The document provides information on Thakali architecture and water spouts in Nepal. It describes that Thakali people originate from Mustang District in Nepal and their architecture is vernacular style. Their houses are made of stone, timber, and mud with flat roofs. Courtyards and carved wooden structures are features. Water spouts originate from natural springs and were developed by ancient dynasties. They are decorated with carved aquatic animals and serve religious and cultural purposes, providing water for rituals, bathing, and irrigation.

1. THAKALI ARCHITECTURE
INTRODUCTION:
THAKALI PEOPLE ARE AN ETHNOLINGUISTIC GROUP ORIGINATING FROM THE
THAK KHOLA REGION OF MUSTANG DISTRICT IN THE DHAULAGIRI ZONE OF
NEPAL..THE NAME OF THE THAKALI DERIVED FROM THE LOCATION OF “THAK-
KHOLA” OF KALI GANDAKI VALLEY.”TUKUCHE” BEING CAPITAL OF THAK-KHOLA IS
THE MOST LATERALLY SETTLED THAKALI VILLAGE.THAKALI ARCHITECTURE IS THE
FINEST VERNACULAR STYLE OF NEPAL.
HISTORY AND ORIGIN:
 THE ORIGINOF THAKALIS IS NOT CLEAR,ALTHOUGH
THEY CLAIMTO BE DESCENDENT OF HANSRAJ, THE

2. THAKURI PRINCE OF THE JUMLA- SINJA DYNASTY IN
WESTERNNEPAL.
 THAKALI CAME INTO NEPAL FROM THE NORTH AND
SETTLEDIN TRADE ROUTE BETWEENINDIA AND
TIBET.
 THE THAKALI MERCHANTS LIVE IN THE VALLEYOF THE
UPPER KALIGANDAKI,BUT SOME OF THE
AGROPESTORAL THAKALISINHABIT THE SLOPE OF
THE ANNAPURNA AND DHAULAGIRIHIMALS.
 THAK KHOLA IS SANDWICHED BETWEENTHE
PASTROLHIGHLANDS IN THE NORTH AND THE
AGRICULTURALLOWLAND IN THE SOUTH.
 IT IS ALSO THE TRANSITIONALZONE BETWEEN
TIBETANBUDDHIST CULTURE AND HINDU CULTURE .
 THE THAKALIS ARE HIMALAYAN MANGOLOIDS WHOSE
MOTHER TONGUE IS OF THE TIBETO-BURMAN FAMILY.
 THAK-SAT-SE IS THE TRADITIONAL AREA OF THE
THAKALI COMMUNITY, WHICHLIE IN THE SALT
TRADING ZONE ON THE SOUTH OF TUKUCHE
MOUNTAIN, THE VALLEYOF KALIGANDAKIRIVERIN
THE WESTERNNEPAL.
DEMOGRAPHY:
 ACCORDING TO 2001 CENSUS, THAKALI POPULATIONOF
AROUND 12,973 CONSTITUTEDONLY 0.06% OF NEPAL’S
POPULATION.AS PER THE 2011 NEPAL CENSUS, THERE
ARE 13,215 THAKALIPEOPLE IN NEPAL.

3. SETTLEMENT:
 THE SETTLEMENT OF THAKALI IS SUPPORTED BYTHE
GOMPA, CHORTENAND TEMPLE.
 THE VILLAGE GATE,PRAYER WALL DEMACRATES THE
SETTLEMENT.
 INSIDE THE STELLEMENT,THERE IS SOME SOCIAL
CENTER,LOW CASTE HOUSE TO SUPPORT THE
AGRICULTURALLAND AND GARDENFOR THE
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.
 THE RECTILINEARSETTLEMENT OF THE THAKALI IS
DEVELOPEDCOMMPARATIVELYIN INDEPENDENT LINE
WHICHIS JUSTIFIED BY THEIR LOCATION.
 THEY LIVE IN FAIRLYLARGE SIZED HOUSES.
 IT HAS SINGLE BAND HOUSING AND AGRICULTURAL LAND
BEHIND. GENERALLYTHE SIZE OF THE VILLAGERANGES
FROM DOZEN TO 100 INHABITANTS,COMPACTLY
ORGANIZEDIN THE MAIN ROAD. THAKALI SETTLEMENT
GIVES A LOT OF URBAN TASTE.
 GOMPA IS THE RELIGIOUS STRUCTUREAT THE CENTRE
OF THE SETTLEMENT OR NEAR TO THE PRAYER WALL.

4.  IT IS ALSO SOCIAL,CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS
IMPORTANT PLACE,WHERE USED FOR THE LAMA TO
READ THEIR RELIGIOUS BOOK AT THE TIME OF PERSONS
DEMISE AND AT TIME OF BIRTH ETC.THESE ARE
BUDDHIST INFLUENCED.
 THE VILLAGE GATES ARE THE GUARD OF THE
SETTLEMENT.THE MAIN FUNCTION IS TO DEMONSTRATE
THE SETTLEMENT IN THE TRADE ROUTE GIVING A SENSE
OF THE PLACE FOR THE TRADERS,WHERE YOU ARE
GOING.
 IN EVERYCASE BUDDHIST GOMPA AND GATE ARE IN THE
OUTSKIRT OF THE SETTLEMENT.
ARCHITECTURAL CONSIDERATION:
 THIS REGIONRECEIVESVERYLITTLE RAINFALLAND IT IS
EXTREMELYCOLD DURING MOST OF THE YEAR WITH
TEMPERATUREDROPING SIGNIFICANTLYAT NIGHT.THE
AREA IS ALMOST A DESERT.STRONG DAILYWIND BLOWS.
 DUE TO DRY CLIMATE THEIR HOUSES ARE TYPICAL FOR
THE SEMI DESERT,TRANS-HIMALAYANREGION.
 THE ESSENTIALDESIGNFEATURE OF THAKALI HOUSE IS
PRESENCE OF ENCLOSED COURTYARDAND USE OF
GROUND FOR GRAINSTORAGE ROOM/ANIMAL BARNS.

5.  KITCHENIS USUALLY LOCATED ONLY GROUND FLOOR,
ABOUNDING IN VARIETYOF SHINY BRASS POTS DISPLAYED
ON SHELVES AROUND THE ROOM.

 THE WEALTHYTHAKALI HOUSES USUALLY HAVE SPACIOUS
INTERIORCOURTYARDSENTERED THROUGHGATE
LOCATEDBELOW ELABORATELYCARVEDWOODEN
BALCONY.
 IN WEALTHYTHAKALI HOUSES, THE SECOND FLOOR
ROOMS ARE ENTERED THROUGH FINE WOODENGALLERY,
TYPICALLYBUILD AROUND THE ENTIRE PERIMETER OF THE
HOUSE.
 THE UPPER FLOOR CONSIST OF SLEEPING ROOM, FAMILY
CHAPEL ROOM, ADDITIONAL STORAGEROOMS,AS WELL
AS THE MAIN LIVING QUARTERS INCLUDING ANOTHER
KITCHENAREA,TYPICALLYCONTAINING A CEREMONIAL
FIRE PIT.
 THE CEREMONIAL,ORNAMENTAL FIRE PLACEIS PUT UP BY
THE THAKALIS ONLY SYMBOLICALYTHAT NO FIRE IS
EVER LIT IN IT.

6. 
 STRUCTURALLYTIMBER WOOD ALWAYS BE USED
EXTENSIVELYAND A UNIQUELY CUT AND COLORED T-
POST,SERVING THE FUNCTION OF A CEILLING
SUPPORTING STRUCTURALMEMBER, IS FOUND IN EVERY
THAKALI HOUSE.
 THE HOUSES HAVE FLAT MUD ROOFS DUE TO MINIMUM
RAINFALLOF THE REGIONAND THIS MUD CONSTRUCTION
ALSO HELP TO MAINTAIN THE TEMPERATUREBALANCE
INSIDE THE HOUSES.
 THE FLAT ROOF ACCESIBLE BYCHARACTERISTIC TREE
TRUNK LADDERS IS MULTI PURPOSE SOCIALSPACE WHICH
IS SUITABLEFOR DRYING OF GRAINS.
 STRUCTURALLY,TIMBER WOULD ALWAYS BE USED
EXTENSIVELY,AND A UNIQUELY CUT AND COLOURED T-
POST,SERVING THE FUNCTIONOF THE CEILING
SUPPORTING STRUCTURALMEMBER, IS FOUND IN EVERY
THAKALI HOUSE.

7. MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY:
 STONE WALL CONSTRUCTIONWITHFLAT MUD ROOF AND
TIMBERS ARE USED.
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITION:
 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE HOUSE OWNERS
ARE INDICATEDBY THE QUANTITY OF STACKS OF WOOD
PILED ALONG THE WALLS AND ON TOP OF THE FLAT ROOFS
OF THE HOUSE.

8. WATER SPOUT
INTRODUCTION:
A NATURAL SOURCE OF WHICHINCLUDES
HITTI “DHUNGEDHARA” WHICHIS SUPPORTED BYRAJ
KULOS.THESE ARE PUBLIC WATER SOURCESLOCATED IN
CHOWKS.IT IS A CHANNELIZED SPOUT OF WATER SERVING AS A
TAP WITHSHRINE ATTACHED.
0RIGIN:
THE DYNASTIES WHO RULED OUR COUNTRY FROM KIRAT
TO MALLA HAVE GREAT CONTRIBUTIONFOR THE
CONSTRUCTIONNOF WATER SPOUTS.KIRATWEREFOLLOWED
BY LICHHAVI DYNASTIES(400-950)AD STARTED ITS
CONSTRUCTIONAND FURTHER EXPANDED BYTHE MALLAS
(1200-1768)AD.LICHHAVICONSTRUCTED RAJKULOS AND HITTI
WHICHWHERE FURTHER AIDED AT 1994.THE NEWARS WERE
MASTER IN MANAGING WATER SOURCES OF KATHMANDU. IT
TOOK GENERATIONTO CONSTRUCT AND IT WAS COMMUNITY

9. EFFORT WHERE THEYLIVED IN PERFECT HARMONY AND
BELONGINGNESS.
THE RECORDED NUMBER OF NATURAL WATER SPOUTS IN
VALLEY:
CITIES NUMBER
BHAKTAPUR 33
KIRTIPUR 49
MADHYAPUR 49
LALITPUR 47
KATHMANDU 106
PURPOSE AND IMPORTANCE:
 RAJKULOS WERE BUILT TO IRRIGATE THE PADDYIN FIELD
IN RURAL AREA.
 DRINKING WATER AT CITIES.
 HITTIS ARE MORE RELATEDWITHTHE RITUALS AND
CULTURES.
 IT PROVIDESTHE PLACE FOR PUBLIC BATHING.ITSWATER
IS COOL IN SUMMER AND WARMIN WINTER.
 NOWADAYS MORE THAN 10% POPULATIONOF KTM VALLEY
ARE DEPENDED UPONTHESE SOURCES.

10. SYMBOLISM AND BELIEF:
 MAINLY VARIOUS SYMBOLS OF WATERANIMALS ARE
CARVED AT DHUNGEDHARA WHICHHAS ITS OWN
CHARACTERISTICS.
 WATER ANIMALS LIKECROCODILE,FISH,SANKES.
 GARGOYLE IS ANOTHER CARVING OF MONSTROUS
CREATURE IN THE DHUNGEDHARA.
 IT IS BELIEVED THAT RESIDENCEOF SNAKES NEAR THE
WATER SOURCESPURIFYTHE WATER AND MAKES IT
DRINKABLE.
 ANOTHER BELIEF IS THAT, THE PRESENCEOF HONEY
HIVES,BEES ARE DANGEROUS NEAR THE WATER
SOURCES AS IT PREVENT THE RESIDENCE OF SNAKES.
 WATER OF SOME OF THE DHARAS HAVE RELIGIOUS
SIGNIFICANCE.FOR EXAMPLE,THE WATER OF THE RIGHT
SIDE OF THE MANGA HITI OF PATANIS USED FOR DAILY
RITUAL WORSHIP OF THE KRISHNA TEMPLE WHEREASTHE
WATER OF LEFT SIDEOF THE SAME DHARA IS USED FOR
REVIVING HIRNAYA KASYAP.
 VARIOUS RITUALSAND FESTIVALS ARE RELATED TO THESE
WATERSPOUTS.
 GENERALLYSPOUTS HAVE CROCODILE HEAD CALLED
MAKARA,AND FROM ITS MOUTH FLOWS OUT WATER.BUT
IN SOME DHARAS THERE ARE THE HEADS OF COW,GOAT,
ELEPHANT,TIGER AND COCK AS WELL FROMWHOSE
MOUTH AS IN MAKARA,COME OUT WATER.
 IT IS THE SHRINE WHICHCONTAINS MOST OF THE
IMPORTANT IMAGES OF THE HINDU AND BUDDHIST
PANTHEONS SYMBOLIZING ITS HOLINESS.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY:
 HITTI “DHUNGEDHARA” IT IS CLEAR FROM THE NAME IT IS
MADE OF STONE WHICHIS HIGHLY CARVED IN SHAPE OF
THE AQUATIC ANIMALS.
 HIITTIS ARE NATURAL UNDERGROUND SHALLOW AQUIFERS
OR SPRINGS THAT ARE LOCATEDNEAR AND LINKED
THROUGH AN INTICRATEUNDERGROUND SUPPLY AND
DRAINS LINE THAT USE NATURAL FILLER SYSTEMTO
PURIFY THE WATER.
 THE DENSE BLACK MUD BEDROCK PREVENT THE ACESS
TO THE DEEPGROUND AQUIFERS.THUS NETWORKOF

11. SEVERALPOND WAS CONSTRUCTED AT STRATEGIC
LOCATIONTO COLLECTTHE WATERAND STORE.
 THE MAIN SOURCE OF HITIS ARE RAJKULOLSi.e. CHANNEL
BUILD BY THE MALLAS KING IN MEDIEVAL PERIOD,AND
UNDERGROUND WATER.RAJKULOS STARTS FROMTHE
FOOTHILL AND FED WATERSPOUTS LOCATED INVARIOUS
PARTS OF URBAN AREA OF BHAKTAPUR AND LALITPUR.
 OVERFLOW OF WATER EITHERWENT TO GROUND OR ITV
WAS CARRIED TO THE OVERFLOW SURROUNDING RIVERS.
 WATER ISPIPED THROUGHTHE UNDERGROUND CHANNEL
MADE OF BATHUCHA A KIND OF WATERTIGHT CLAY.
BESIDE THIS,THE WATERSPOUTS CARRYLOTS OF OTHER
RELIGIOUS FACTSAND RITUALS.IMPORTANT FESTIVALSLIKE
‘SITHIMKHALA AND MACHHENDRANATH JATRA’.
SITHNAKHA FALLS IN MAY, BEFORE MONSOON AND IS A DAY
TO CLEAN AND REPAIR THE WATERSPOUT . LIKELY
MACHHENDRANAT JATRA IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT.FESTIVAL OF
CITY OF LALITPUR WHEN WHOLE CITYGET TOGETHERTO PULL
CHARIOT AROUND THE CITY TO BRING MONSOON AND LAST
FOR MORE THAN A MONTH.
THE RAJKULOSAND THE HITTIS SYSTEM CONSIST OF 5 MAJOR
COMPONENTS ;
1.THE INTAKE OR NATURAL WATER SOURCES.
2.THE IRRIGATIONCANAL ORTHE RAJKULOS.
3.THE STONESPOUT OR HITTI.
4.THE PONDS AND WELLS.
5.THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
VISUAL IMPACT:
THIS WATERSPOUT CREATE INTICRATECULTURAL
LANDSCAPETHAT DEMONSTRATE THE INGEURLYOF
HUMAN INFLUENCE ON THE GEOGRAPHICFORMATION
OF THE TERRAINAND THE NATURAL RESOURCES TO
DEVELOPA RICH CULTURE THAT INCLUDES THE
MATERIAL AS WELL AS INTANGIBLE HERITAGE.

12. SOME OF THE HITTIS
1. TUSA HITTI,LALITPUR :
IT IS THE MOST ELABORATED AND
INTRICATE IN DESIGNAND TECHNOLOGY.IT IS SUPPORTED
BY THE RAJKULO,PONDS,AND WELLS THAT ARE THE PART
OF THE TRADITIONALWATER . ARCHITECTURE GROUP
ALONG WITHTHE GALS AND JAHDU (DRINKING WATER
TAPS ). IT IS PRESENT IN SUNDHARI CHOWK,PATAN.
2. MANGAL HITTI ,LALITPUR
THE EARLIEST HITTI OF LALITPUR IS MAGAL HITTI THAT IS BUILT
IN 507 AD .

13. 3.SUNDHARA PATAN