REPORT ON DESIGN OF RAM

JANAKI TEMPLE
DHANAUJI RURAL MUNICIPALITY
DHANAUJI-4,DHANUSA

FINAL REPORT

Consultant:
EMERGENING TECHNOLOGY PVT. LTD.
2020
 Acknowledgements

Firstly, we would like to express our sincere gratitude towards the locals of holy Dhanauji
site location for support during the field visit phase of this study. We are also thankful to the
technical officers and all other staff members of the site for various technical advice and
support during the course of this study.

We are thankful to the representatives of various political parties, social sector leaders and all
the residents of the municipality for the conducive environment during the data collection
phase. We are obliged to get such a coordination from all the people around Dhanauji Rural
Municipality.

We would also like to thank the authors and publishers of all the books, manuals, reports,
codes and research papers referred for the preparation of this report.

-The Study Team

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 Table of Contents
Acknowledgements.....................................................................................................................I

1 Introduction.........................................................................................................................1

1.1 Background......................................................................................................................1

1.2 Objective..........................................................................................................................2

1.3 Scope of Work..................................................................................................................2

1.4 Project Location...............................................................................................................3

1.5 Site Topography...............................................................................................................4

1.6 Present Condition of Site.................................................................................................4

1.7 Socio-economic Characteristics.......................................................................................6

1.8 Topographic Survey.........................................................................................................6

2 Literature Review...............................................................................................................8

2.1 Architecture Styles in the World......................................................................................9

2.2 Nepalese Architectural Style..........................................................................................13

3 Planning Concept..............................................................................................................20

3.1 Cost estimate..................................................................................................................21

4 References.........................................................................................................................22

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1 Introduction

1.1 Background

Nepal, a country on the lap of the Himalayas is considered opulent of cultures, traditions,
historical and architectural aspects. Being small in physical area, it has got diverse landscape
ranging from high snow-caped mountain ranges in the north, green belt of mountains in
middle part and flat-fertile land of Gangetic plain in the south. This diversity in the landscape
also plays role in the diversity in culture and tradition of the people living in different parts of
the country. From east to west and from north to south, there are various cultures and
traditions unique to the area.

Nepal has seen numerous political changes in its history – be there the rise and the fall of
autocratic rana regime or, establishment of Nepal as a republic nation or, panchayat system
or, multi-party system or, the recent establishment of federal democratic republic of Nepal –
numerous political and its ensuing changes has happened in our country and has developed its
new constitution in 2072 B.S. According to the constitution, Nepal has been divided into
seven federal states. After the local election, there is locally elected representatives of people
in each wards and municipalities. This helps in accelerating the development at local level.
This was done in order to decentralize the development to every part of the country rather
than only in the capital and also to stop the migration of people from hills to capital city and
to the Terai region.

Dhanusha District, a part of Province No. 2, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal.
The district, with Janakpur as its headquarter, covers an area of 1,180 km² and had a
population of 754,777 in 2011. The project site of Dhanauji-4 lies in this district. This holy
city of Hindus carries the rituals and traditions from the ancients and consist many sites of
cultural and architectural importance. Janaki Mandir also lies in this holy city. It is a Hindu
temple in Janakpur in the Mithila region of Nepal, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Sita. It is
an example of Hindu-Koiri Nepali architecture. It is often considered the most important
model of Koiri architecture in Nepal. Fully built in bright white and constructed in an area of
4,860 sq. feet in a mixed style of Mughal and Koiri domes.

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 1.2 Objective

The main objective of this study is to design a temple that represents the purity of the Lord
Ram and Sita relation on the proposed site. Also to conserve and improve the site as a
religious and cultural tourist destination. The specific objectives of the project are as given
below:

1. To prepare the new plan map of the proposed Ram Janaki Temple.
2. To prepare necessary drawings elevations and sections of the proposed temple
3. To prepare the approximate cost estimate for the construction of the proposed temple

1.3 Scope of Work

This project covers the study of importance of the Ram Janaki temple in the proposed site and
the entire design, plan and detail report of the temple.

The scope of the work of the project are but not limited to as follows:

 Construction of Ram Janaki Mandir.

 Pavement around the Temple
 Garden/ Park
 Parking
 Mithila Art
 Miscellaneous (Restrooms etc)

1.4 Project Location

The project site is located in Dhanauji Rural Municipality ward no. 4, Dhanusha district, in
provinice no. 2. It lies in the south-eastern part of Nepal and is located at about 150 km
(94 miles) south-east of Kathmandu. The latitude and longitude of the site is 26°39'26.61"N
and 85°58'53.88"E respectively.

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 Figure 1: Project Location

1.5 Site Topography

The site is in the Terai region. There is easy access to the site from the highway. The study
area is located at Dhanauji Ward no.-4 in the plain terrain of Dhanauji Rural Municipality in
the east of Janakpur Airport. The total area according to cadastral map is near about 384Sq.m.

1.6 Present Condition of Site

At present there is no any presence of households. The site is barren at this point of time.
Albeit there is presence of local communities of people and their residential buildings and
other structures at some distance from the site location.

Figure 2:Present Site Location

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 Figure 3: Proposed Area for Temple

Figure 4: Google Earth image of site location

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 1.7 Socio-economic Characteristics

According to the national census 2011 projection, the total population of the Dhanusha
district is 754,777 comprising 376,239 females and 378,538 males.

Figure 5: Demographic Composition by Sex

Figure 6: Proposed site location

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Literature Review

Dhanusha District, a part of Province No. 2, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. It

is situated in the Outer Terai. The district, with Janakpur as its district headquarter, covers an
area of 1,180 km2 (460 sq. mi) and has a population (2011) of 754,777. Janakpur Dham,
presently the headquarter of Province No. 2, was the capital of King Janak’s ancient Mithila
Kingdom during the Treta Yug, or period, nearly 12,000 years ago. The name Janakpurdham
is composed of three words in the Devanagari script, i.e., ‘Janak’, ‘Pur’ and ‘Dham’, which
mean ‘father’, ‘village’ and ‘renowned place for pilgrimage’ respectively. Named after the
sage king, Janak, Janakpurdham, however, also encompasses Mithilanchal, or the Mithila
region. Balmiki’s epic Ramayan on Aryan culture and Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas
authenticate this. As the full moon cannot get complete shape without the full lunar night, in
the same vein, a pilgrimage to all the sacred places cannot be considered complete without a
pilgrimage of the Mithila region. The monument remains a site for pilgrimage. There are
various areas that are potential archeological sites, though these have not been excavated.

Another historically important place in Janakpurdham is the Dhanushadham. This place of

mythological importance lies 20 km to the north of Janakpurdham. It was here that a
fragment of Shiva’s divine bow fell after Lord Ram broke it into three pieces during the Bow-
Breaking Ceremony held at Rangabhoomi in Janakpurdham - a condition for obtaining the
hand of Sita in marriage. During the Makar Mela festival held every Sunday in the month of
Magh (January-February), hundreds of thousands of devotees throng Dhanushadham to pay
homage to the fossilised bow piece.

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 Figure 7: Shiva Dhanush

An architectural style is characterized by the features that make a building or other structure
notable and historically identifiable. A style may include such elements as form, method of
construction, building materials, and regional character. Most architecture can be classified as
a chronology of styles which changes over time reflecting changing fashions, beliefs and
religions, or the emergence of new ideas, technology, or materials which make new styles
possible.

Styles therefore emerge from the history of a society and are documented in the subject of
architectural history. At any time, several styles may be fashionable, and when a style
changes it usually does so gradually, as architects learn and adapt to new ideas. Styles often
spread to other places, so that the style at its source continues to develop in new ways while
other countries follow with their own twist. A style may also spread through colonialism,
either by foreign colonies learning from their home country, or by settlers moving to a new
land. After as style has gone out of fashion, there are often revivals and re-interpretations. For
instance, classicism has been revived many times and found new life as neoclassicism. Each
time it is revived, it is different.

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2.1 Architecture Styles in the World

1. Romanesque architecture

Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of medieval Europe characterized by semi-

circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque style, with
proposals ranging from the 6th to the 11th century, this later date being the most commonly
held. In the 12th century it developed into the Gothic style, marked by pointed arches.
Examples of Romanesque architecture can be found across the continent, making it the first
Pan-European architectural style since Imperial Roman architecture. The Romanesque style
in England is traditionally referred to as Norman architecture.

Combining features of Roman and Byzantine buildings and other local traditions,
Romanesque architecture exhibits massive quality, thick walls, round arches, sturdy piers,
groin vaults, large towers, and symmetrical plans.

Figure 8: Tum Collegiate Church, Poland

2. Gothic architecture

Gothic architecture is a style that flourished in Europe during the High and Late Middle
Ages. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance
architecture. Originating in 12th-century France, it was widely used, especially for cathedrals
and churches, until the 16th century.

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Gothic architecture is acknowledged for spawning new structural marvels, phantasmagorical
plays of light and raising the bar for cathedral construction everywhere - even by
contemporary standards. Here are some characteristics your standard Gothic cathedral will
showcase

Figure 9: Chartres Cathedral

3. Renaissance architecture

Renaissance architecture is the European architecture of the period between the early 14th
and early 16th centuries in different regions, demonstrating a conscious revival and
development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture.
Renaissance style places emphasis on symmetry, proportion, geometry and the regularity of
parts, as they are demonstrated in the architecture of classical antiquity and in particular
ancient Roman architecture, of which many examples remained.

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 Figure 10: Nordic Renaissance: Frederiksberg Palace

4. Baroque architecture

Baroque architecture is the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late 16th-century Italy,
that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical
and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church. It was
characterized by new explorations of form, light and shadow, and dramatic intensity.
Common features of Baroque architecture included gigantism of proportions; a large open
central space where everyone could see the altar; twisting columns, theatrical effects,
including light coming from a cupola above; dramatic interior effects created with bronze and
gilding.

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 Figure 11: Basilica di Superga near Turin

2.2 Nepalese Architectural Style

Architecture is meant by the art of building houses, palaces, temples, forts etc. The art of
building dates back to the ancient age. It was explicitly religious and majestic art. Mangriha
of Mandeva, Kailashkut of Amshuverma and Bhadradhiwas of Narendra Dev had the beauty
of their own. Records reveal that the Lichchhavi architecture was really great but buildings of
that time have not been protected to date. Palaces, temples, Buddhist monasteries and stupas,
built in the medieval age have survived till today as the cultural treasures of Nepal.
Nyatapola, the 5-storey temple of Bhaktapur was built in medieval age by King Bhupitindra
Malla to keep the goddess Laxmi inside. Like other aspects of art, Nepali architecture is
noted for its originality and magnificence. It can be studied under following categories:

1. Pagoda Style

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 Figure 12: Pagoda Architecture Style

Pagoda architecture is multi-storied. Its roofs, originally made of gold, bronze or brass, get
narrower from the lower to the higher and the top is usually a golden gajur (pinnacle). The
ground, on which building is made, is little raised with some carved steps decorated by
images on the both sides. Tundals are important elements which contain beautiful carving at
three levels- trees and trailers on the top, deities in the middle and human beings or animals
on the bottom. Doors that are on all sides and windows have wooden carvings and further
decorated by torans in arches.

The pagoda features prominently in Nepalese temples, with multi-roofed structures and wide
eaves which are supported by beautifully carved wooden struts. The roof is often topped by
triangular spires which enclose an inverted bell, while projecting windows are either latticed
or grilled.

Pagoda style of Nepal architecture evolved from the dome-shaped stupa which was used to
store sacred relics and became a distinctive feature of Newari architecture. It was adopted
across East and Southeast Asia and, over time, blended with the architecture of Chinese
towers and pavilions into what became known as pagoda style. In the 13th century, the young
Nepali architect Araniko led a delegation to China at the invitation of Emperor Kublai Khan,
spreading the pagoda architectural style across the region.

The Kasthamandap wooden pagoda for which Kathmandu is named is one of the most
impressive examples of the pagoda style, built during the Malla period. Other notable

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examples include the Basantpur Palace which was built by King Prithvi Narayan Shah, as
well as the Pashupati, Taleju and Changu Narayan temples.

2. Stupa (chaitya) Style

Figure 13: Chaitya Architecture Style

Originating in ancient India, stupas are Buddhist in their concept and execution, designed as a
tomb-like structure to house sacred relics. They have since spread across Asia and into Nepal,
evolving into different forms and incorporating elements specific to different regions. The
shape of a stupa is representative of Buddha, with the top of the spire symbolizing his crown,
while his head is the square at the spire’s base and his body the hemispherical dome shape.
His legs are represented by the four steps on the lower terrace at the base of his throne, while
the four sides of the square base (harmika) are often painted with pairs of “all seeing” eyes.
The design is also believed to represent the five Buddhist elements – Earth (the square base),
Water (the hemispherical dome), Fire (the conical spire), Air (the upper lotus parasol), Space
(the sun and the dissolving point). Among Nepal’s finest examples of the stupa style is
Swayambhu which sits atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley and is considered the most sacred
pilgrimage site for Newar Buddhists. Also of note is the Boudhanath stupa on the outskirts of
Kathmandu. This ancient UNESCO World Heritage-listed stupa is one of the largest in the
world and particularly sacred to Tibetan Buddhists due to its position along an ancient trade
route from the Kathmandu Valley to Tibet. Dating back to 250BC, the stupas built in Patan
by King Ashoka are also of historic importance, designed to mark the four corners of the city
and being among the oldest stupas to remain standing today in Nepal.

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3. Summit (Shikhar) style

Figure 14: Shikhar Architecture Style

Summit style of architecture is believed to have entered Nepal from India. Summit building is
roofless with several towering and tapering tops with golden pinnacles. Stone is the original
construction material. Carving is very beautiful. When bricks are used for walls, doors are
carved in the stones. Wood is rarely used. Outside there is a veranda, top of which is
supported by carved stone columns. Domes on the surrounding add to the magnificence of
the structure. In Nepal, this type of architecture was popular during the 17th and 18th century.
Krishna Mandir of Patan, built by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla, is a typical example of shikar
style. Brahma temple in Pashupatinath and Mahabauddha temple in Patan which uses bricks
are also built in this style.

4. Dome and Mughal Styles(Koiri)

Dome style and Mughal styles are also used in Nepali architecture. Several temples and
houses in Nepal are also built in Buddhist dome style and Islamic Mugal style. Janaki
temple in Janakpur is a magnificent temple built in Mughal style. In modern period
architecture began to be influenced by the European style. Singha Durbar, Thapathali Durbar,
Shree Mahal, Rani Mahal etc are among the beautiful palaces of the period. This magnificent
temple of marble was built in around late 19th century. This temple takes much inspiration
from Mughal architecture and is the biggest temple of Nepal, covering an area of 265 x 187
square feet. On the four corners of this temple, cupolas enhance its architectural supremacy.
The middle portion of the east side is known as the “Sheesh Mahal”. And at the centre of the

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inner part where the idols of Sita and Ram are housed is called the Janaki Mahal. Behind the
Janaki Mahal is the Janak-Sunaiyana Mandir, dedicated to the father and mother of Goddess
Sita. The whole temple complex is also locally known as the Naulakha Temple as nine lakh
rupees, or Rs. 900,000 - a colossal sum of money then - were said to have been spent in the
construction of the Janaki Mandir.

Figure 15: Janaki Mandir

The Ram Janaki Temple is one of the most holy places for Hindus.  Various vestiges of the
11th and 12th Century AD can be found. The temple architecture is of unique style; a blend
of classical and neo-classical design with elements of fortification within a unique
environmental setting. The site was designated as a UNESCO tentative site in 2008.

Nepali art and culture are highly reflected in the painting, sculpture and architectures. Outside
influence is growing in our architecture. Our art and culture are our important heritage and it
must be preserved. There are few people who are professionally engaged in traditional
painting and sculptures with the number of tourist growing they are doing well. Some
individuals and organizations are working in the field of preservation of Nepali art and
culture. A college of fine arts (Lalitkala Campus) in Kathmandu is giving education. Nepal
Academy, Nepal Association of Fine Arts (NAFA), Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) etc are also

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contributing. Department of Archaeology, a government agency, is working in the
exploration and preservation of things and places of archaeological significance. The
efficiency of these existing organizations and their number need to be increased for better
promotion and preservation of our art and culture.

5. Newa Architecture

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 Figure 16: Newa Architecture Style

The Kathmandu Valley is also noted for its Newa style of Nepal architecture, an indigenous
style which has long been used by the Newari people in building everything from residential
housing to chaitya monastery buildings. It is marked by impressive brickwork and wooden
carvings, with the architect Arniko influential in its export across Asia.

Traditional Newari houses were generally three-storied, with pitched roofs and a small
courtyard or chowk. They normally featured narrow windows exhibiting fine wooden
latticework and entrance doors barred with large wooden planks.

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Janak Nagari, meaning Janakpurdham, is endowed with around 70 big and small temples as
well as 72 ponds of mythological importance. Some of the important ponds are Ganga Sagar,
Dhanush Sagar, Angrag Sar, Dasharath Tatab, Bihar Kunda, Agni Kunda, Ratna Sagar. Any
pilgrimage is incomplete without a ritual bath in the Ganga Sagar which has never dried up.
According to popular belief, water from the Seven Seas and all sacred places were collected,
and this sacred pond called Ganga Sagar took shape.

Figure 17: Ganga Sagar

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2 Planning Concept

A Temple needs its component elements for proper functioning during different religious
fairs and other offerings. Water supply and restroom facilities to devotees and visitors is a
must require facility.

The concept of the masterplan is to incorporate following components in the project area:

 Construction of Ram Janaki Mandir.

 Pavement around the Temple
 Garden/ Park
 Parking
 Mithila Art
 Miscellaneous (Restrooms etc)

1. Ram Janaki Mandir

According to Vedic literature, the present Ram Janaki Temple in Janakpur is located at the
birthplace of Goddess Sita, consort of Lord Rama. As mentioned in the great epic of the
Ramayana, the area belonged to the realms of King Janak. The Ram Janaki Temple is one of
the most holy places for Hindus.  Various vestiges of the 11th and 12th Century AD can be
found. The temple architecture is of a much later period; however, its style is unique; a blend
of classical and neo-classical design with elements of fortification within a unique
environmental setting. It resembles the Koiri architecture (Combination of Mughal and Hindu
culture).So the proposed temple is also designed following the Koiri Architect similar to that
of the Ram Janaki Mandir Located in the Janakpurdham with an area of about 950 sq. ft.

2. Pavement
The permeable pavement is proposed
around the proposed area for easy
access around the structure and as well as
to make the area more appealing and
environment friendly.

Figure 4:Permeable Pavement

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3. Garden/Park

A park for the pilgrims a place, to make them feel relaxed is proposed around the periphery
of the temple.The temple is however proposed to be constructed within the centre of the park
as shown in the figure.

Figure 5:Proposed Park

3.1 Cost estimate

The total cost of construction is calculated to be NRs. . The above figure is inclusive of 13%
addtion for VAT. A heading-wise breakdown of the cost calculation is presented here.

AMOUNT
DESCRIPTION OF WORKS
(NRs)
1. Total

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3 References

 Nepal Tourism Board(NTB)

 Central Bureau of Statistics(CBS), Nepal
 UNESCO Tentative Lists
 Richard Ingersol, World Architecture: A Cross-Cultural History
 Robert Venturi, Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture

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