The Kathmandu Valley civilization is around 3000 years old. It has been claimed that the valley was a large pond in the early geological period and it was only when the pond was drained that the valley was ready for human settlement. There is also a legend which reinforces the story that a certain Bodhistav called Manjushree came to Kathmandu Valley and cut the george in Chobhar with his flaming sword and drained the water out of the valley making it ready for human settlement.
The fertile land supported large settlements, and over the centuries diffrent dynasties that ruled the valley patronized an urban civilization with its rich cultural heritage. Politically the present days Nepal was divided inti petty principalities and the earliest ruling class of Nepal were the Gopalas, Mahispalas and kiratis dynastries who were followed by Lichhavi (185-750 A.D). The Lichhavi period is known as the classical period of Nepalese history because it was during this period that art and architecture began to take shape. Trade and crafts flourished under them, and they built magnificent temples, palaces and monuments.
But it was only the later Malla period and the early Shah period from 14th to the 18th centuries the valley's fabulous cities with their exquistic pagoda,shikhara and stupa architecture,ornate palaces and artistic temples came to take shape in the form that we see it today.
However the present day neo-classical buildings were built only during the second half of the 19th century (Rana Regime) with Nepal's first contact the western countries.
Sculputures,wood craft and stone works were the medium and means on which the expert hand and imagination of the artists acted on with impressive originality and ingenuity.
the Historical monuments of the world heritage sites of Kathamandu Valley are marked by the presence of three prominent architectural style namely the Pagoda, Shikahara and the Stupa Style. The pagodas are multi tired monuments tapering towards the top with intricate wood carving in the forms of doors,pillars,windows and sturts. These ubiquitos wooden historical structures are supplemented by bronze works and stone sculptures together forming the sqauare and palaces with profuse representation of images of gods, goddesses, demons,beasts,mythical figures, kings and the ordinary peoples engaged in their day-to-day activities.
The fertile land supported large settlements, and over the centuries diffrent dynasties that ruled the valley patronized an urban civilization with its rich cultural heritage. Politically the present days Nepal was divided inti petty principalities and the earliest ruling class of Nepal were the Gopalas, Mahispalas and kiratis dynastries who were followed by Lichhavi (185-750 A.D). The Lichhavi period is known as the classical period of Nepalese history because it was during this period that art and architecture began to take shape. Trade and crafts flourished under them, and they built magnificent temples, palaces and monuments.
But it was only the later Malla period and the early Shah period from 14th to the 18th centuries the valley's fabulous cities with their exquistic pagoda,shikhara and stupa architecture,ornate palaces and artistic temples came to take shape in the form that we see it today.
However the present day neo-classical buildings were built only during the second half of the 19th century (Rana Regime) with Nepal's first contact the western countries.
Sculputures,wood craft and stone works were the medium and means on which the expert hand and imagination of the artists acted on with impressive originality and ingenuity.
the Historical monuments of the world heritage sites of Kathamandu Valley are marked by the presence of three prominent architectural style namely the Pagoda, Shikahara and the Stupa Style. The pagodas are multi tired monuments tapering towards the top with intricate wood carving in the forms of doors,pillars,windows and sturts. These ubiquitos wooden historical structures are supplemented by bronze works and stone sculptures together forming the sqauare and palaces with profuse representation of images of gods, goddesses, demons,beasts,mythical figures, kings and the ordinary peoples engaged in their day-to-day activities.
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