Architecture in Tibet and Nepal

Tibetan Architecture
Tibetan architecture is
characterized by its Geography,
Climate, its Culture, and Religion.
Contains Chinese and Indian
influences but has many unique
features brought about by it’s adaption
to the climate.
Influences
Geographical
Bordered on the north

and east by China, to the south
by India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Tibet has often been called the “
Roof of the World”. The plateau
is the highest country in the
world, lying at the heart of the
Himalayas. Much of this rugged
land is a large plateau varying in
height between 12, 000 and 16,
000 feet very thinly populated.
Geological
• Buildings are made from locally available construction materials around

the region such as Wood, Clay for Bricks and Stones.
• Since Wood is widely used material, building wooden houses requires

excellent skill that’s why Carpentry is also passed from generation to
generation.
Religion
•Buddhism
Came from India in the 7th-8th century A.D and gradually,
started to prevail in the region.
•Bon
Before Buddhism came, it is the main religion of the region.
The animist and shamanistic belief system in Tibet , revolves around
the worship of nature and predates Buddhism.
•Tibetan Buddhism
It is formed with the influence of Bon religion.
Architectural Character
•Structures are built on elevated, sunny sites facing the south.
• Flat roofs are used in most parts of the central and western Tibetan plateau
where rainfall is slight.
• Sloping roofs covered either in slate, shingles or tiles are used in the
eastern Tibetan plateau where summer rains are heavy.
• Walls are up to a meter thick at the base and they always slope inward as a
precaution against frequent earthquakes in the mountainous areas.
• Each houses have many windows letting the sunlight in.
• Plinth – the lowest square member of the base of a column, also applied to
the projecting stepped or moulded base of any building.
• Finial – the upper portion of a pinnacle.
• Frescoes – the term originally applied to painting on a wall while the

plaster is wet, but is often used for any wall painting not in oil colors.
Example of Structures
Potala Palace
•117 meters ht. and 360 meters width,
Over thousands rooms w/in its 13
stories
•Designated as the World Heritage

Site in 1994
•Most important example of Tibetan

architecture
•Formerly Dalai Lama’s residence
•And divided into:

Outer White Palace - the
administrative quarters & living
quarters of the Dalai Lama
Inner Red Palace - houses the Great
West Hall, chapels, shrines, and
Buddhist scriptures
 There are eight different kinds of stupas in Tibetan
Buddhism, each referring to major events in
the Buddhas's life.
 Lotus Blossom Stupa - Also known as Stupa of
Heaped Lotuses or Birth of the Sugata Stupa
 Enlightenment Stupa - Also known as the Stupa of
the Conquest of Mara
 Stupa of Many Doors - Also known as the Stupa of
Many Gates
 Stupa of Descent from the God Realm - This stupa
is characterized by having a central projection at each
side containing a triple ladder or steps.
 Stupa of Great Miracles - Also known as Stupa of
Conquest of the Tirthikas
 Stupa of Reconciliation - A stupa in this design was
built in the kingdom of Magadha, where the
reconciliation occurred. It has four octagonal steps
with equal sides.
 Stupa of Complete Victory - This stupa
commemorates Buddha's successful prolonging of his
life by three months. It has only three steps, which are
circular and unadorned.
 Stupa of Nirvana - This stupa refers to the death of
the Buddha
Nepalese Architecture
Nepalese traditional architectures are totally dominant of
Hindu and Buddhist religion philosophy which are reflected by
various kind of painting images, statue sculpture of deities,
temples, monasteries, old squares and other monuments. In
general traditional arts and architectures can be remarked as a
fusion of both Hindu and Buddhist religion in Nepal.
Influences
Geographical
Nepal is a landlocked
country located in the Himalaya
Mountains. It borders Tibet, a
part of China to the north and
India to the south. Mainly
composed of high mountains,
which include Mount Everest.
It forms an irregular
parallelogram some 720 km.
long and 240 km in breadth
extending across the Himalayas.
Geological
Structures are made principally of Wood,

Brick made of clay is used for structural purposes
and Metal for ornament available in the region.
Religion
Nepal has been a secular country. Hinduism and Buddhism is

the two main religion. Over 80% of Nepal's population is Hindu
follower. Another 10% of the population is Buddhist follower and the
last 10% is made up of various religions, including Muslims and Kirants.
• Hinduism
Further to the south, most of the religious structures are

Hindu temples. These temples tend to have multiple roofs and are
heavily colored.
•Buddhism
Among the Buddhism monuments, the most extreme example

is the stupa, which is a funerary monument for Buddhists and generally
found further to the north. These tend to be tall monuments, which can
reach higher than most buildings in some cases.
Architectural Character
Pagoda Pattern
The pagoda pattern of monuments and buildings are styled

several layers roof with broad space of carved wood struts. The roof of
this style of building typically crowned by triangular spires surrounding
and lattice windows are used which gives look in outermost real bell
shape. The several storied pagoda style are almost constructed during
Malla Dynasty period which is impressively represents Nepalese an
authentic fine artistic architectural design of nation.
 Nyatapola temple
at Baktapus, Nepal
Stupa Pattern
The Stupa Pattern of monuments and buildings are styled mainly

hemispherical round shape in bottom and segmented part to part round up
to top and decorated with images pattern of different sects of Buddhism
atop. The main base of ground is always in mandala shaped of every
Buddhist stupas and pair of big eyes in square of main body which can be
observed from all side easily. There are also several monasteries where
monks and nuns are practically educated about Buddhism and all the
monasteries inside are panted very authentic style of arts which based on
Buddhism philosophy.
Stupa pattern
Ashok stupa at
Patan, Nepal
Shikhara Pattern
The Shikhar Pattern of architectural temple is very common

monuments of Hindu shrine. The Shikhar Pattern of architectural temples
are consists of five to nine vertical sections forming a high pyramidal or
curvilinear tower like structure and atop decorated by beautiful gajur.
Shikhara
pattern
Krishna Temple
at Patan, Nepal
Example of Structures
Boudhanath Stupa
•Most important Buddhist stupa in

Nepal
•One of the largest stupas in the world
•Around 131 ht.
•The first thing that you will notice

about the stupa are the red, white and
blue colored eyes on all four sides,
which are believed to see everything.
Muktinath Temple
•Most historical, Hindu religious

and pilgrims tour in Nepal
•located in the height of 3749mtr.

and situated in the 48Km. north
east of Jomsom
•dedicated to Lord Bishnu
•During the festival of

Janaipurnima, Hindu devotees
gather here to pray homage to Lord
Muktinath
Krishna Mandir
•1st floor pillar carvings narrate the

events of the Mahabharata, while on
the 2nd floor there are visual carvings
from Ramayana
•was built in 1637 by King

Siddhinarasimh Malla
•There are 21 golden pinnacles in the

temple
•The 1st floor holds the main shrine of

Krishna with shrines of Radha &
Rukamani at each side. The 2nd floor is
dedicated to Shiva & Lord Buddha

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Tibetan Architecture

Bordered on the north

• Buildings are made from locally available construction materials around

• Since Wood is widely used material, building wooden houses requires

•Structures are built on elevated, sunny sites facing the south.

• Each houses have many windows letting the sunlight in.

• Finial – the upper portion of a pinnacle.

• Frescoes – the term originally applied to painting on a wall while the

•Designated as the World Heritage

•Most important example of Tibetan

•Formerly Dalai Lama’s residence

•And divided into:

Structures are made principally of Wood,

Nepal has been a secular country. Hinduism and Buddhism is

Further to the south, most of the religious structures are

Among the Buddhism monuments, the most extreme example

The pagoda pattern of monuments and buildings are styled

The Stupa Pattern of monuments and buildings are styled mainly

The Shikhar Pattern of architectural temple is very common

•Most important Buddhist stupa in

•One of the largest stupas in the world

•Around 131 ht.

•The first thing that you will notice

•Most historical, Hindu religious

•located in the height of 3749mtr.

•dedicated to Lord Bishnu

•During the festival of

•1st floor pillar carvings narrate the

•was built in 1637 by King

•There are 21 golden pinnacles in the

•The 1st floor holds the main shrine of

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