o

REPORT
ON
NAAGBAHAL

SUBMITTED BY:

JESON MAHARJAN (200713)

PRITHA SHRESTHA (200721)

YUSHA POKHREL (200743)

SUBMITTED TO:

Ar. RUCHI BAJRACHARYA

TABLE OF CONTENTS
BACKGROUND OF STUDY.................................................................................................................4

HISTORY................................................................................................................................................4

PLANNING.............................................................................................................................................5

FUNCTIONS OF NAAGBAHAL...........................................................................................................6

LANDSCAPE..........................................................................................................................................7

ELEMENTS OF LANDSCAPE IN NAAGBAHAL..............................................................................7

1. HARD LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS............................................................................................7

a) GATE...................................................................................................................................7

b) CHAITYAS / CHIBAHS.....................................................................................................7

c) DHUNGE DHARA.............................................................................................................7

d) SATTAL.............................................................................................................................81

e) DABALI..............................................................................................................................8

f) CHAUTARA............................................................................................................................8

g) FENCE.................................................................................................................................8

h) LIGHTS...............................................................................................................................9

i) FOUNTAIN.............................................................................................................................9

j) PAVEMENT.............................................................................................................................9

k) BENCHES...........................................................................................................................9

l) TEMPLE................................................................................................................................10

m) SCULPTURE.....................................................................................................................10

2. SOFT LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS...........................................................................................10

a) FLOWER BED..................................................................................................................10

b) TREES...............................................................................................................................10

c) SHRUBS............................................................................................................................11

................................................................................................................................................................11

PRINCIPLE OF DESIGN......................................................................................................................11

CONCLUSION......................................................................................................................................12
Figure 1 areal view.....................................................................................................................4
Figure 2master plan....................................................................................................................4
Figure 3 main gate......................................................................................................................7
Figure 4 chaityas and chibas......................................................................................................7
Figure 5 dunghe dhara................................................................................................................7
Figure 6 satal..............................................................................................................................8
Figure 7 dabali............................................................................................................................8
Figure 8 chautara........................................................................................................................8
Figure 9 fence.............................................................................................................................8
Figure 10 Strip light...................................................................................................................9
Figure 11spike light....................................................................................................................9
Figure 12 streetlight and lamppost.............................................................................................9
Figure 13 fountain......................................................................................................................9
Figure 14 radial circular paving.................................................................................................9
Figure 15basket weave..............................................................................................................9
Figure 16 concrete bench...........................................................................................................9
Figure 17metal bench.................................................................................................................9
Figure 18temple view...............................................................................................................10
Figure 19 buddha......................................................................................................................10
Figure 20 Vajra and stupa.........................................................................................................10
Figure 21nandi.........................................................................................................................10
Figure 22 flower bed................................................................................................................10
Figure 23columnar tree............................................................................................................10
Figure 24decideous..................................................................................................................10
Figure 25pine tree....................................................................................................................10
Figure 26rose............................................................................................................................11
Figure 27Dhupi........................................................................................................................11
Figure 28Cyprus.......................................................................................................................11
Figure 29 Axis with other chowks............................................................................................11
Figure 30 Assymetric balance..................................................................................................11
Figure 31Axis with golden temple...........................................................................................11
Figure 32 Emphasis..................................................................................................................11
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Naagbahal is in the heart of the city of Lalitpur in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal. It was
originally a Buddhist Monastery. Today, the originally buildings have been demolished and
what is left is a large courtyard or a park surrounded by residential buildings. Inspite of this.
the bahal still retains its religious and cultural significance. Almost around 5000 people are
residing in the naagbahal community, mainly from newar ethnic group.

Figure 1 areal view

Figure 2master plan

HISTORY
The history of the Nagbahal and the neighbouring Hiranya Varna Mahavihar (also popularly
known as the Golden Temple) goes back to the 11th century. The history is yet not entirely
clear. Most of the residents of the courtyard are Buddhists and affiliated with the sangha of
the Hiranya Varna Mahavihar. The Dhakhwa family is one of the most renowned noble
families who have been dwelling in Nagbahal since ancient times. Along with the Dhakhwas
there are other families: Shakya, Joshi, Bajracharya, Maharjan, and Napit. It is the starting
point of Dipankha Yatra, held every 18 years.
PLANNING
Naagbahal is a large courtyard within which different small (bush) to large (temple)
landscape elements are comprised together forming a beautiful landscape architecture. It
consists of almost all the landscape architectural elements of Nepal.

INDEX
a) ENTRANCE GATE
b) COURTYARD
c) CHAITYA
j d) TEMPLE
l k
e) STUPA
i f) BAJRA
d
g) CHAUTARA
e h) DHUNGEDHARA
a
f h i) NANDI BULL
b c g
STATUE
j) BADMINTON
COURT
k) POCKET GARDEN
l) FOUNTAIN

FUNCTIONS OF NAAGBAHAL
Naagbahal was first used as a space for monastery. Today, it is used as a courtyard surrounded
by around 25-30 households. As a courtyard it helds varieties of functions. The open space is
used by the kids for playing, the pocket garden within it is used for recreational activities, the
benches and other sitting spaces are used for sunbathing, resting and sitting by people. The
courtyard space is used by the residents around for playing badminton, table tennis and for
parking their personal vehicles.
LANDSCAPE

ELEMENTS OF LANDSCAPE IN NAAGBAHAL

Two types of landscape elements found:

 Hard landscape elements

 Soft landscape elements

1. HARD LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS

a) GATE
 Entrance gate
 Divides the outside street and the bahal
 Connects visitors to the bahal.
 Unique shape; symbolizing tradition; blending
Buddhism; a small stupa structure at the top.
 Materials: brick, cement plaster
Figure 3 main gate

b) CHAITYAS / CHIBAHS
 Total number: 7
 South sides (3)
 Dating to lichhavi period.
 Material: stone

Figure 4 chaityas and chibas

c) DHUNGE DHARA
 Dating back to ancient
history
 No water supply.
 Material: stone

Figure 5 dunghe dhara

d) SATTAL
 Two in number
 2 storey
 Materials: Bricks, stones, timber,

e) DABALI
Figure 6 satal
 A raised platform to
conduct different
functions.
 dimension 6 meter* 6
meter
 Material: telia bricks, stone, Figure 7 dabali

f) CHAUTARA
 A social gathering spaces.
 Under a round tree
 Three in number
 Material: stones, bricks

Figure 8 chautara

g) FENCE
 Divides the courtyard and
garden (gagan batika)
 Protects and preserves the
softscape of Gagan Garden.
 Material: Iron bars
Figure 9 fence

h) LIGHTS
 Use of lampposts and
spike lights.
 few solar operated.
 few Figure 10 Strip light

 Figure 11spike light

Figure 12 streetlight and lamppost
i) FOUNTAIN
 Symbolical element (lotus)
 Emphasis
 Blends the
 Material: cement plaster
Figure 13 fountain

j) PAVEMENT
 Basket weave bond
 radial circular paving (pocket
garden)

 Materials: bricks, stones Figure 15basket weave
Figure 14 radial circular paving

k) BENCHES
 three types of benches used:
o cement benches - 7
o wooden benches - 1
o metal benches – 3

Figure 16 concrete bench Figure 17metal bench

l) TEMPLE
 Main temple of Naagbahal, Dyalko
bhagwaan temple
 center of courtyard
 relatively new, two storey (newa style of
architecture)
 like a sattal
 statue inside: Shakyamuni Buddha,
Figure 18temple view
mahakala
m) SCULPTURE
 statue of buddha; focal point after the main entrance
 stupa Figure 20 buddha Figure 19nandi
Figure 21 Vajra and stupa
 vajra
 nandi bull

2. SOFT LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS

a) FLOWER BED
 Uniquely design
for separating
trees and shrubs

Figure 22 flower bed

b) TREES
 Columnar trees
 pine trees
 deciduous trees
 evergreen trees
Figure 25pine tree

Figure 23columnar tree Figure

c) SHRUBS 24decideous

 Rose plant
 Fern
 Hedge
 Cyprus
 Dhupi

Figure 27Dhupi Figure 26rose.

Figure 28Cyprus
 PRINCIPLE OF DESIGN

Figure 29 Axis with other

chowks
Figure 30 Assymetric balance

Figure 31 Emphasis

CONCLUSION
The focal point of naagbahal is the bahal itself. The bahal
is then divided into different small pocket spaces like the
garden, the badminton court, the table Figure 32Axis with golden temple tennis playing
area, the parking space etc. This bahaal includes almost every element and aspect of Nepalese
landscape elements be it a small tradition symbolising sculpture to a big sattal. The bahaal is
a perfect blend of the soft scape elements and the hard scape elements. there are sufficient
trees, shrubs, bushes and grasses blended well with the traditional hard scape pavement,
sattal, dabali, temples and chaityas. Along with the greens and the hard scapes water elements
like the fountain, dhungedhara and wells were placed in the bahaal in a proper manner.

In this way, we finally visualised the study material about the Nepalese landscape by this case
study on Naagbahal. We were able to visualize and learn more about the fusion of hardscape
and softscape landscape in context of Nepal We also were able to see the differences in the
typical landscape architecture prevailed in Nepal and the western countries.