Nyatapola, located in the central part of Bhaktapur, Nepal, is a remarkable five-tiered temple. It stands as the tallest monument within the city and is also the tallest temple in Nepal. King Bhupatindra Malla commissioned the temple, and its construction took place from December 31, 1701, to July 15, 1702, spanning six months. Despite facing four major earthquakes, including the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake in April 2015, which caused significant damage to Bhaktapur, the Nyatapola temple has managed to survive.
One of the distinctive features of the Nyatapola temple is its unique architecture. It is one of only two five-story temples in the Kathmandu Valley, the other being the Kumbheshvara in Lalitpur. The temple's five-level plinth includes steps that lead to the top, adorned with pairs of stone statues of animals and deities acting as guardians. The temple, along with the Bhairava temple and other historical monuments, forms the Tamrhi square, which holds great cultural significance as the central and most important part of Bhaktapur and a popular tourist destination. Although the temple itself does not hold religious significance for the locals, it serves as a cultural symbol of Bhaktapur. Its silhouette is utilized by the municipality in its coat of arms and by many corporations in the city. Standing at a height of 33 meters (108.26 feet), the Nyatapola temple dominates the skyline of Bhaktapur, making it the tallest structure in the area. The Nytpola Square also divides the town of Bhaktapur into two parts: Thané (the Upper) and Konhé (the Lower).
The gates of the temple are opened only once a year, in July, on the anniversary of its establishment. On this occasion, the Avla subgroup of the Newars plants a triangular flag on the top of the temple, and Karmacharya priests perform a ritual on the deity housed inside. Since the general public is not allowed inside the temple, the deity remains unknown to them, although it is widely believed that the temple houses a powerful Tantric incarnation of the mother goddess. Even the contemporary manuscript documenting the temple's construction does not mention the name of the deity.
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The name "Nyatapola" is unique among temples, as it does not refer to the deity residing within. It is derived from the local Nepali language name "tpola," where "t" means something with five stories and "pola" means roof in the Bhaktapur dialect of Nepal Bhasa. The term "Nytpau" is used by Newar people outside of Bhaktapur, with "nyt" having the same meaning as "t" and "pau" having the same meaning as "pola." The name "tpola" has been in use since the temple's construction, as it is mentioned in the ledger of its construction work. Historical evidence, including an inscription found by historian Purushottam Lochan Shrestha, further confirms the temple's name.
Until the late 20th century, little was known about the Nyatapola temple, including the deity housed within. Visitors, both Western and local scholars, mainly described the temple's appearance and credited its construction to King Bhupatindra Malla, who ruled Bhaktapur from 1696 to 1722. However, stone or gilt copper inscriptions associated with the Nyatapola temple had not been found until recently. In 2015, a palm-leaf manuscript titled "siddhgni koyhuti devala pratih" was discovered in the National Archives of Nepal. This manuscript provides detailed information about the construction process, including the names of the people involved and the wages paid to them. It has shed new light on the temple's history and added to the existing knowledge about its construction.
The Nyatapola temple was constructed through the collective effort of the people of Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. The timber required for construction was obtained from nearby forests, while the local citizens contributed stones and bricks. The temple's sculptures, including the deity and the statues of wrestlers on each level, were meticulously crafted by skilled artisans. The palm-leaf manuscript mentions that each worker received a daily wage of four paisa (a small unit of currency at the time), and the wages were paid collectively.
The Nyatapola temple stands as a significant historical and architectural monument in Bhaktapur, Nepal. It serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the region and attracts visitors from all around the world. Despite the challenges posed by natural disasters, the temple has managed to endure, symbolizing the resilience of the Nepalese people. The Nyatapola temple remains an iconic representation of Nepal's architectural prowess and continues to be a source of pride for the people of Bhaktapur.
photo credit: Wikipedia, TripAdvisor
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