The typology of traditional religious architecture of the Kathmandu Valley

The article examines the original architectural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley, created by representatives of the autochthonous ethnic group – Newar architects. The regional style, developed by local craftsmen, represents a continuous, sustainable building culture, manifested in a wide range of architectural forms, including religious ones. The subject of this research is the types of religious buildings of the Kathmandu Valley, generated in the context of the tradition of Newar architecture. The purpose of the article is to develop the typology of religious buildings of the Nepal Valley, employing a comprehensive approach. The work is based on a methodology of interdisciplinary analysis, integrating tools and results of research in the field of archaeology, cultural history, ethnography, religious studies, and art history. The author applies the methods of analysis of scientific literature and visual material, natural observation of architectural monuments, “participance-observation” in festivals and ritual practices, non-standardized interview. The classification of temple buildings and the description of their characteristics were carried out using the methods of typological modeling, compositional, comparative analysis, and iconographic analysis of facade décor. The study explicates the typology parameters of various religious buildings (genesis, symbolic conception, ritual functions, position in external space, planimetric and compositional design, decoration), on the basis of which the main types of architectural forms are identified: the temple-“pagoda” tallakara (dega), the temple in the form of a Newar dwelling dyochhe[n], the sanctuary pitha, the moveable chariot ratha. The article also defines mixed types (rectangular tiered temple for tantric deities, palace temple-tower), categories of buildings related to the main types (agamache[n], altars digu-dyo), compositional and planning variations of degas. The influence of the mountain landscape, the monsoon climate of the valley, the peculiarities of the organization of socio-religious life and urban planning inherited from the Kirata people, the Hindu-Buddhist religious syncretism, the traditions of tantrism and the role of the shakti cult, the active festival movement on the formation of the types of Newar sacred architecture has been emphasized. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that this is the first experience of a comprehensive analysis of the typology of religious buildings in the Kathmandu Valley. The author expanded and systematized the list of architectural types to be characteristic for the regional building style, identified their origins, compositional, constructional, decorative and iconographic features, revealed functional peculiarities and interconnections. Specific architectural terminology has been also introduced into the scientific usage.