The architectural elements, columns, doors, windows, tympanums and struts that make up Nepal’s temples are carved by Newars who came to the Kathmandu Valley in the 4th Century. The wood used for these works is a very dense and strong wood, Shorea robusta, locally known as sal. The species is unique to Southern Nepal and Northern India (Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar). It comes from the same family as and is similar in appearance to teak. It is an ideal woodcarving medium, one which Newar woodworkers have preferred over any other. They work the wood with chisels (butta han) handmade by a caste of metal workers known as kamis.

Columns, as seen in the sequence below, are carved from life size, pencil-drawn diagrams that are attached to the uncarved sal post. Using this as a guide, the designs are carved into the wood.

It takes about three-person weeks (both men and women carve) to make the column. The final step is to subject the freshly carved column to a precise sanding that takes about four-person days.  The architectural elements carved in sal are usually left unfinished, since the wood is capable of remaining outdoors without attack by rot or insects for centuries.  However, the columns can take an oil finish, which darkens them and renders their appearance deep and rich.

Web Page and Graphic Design By Jake DuCharme jake@brownhoundIT.com