Nyatapola

Nyatapola
Nyatapola
Nyatapola location in nepal
Geography
Coordinates	27°40′17″N 85°25′43″E / 27.67139°N 85.42861°E / 27.67139; 85.42861Coordinates: 27°40′17″N 85°25′43″E / 27.67139°N 85.42861°E / 27.67139; 85.42861
Country	Nepal
District	Bhaktapur
Locale	Bhaktapur, Taumadhi
Culture
Primary deity	Siddhi Lakshmi, Durga
Important festivals	Dashain
Architecture
Architectural styles	Pagoda

Nyatapola Temple is a 5-story Pagoda Style temple located in Bhaktapur, Nepal. The temple was erected by Nepali King Bhupatindra Malla during a 7-month period from late 1701 into 1702. It is the temple of Siddhi Lakshmi, the Tantric Lakshmi who bestows auspiciousness.

Bhaktapur is one of the three cities found in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal not far from the capital city of Kathmandu. The name Bhaktapur means "City of devotees". Today this ancient, medieval city, from the fifteenth century, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site, which records buildings that are of cultural and natural value universally.

It was built only in 7 months from the time it started. King Bhupatindra Malla`s account book state that it was built in only 7 months by the help of other neighbours like Challing, Jitpur, Bagshowari, Shakhu, Jhaukhel, Changu, Gokarna, Paunati, etc. His kingdom had bad relations with neighbours to the west like Kritipur and Kantipur. So to show them that he is also powerful, he built it. It was built in time, when the Taj Mahal was under construction. He also stated that he had built 7 brick factory for bricks and all raw materials were brought in advance. The biggest challenge was to bring a huge stone from challing which is almost 9 km from the temple. At last he call for the feast to all citizen and neighbour kings to show. In that feast about 23,000 people were there; which was the 4times of citizen of Bhaktapur. It was written in a thick book which was discovered by Dr. Madan Lal Baidaya.

One of the temples that are still in existence today is the Nyatapola Temple, which was built in 1702 A.D. under the rule of King Bhupatindra Malla. This beautifully sculptured building is considered one of the tallest pagodas in the country and is a lovely example of the immense workmanship that went into buildings of this type. This five-storey temple with a five-tier roof that stands just over thirty meters high can be reached by walking up a flight of steps that leads to the top of the platform. As you walk up these terraces you will notice that there are statues on either side of you, on every step.

The Nyatapola temple was built and dedicated to the goddess Siddhi Lakshmi or Siddhi Laxmi, providing the Nepalese with a place to worship her. Like so many of the other temples the image of the goddess that is contained within the temple of Nyatapola is viewed strictly by the priests only. Dominating Taumadhi Square is the Nyatapola Temple, a five-tiered pagoda dedicated to the Hindu goddess Siddhi Lakshmi. The temple rests on a base of five levels with four Ganesh shrines in each of the corners. Nyatapola means "five-story temple" in the Newari language.