy. 'She who destroys'. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means 'the black one'. Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means 'Time' or 'Death' (as in time has come). Hence, Kali is considered the goddess of time and change.<br/><br/> Although sometimes presented as dark and violent, her earliest incarnation as a figure of annihilation still has some influence. Various Shakta Hindu cosmologies, as well as Shakta Tantric beliefs, worship her as the ultimate reality or Brahman. She is also revered as Bhavatarini (literally 'redeemer of the universe').<br/><br/> Kali is represented as the consort of Lord Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing. She is associated with many other Hindu goddesses like Durga, Bhadrakali, Sati, Rudrani, Parvati and Chamunda. She is the foremost among the Dasa Mahavidyas, ten fierce Tantric goddesses.