Lhasa

Lhasa

Thangka Paintings and Tibetan Silver

Lhasa is the spiritual and craft heart of Tibet. Thangkas — religious silk paintings often depicting Buddhist deities — have been made here for over a thousand years. Tibetan silver jewelry, prayer beads, and ritual objects are equally distinctive.

Craft Heritage

Thangka painting follows strict iconographic rules taught in monasteries. A traditional thangka can take 3 months to 3 years, using ground mineral pigments (lapis, malachite, gold). Different schools (Karma Gardri, Menri, Khyenri) have distinct styles.

Why Authentic

Genuine traditional thangkas use only mineral pigments and hand-prepared cotton canvas. Modern commercial thangkas often use synthetic paints. We work only with monastery-affiliated workshops.

Visit During Your Journey

Tibet requires special permits which we handle. Our Sichuan & Tibet Bespoke journey includes monastery visits where you can see thangka painting in progress.

Questions About Lhasa Crafts?

We're happy to answer questions about authenticity, custom orders, or arranging workshop visits during your journey.