The major Newar cities of the valley can reach a density of 74,000 people per square mile (Bernier 1979, 2), making them among the most densely populated cities on earth. Pedestrian lanes are walled in on both sides by long chains of houses, whose solid mass is interrupted by the frequent punctuation of temples and shrines. The traditional Newar homes, built of unbaked brick and mud mortar, are not only tall but also massive; their walls can be as much as 4.25 feet thick (Blair 1983, 49­67).