Buddhist Art & Sacred Architecture

Overview

This journey looks at Buddhist Nepal through its architecture and art: the form and symbolism of stupas and smaller chaityas, the woodcarving and metalwork of monastery courtyards, and the thangka (paubha) painting tradition still practiced by valley artists. It suits guests with a specific interest in visual and material culture rather than a purely devotional focus.

A guided visit with a working thangka artist explains the strict iconographic conventions behind the paintings — proportion, symbolism, the meaning of specific colors and postures — alongside time at monasteries and stupas to see these forms in their intended architectural context. This pairs well with, but is distinct from, our dedicated Thangka Painting Workshop, which is a hands-on class rather than an architecture-and-art-focused tour.