KVPT’s Patan Darbar Earthquake Response Campaign - Work to Date - September 2016

Left
Taleju Agam South before restoration
and seismic strengthening
project.
KVPT, January 2011
Right
Extensive scaffolding was built with
a pipe ladder running up to each of
the temple’s three roofs.-lower, middle,
and upper. Lower and middle
roofs have traditional terra cotta
tile (jhingati). Upper tier roofing is
sheet copper with battens.
KVPT, March 6, 2014
ered with traditional terra cotta tiles (jhingati), of which
about 50% were replacedments. The roof structure of
the third tier was reconstructed using newly fabricated
rafters, wall plates, and purlins. All of the existing rafters
were too damaged to be reused and were not original.
The fabrication of new rafters also allowed for an easy
adjustment to raise the roof to its original 28-degree
pitch. This decision was based not only on aesthetics but
also on returning to the original configuration, whose
increased roof pitch reduces the chance of water infiltration.
The number of rafters was increased from 24 to 32 to
achieve the traditional, closely spaced rafter assembly.
Central and corner rafters were made from Sal (Shorea
robusta) wood, a locally available hardwood that is traditionally
preferred for its strength and durability. Pine
was used for the common rafters. The existing timber
collar, which was badly affected by wet rot, was replaced
with a newly fabricated hardwood collar.
Copper roof and pinnacle: During the restoration. the
Trust discovered that the gilt copper sheets covering the
timber structure of the pinnacle were heavily damaged,
with a number of cracks and holes. Rather than restore
and re-gild as was originally planned, the Trust decided
to preserve the existing historical patina of the metal
sheets, since any restoration effort would have risked
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