This is an example of a typical nepali staircase. They are usually located right after the entrance.  In the traditional houses, the first floors were used to shelter animals or only to store food because the moisture barrier used to be insufficient  to provide sufficient thermal comfort for the humans.  These stairs used the the wood  agrath and they were as durable as the house. Needless to say the  stairs had a locking system instead of nails.  Its a taboo  in Nepal to  stand under  a  stair case.  Any  thoughts on why it is so?