Traditional Crafts

Traditional Crafts

Take a course in woodcarving, stone masonry, pottery or learn delicate Thanka painting.

Traditional skills like wood-carving have been handed down for centuries in the Kathmandu Valley. Take a course in woodcarving, stone masonry, pottery or learn delicate Thanka painting from artisans who have been practicing this skills for generations.

Nepal has an abundance of temples and palaces, art and crafts, music and war history. To this day there are skilled craftsmen who can make equally beautiful woodcarvings and intricate statues. Nepal is the birthplace of Araniko, a famous artist, of the late 12th century, from the Kathmandu Valley who traveled to China, Beijing and built the famous White Stupa at the Miaoying Temple. He is a key figure in Chinese culture because he introduced the pagoda style architecture in China, for the first time and the rest is history.

Nepal's temples and statues of gods, and other figures reflect the glorious past when art flourished in the capital city. From the very typical households to melting iron for making the world-famous knife, Khukuri, Nepalese artists are masters of their craft. For example, Nepal is famous for carpets, thangka (Painting of Gods) Newari woodcarving, Himalayan Nepalese paper, Tibetan handicrafts, Buddhist and Hindu statues, Mithila wall art, bamboo knitted umbrella, and for its indigenously crafted household items.