Form The Eyes of The Lens: June 2014

Changu Narayan

Up High Standing tall & Sensational

with Magnificent gate with glorious Toran

Sunday morning., we have planned for another tattoo with my pals +Krishna Modi and Vivek.

well got inked the fourth time."Hakuna Matata" which meas "No Worries"

Welcoming sun in the morning as i wish it to be the same., but black clouds covered the sky. With drops of rain already falling. Gosh.! i was like "not today" It was 1200 hour and still waiting the sign of weather., dang.! i felt asleep and it was o'1321 hour..!

filled up the water bottle checked the bag pack and off @ o'1339 hour.

Reached at bus park @ o'1355 hour. took a bus to Bhaktapur, felt asleep the half way and the bus stopped at "Dokocha" 6km till Changu.

After 30mins the bus finally took off.

Reached @ Changu at o'1541 hour, walking up the stairs to the temple.

I saw many street vendors with unique and interesting souvenirs.

Some of them were pretty unique.

Puppets

On the way

Painting the Wooden Mask

Wodden Mask left on sun to dry

Gate way to Changu

Finally reach to Changu Narayan. it was o'1549 hour

and took out Cancy & Fuzzy

and

well "lets get this party started" :)

Changu Narayan Temple - Back Side (taken from the entrance gate)

Festivals Chariot and Palanquins - Changu Narayan

Located in right side of the main entrance to the temple.

The festival chariot and palanquins are stored. Out of the many festivals and fairs celebrated at Changu, one of the main festivals is called Changu Narayan Jatra. In this jatra, the young boys of the community carry small chariots around and dance in the courtyard. People worship the gods resting in the chariot by offering money. The traditional panchaibaja music is played in the background.

Changu Narayan

is considered to be the oldest temple of Nepal.
It remains a milestone in Nepali temple architecture with rich embossed works.
The two-storey roofed temple stands on a high plinth of stone.

Up High Standing tall & Sensational with

Magnificent gate with glorious Toran

Glorious Toran and Golden Gate

Here are some photos of the temple and its surrounding


Historical pillar erected by Mandev in 464 AD

Statue of Bhupalendra Malla, King of Kantipur and his queen BhuwanLakshmi

Garuda flying vehicle of Lord Vishnu which has got a human face and is a devotee of Vishnu.

Toran

On the main entrance gate (i.e. western entrance gate),
we can find the Chakra, Sankha, Kamal and Khadga all at the top of a stone pillar.

Lock of the golden gate

The Four Sides of Changu Narayan Temple

Left Side of the temple

Right Side of the temple

Back Side of the temple

Nepali Old Oil Chandelier

Around of the courtyard of Changu Narayn Temple

Dotted around the courtyard of Changu Narayan are a series of extraordinary carvings dating from the Licchavi era.The architecture around the temple is unique and done in detail.

Chhinnamasta Temple dedicated to Chhinnamasta devi, who beheaded herself, offered her own blood to feed the hungry Dakini and Varnini.

Makar on top of the bell

Kileshwor small two storied temples of Lord Shiva, who is believed to have appeared in this place for the protection of the hill.

Vishworup 7th century stone sculpture- beautifully carved that depicts the scene from the Bhagwat Gita, in which Lord Krishna manifests his universal form to his devotee Arjun.

Reliefs of 10 headed Vishnu & Ananta

Vaikuntha Vishnu 16th century sculpture of Vishnu seated on the lalitason position on the six armed Garuda and Laxmi seated on the lap of Vishnu

Narasimha 7th century sculpture of Narasimha , an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, killing the demon King Hiranyakasyapa to save his beloved devotee Prahalad.

Chanda Narayan (Garuda Narayan) 7th century stone sculpture of Vishnu riding on Garuda. This sculpture has been depicted in the 10 rupee paper note issued by Nepal Rastra Bank

Sridhar Vishnu 9th century stone sculpture of Vishnu, Laxmi and Garuda which stands on the pedestals of various motifs.

Vishnu Vikrant 7th century sculpture of Trivikram Vishnu that depicts the scene of popular Hindu myth of Lord Vishnu and his beloved Bali Raja.

Cheppu Carved in the pillars

Had lost the track of time. Taking the photographs. I simply didnt wanna leave the place.

It was so mesmerizing. It was o'1726 hour and i sat down for some lunch and fed some doggies too.

and while i was munching down my lunch., elderly people were chatting and enjoying the cool wind.

and kids were playing ping-pong balls., with a police man joining them.

It was o'1737 hour and i am off to home.
The following photos are taken on the way back home.
which includes the scape seen from the temple and on the way down.