Expedition Overview
Patan — Lalitpur, "City of Beauty" — is directly south of Kathmandu across the Bagmati River and is the artistic capital of the Kathmandu Valley. Its Durbar Square is considered by many art historians to be the most exquisitely adorned public space in Asia: seventeen distinct temples, an extraordinary royal palace with intricately carved wooden windows, and the Patan Museum — one of the finest collections of Himalayan Buddhist and Hindu art in the world. Patan is particularly known for metal casting, stone carving, and thangka painting traditions that remain active and commercially vital.
Professor Nasrul Eam's approach in Patan is not merely to photograph the monuments but to document the living crafts — the lost-wax bronze casters of Oku Bahal, the stone carvers working in the shadow of medieval temples, and the morning ritual life of the Newar Buddhist community that centres on the extraordinary Golden Temple.
Expedition Itinerary
Day 1: Golden Temple at Dawn & Durbar Square
The Hiranya Varna Mahavihar (Golden Temple) opens before sunrise for lay practitioners. The courtyard — thick with butter lamps, carved metal, and the sound of early morning rituals — is among the finest interior sacred spaces in Nepal. Move to Durbar Square as it fills with morning light.
The Goal of the Day: Sacred interior photography; the relationship between devotion and space.
Day 2: Craft Workshops & Mahabouddha
Patan's metal-casting workshops, concentrated around Oku Bahal, are open to visitor photography. The craftsmen work with techniques unchanged from the 13th century — wax models, clay moulds, bronze pours. Mahabouddha Temple, built from nine thousand individually moulded terracotta Buddha tiles, is a close-up photographer's dream.
The Goal of the Day: Craft process documentation; extreme close-up on terracotta detail.
Book Your Expedition
Note: Final price may vary based on specific expedition details and customizations.
Expedition Leaders
Professor Nasrul Eam is a seasoned explorer and visual storyteller who has spent over two decades traversing Asia’s diverse landscapes and cultures. As Dean of the Department of Art and Photography at Light & Composition University, he leads immersive photography expeditions to regions like the Himalayas, Sundarbans, and Bali. These journeys blend cultural exploration with hands-on learning, culminating in a complete photography diploma. With a portfolio of over 50 publications—including The Quintessence of Photography and Illuminating Nature—his work captures the profound beauty of everyday life. His background in advertising, linguistics, and visual arts enriches his mentorship, guiding participants to uncover compelling narratives through their lenses. Professor Eam’s expeditions are transformative experiences, inspiring photographers to engage deeply with the world around them.
Travel Information
Patan is 5km from Kathmandu (30 minutes by taxi, 45 minutes by electric three-wheeler). UNESCO entry fee for Durbar Square applies. Best season: October–May.
What to Bring
• Wide-angle for the temple squares
• 50mm and 85mm for craft portraiture
• Macro lens for the Mahabouddha terracotta tiles
• Tripod for pre-dawn Golden Temple interior
