Kasthamandapa is the largest and oldest mandapa in the Kathmandu Valley, serving as a traditional free resthouse and community hall. Originally constructed from a single tree, it has a distinctive three-storey structure designed for large gatherings, but was collapsed during the 2015 earthquake. Efforts are now underway to rebuild it using modern engineering while preserving its historical significance as a vital part of Nepal's heritage.

1. Kastamandapa
Presented By: Abhishek Maharjan
Roll no: 073BAE202

2. What is Mandapa?
• Traditional Nepali resthouse which is free of charge to traveler.
• They are donated by wealthy individuals, religious groups or families.
• The mandapa is a square, single or several storeyed building which
servers many functions similar to those of a pati; yet it was mainly
designed to be used as a community or reception hall.

3. • It is a free standing open pavilion,
facilitating larger gatherings of
people around or within it.
• Mandapa is originated from a
Sanskrit word means “A
temporary platform or sacred
tent used for a wedding or other
religious ceremony”
Mani Mandapa

4. Some Examples of Mandapa

5. Sattal,Dattatreya Dega

6. Laxminarayan Sattal

7. Kastamandapa

8. Kasthamandapa (wooden hall)
• Largest mandapa and unique in both in form and structure.
• Oldest mandapa in the whole of the valley.
• It has also been known as Maru Sattal since the 16th century.
• Legend has it that the timber used in the construction of
Kasthamandapa came from a single tree.

9. • Moreover, that the Sikhamu Bahil and the Sinha Sattal were built
from the remaining wood of same tree.
Kastamandapa
Sinha Sattal
Sikhamu Bahil

10. • Kasthamandap occupies a central location in Kathmandu valley, at the intersection of two ancient towns
known as Koligrama and Daksina (south) Koligrama (and later as Yambu and Yangal). Moreover,
Kasthamandap sits squarely at the crossroads of the ancient trade route that connected India with Tibet
and the principal North-South road of Kathmandu. Within a few yards of Kasthamandap, and also flanking
the ancient crossroads sit two other sattals, Laksmi Narayana Sattal (17th c) and Silyan (Singha) Sattal
(16th c, although legend claims this one is as old as the original Kasthamandap). Together, the three sattals
at the heart of the valley must have catered to the traffic at the crossroads

11. Function
• Traditional Nepali resthouse which is free of charge to traveler.
• It is a free standing open pavilion, facilitating larger gatherings of
people around or within it.
• A temporary platform or sacred tent used for a wedding or other
religious ceremony

12. Construction
• The building consists of three large open halls, set one on top of the
other.
• The brick quoins of the ground and first floors are not intended to
divide the halls into sections but are merely necessary parts of
structural design.
• All three storeys are open hall ways with no divisions for rooms or
cellas.

13. Ground Floor First Floor Second Floor

14. • Many of its supporting columns, especially the four 7 metre high
centre posts appear to be among the oldest timber structures in the
valley.
• In contrast to the ordinary temple, the Kasthamandapa has a wide
wooden stairway leading to the first floor, and a flimsy ladder leads to
the second floor.

15. Ground Floor Plan
South-North Section

16. • The Kasthamandapa is erected on a base of 18.7m X 18.73m and
16.3m in height.
• Its construction demonstrates a very systhematic way of collection of
loads and their distribution through posts and walls to the
foundations.
• The core of the ground floor of the building is formed by four massive
wooden posts, on which again the four posts of the first floor rest.
But in the second floor, there is a different grouping of columns
around each of these cores, set to bear the load of the three wide
overhanging roofs.

17. Ground Floor First Floor Second Floor

18. South-North Section

19. Frieze details from
Kasthamandap: a group of
monks worshipping the
Buddhist stupa (above) and
another group of devotees
worshipping the Shiva Linga
(below)

20. Capital of one of the four central ground-floor pillars Nath yogi performs puja (worship) of the
Gorakshyanath statue

21. Current Situation
• Kasthamandapa has
been collapsed in April
2015 Earthquake.
• Reconstruction of
Kasthamandap temple
finally began today
three years after the
devastating
earthquakes of 2015.

22. Conclusion
• Largest mandapa and Oldest mandapa in the whole of the valley.
• Legend has it that the timber used in the construction of Kasthamandapa
came from a single tree.
• Traditional Nepali resthouse which is free of charge to traveler.
• A temporary platform or sacred tent used for a wedding or other religious
ceremony
• The building consists of three large open halls, set one on top of the other.
• Its construction demonstrates a very systhematic way of collection of loads
and their distribution through posts and walls to the foundations.

23. • Kasthamandap was a public sattal that gave Kathmandu its name and its very
identity.
• Kasthamandap was at least 900 years old and possibly more than a thousand, at
the time of the 2015 earthquakes. Itwastherefore the oldest building in
Kathmandu and anywhere in the entire surrounding Valley. It was also the largest
traditionalbuilding.
• Kasthamandap, occupying the heart of present-day Kathmandu, is an integral
part of Nepal's heritage. It lived through the evolution of Kathmandu, and was an
active participant in it. Moreover, Kasthamandap likely served as an early
prototype for rest-houses to fulfill various religious and cultural requirements of
an evolving city nucleus during the Transitional and early Malla periods.
• As such, it is also one of the most important buildings in the history and
development of traditional Newar architecture. Let us locate the treasures lost in
the debris of Kasthamandap, and let us rebuild it back to its original iconic status.
Modern engineering technologies can make the structure earthquake-resistant,
while also respecting important local beliefs and building practices. If we do not
act, a significant part of Nepal's heritage will be lost forever.