Craft · Bungamati
Carve with Bungamati's woodworkers
Spend time in a family woodcarving workshop, watching carvers shape windows, masks and deities from sal and other hardwoods. Try a simple pattern with chisel and mallet, and learn how the valley's temple struts and windows are made.
Bungamati's woodcarvers supply carved windows, doors, struts and figures to temples, houses and hotels across Nepal. In a family workshop, carvers sit on the floor among blocks of wood and curled shavings, tapping chisels with wooden mallets. Designs are drawn on paper and transferred to the wood, then cut in layers.
Your host explains the main motifs: lotus petals, peacocks, snakes, the many-armed deities of temple struts, and the latticed windows that let air in and keep eyes out. He shows how the old windows are pegged together without nails, so they can be taken apart and repaired, which mattered after 2015.
Then you try a simple pattern, such as a lotus petal or border, on a practice block. It takes concentration and a light touch, and most people come away with new respect for the craft. There is no pressure to buy, but small carvings and masks make good gifts, and money goes straight to the family.
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Questions
Can I learn woodcarving in Bungamati?
Yes. Several family workshops welcome visitors to watch and try a simple pattern for a small fee, usually for an hour or two. Longer lessons can be arranged in advance. Wear closed shoes, as wood chips and tools cover the floors.
What wood is used for Newar carving?
Traditional carvers prefer sal, a hard, durable wood used in temples and old houses, and also use other hardwoods and softer woods for smaller pieces and masks. Sal is now scarcer and more expensive, which affects the price of carved windows and struts.
Can I ship a carved window home from Bungamati?
Yes. Many workshops pack and ship larger pieces through Kathmandu cargo agents, with export paperwork for new items. Shipping can cost as much as the carving. Get a written quote including packing, shipping and customs, and pay a deposit only to established workshops.
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