15-Days
TIBETAN THANGKA PAINTING &
CLASSICAL HATHA YOGA RETREAT
Residency In The Himalayas
Tibetan Thangka Painting and Classical Hatha Yoga is a 15-day Residential Retreat and immersive program exploring the ancient Indo-Himalayan cultures of divine creative expression and realization. This transcultural, experiential program offers the opportunity to explore the deeply spiritual sacred arts of the Himalayan region, while equipping oneself with classical tools for spiritual development, health and wellbeing. We invite you to take this opportunity to imbibe the decades of experiential knowledge and learning with masters and facilitators steeped in these ancient traditions.
Join us at the pristine Himalayan Art Museum in Dharamshala, in the foothills of Himalayas in Northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, to discover your divine creative spark and carry home the transformative experiences, a sacred painting and technologies for wellbeing that will support your joy and wellbeing for the rest of your life.
TIBETAN THANGKA PAINTING
Thangka paintings, iconic Buddhist scrolls, originated in India and flourished in Tibet from the 7th century A.D., evolving into a significant art form over a thousand years. After Tibet's occupation in 1959, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and other masters brought this rich tradition back to India, establishing Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, as a global hub for Tibetan Buddhist art and culture. In this retreat, we share the intricate process of Thangka painting, along with Buddhist meditation, Pali Buddhist prayers, and Traditional fine art techniques. Artists create divine images on handmade canvases using traditional grids, iconography, and mineral pigments provided by Mother Earth. Each color, such as Azurite, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Cinnabar, Orpiment, and others, is ground and mixed with glue and water to make the paints. The masters will teach detailed shading, outlining, and the application of pure gold details, culminating in the sacred "opening of the eyes," which brings the image to life. “Opening of the eyes,” allows the deity to return its gaze upon the artist and intimate its presence before us. While the consecrated painting is mounted, blessed, and seemingly finished, the truth is that a thangka’s journey never ends, as it ceaselessly nurtures its onlookers until all the world’s suffering is eliminated.
THANGKA PAINTING MASTERS:
◦ Master Locho
◦ Dr Sarika Singh
◦ Lobsang Tsaten
CLASSICAL HATHA YOGA
The Classical Hatha Yoga sessions will be conducted by highly trained teachers and will offer classical Hatha Yoga structured by Sadhguru in its full depth and dimension. These sessions are an unparalleled opportunity to learn practices derived from a yogic tradition maintained in its full purity and vibrancy for thousands of years. Ideal for the hectic pace of today’s world, these practices are not taught merely for physical fitness and strength; they are a holistic process of naturally achieving a certain mastery over the body and mind, so as to come to a state of health, joy, balance and bliss.
CLASSICAL HATHA YOGA TEACHERS
• Yogesh Cutler
• Tanamayi Vaiyapuri
15 Day Retreat Dates
2025 October 24 - November 8
Check-in : October 23th, 12pm onwards
Check-out : November 9th, 12pm onwards
Accommodation extension after the Retreat is available.
Retreat Fee :
$2950 for Double Bed Shared Rooms (3 rooms)
$3250 for Single Bed Private Room (1 room)
$3500 for Deluxe Queen Bed Private Room (2 rooms)
Availability: 9 spots
WHO: Anyone above 18, whether an artist or not, can apply, while Youth 16 and above can attend with a parent or guardian.
INCLUDES
• Tibetan Thangka Painting
• Classical Hatha Yoga and Meditation
• Holistic Vegetarian Meals with dietary options
• Immersive Nature Hikes in The Himalayas
• Guided Walks to Waterfalls and Glacier River Dips
• Indo-Tibetan Cultural Experience
Daily Schedule:
• 7:30 am - 9:30 am: Yoga Meditation, Prayers, Surya Kriya and Shanmukhi Mudra with Yogesh/Tanamayi
• 9:30 - 10:30 am: Brunch with Hot Tea
• 10:30 am - 1:00 pm: Thangka session (Sarika, Master Locho & Lobsang)
• 1:00 - 2:00 pm: Protein Snacks and Fresh Juice/Tea
• 2:00 - 5:00 pm: Thangka session (Sarika, Master Locho & Lobsang)
• 5:00 - 6:30 pm: Personal Time/Optional Recreational Activities such as Guided Hike in the Himalayan Foothills, Dance, Games & more.
• 6:30 - 7:15 pm: Buffet Dinner with Hot Tea
• 7:15 - 7:40 pm: Gentle sessions, Discourse and Guided Meditation (Tanamayi/Yogesh)
15 Days Tibetan Thangka Painting Schedule at the Himalayan Art Museum:
• Day 1: Stretching and Canvas Creation
• Day 2-3: Transferring image to the canvas and Inking
• Day 4-7: Color application
• Day 10-11: Outlining
• Day 12-14: Finishing Touches
• Day 15: Silk Brocade Mounting
In Addition to the 15 Days at the Himalayan Art Museum:
Mastering the disciplines of Thangka Painting or Classical Hatha Yoga takes many years of hard work. With that consideration, our aim is to offer as comprehensive of an experience as possible in a little over two weeks.
Depending on the category of thangka, it can take months or even years for an accomplished artist to complete a single painting. But under the guidance of our masters here at the school, we have streamlined the process and created infrastructure that will allow every student to take home a simple yet divine thangka of their own as well as become proficient in the basics of classical hatha yoga.
In order to achieve this, there will be a preliminary online thangka orientation and drawing process that will take place as well as an introduction to classical hatha yoga by our yoga teachers. This will equip the participants with the level of proficiency needed to achieve our goals during the retreat.
The structure will be as follows:
A. After registration and payment is completed there will be a Thangka orientation by Master Dr. Sarika Singh and Introduction to Classical Yoga with Yogesh and Tanamayi. (Scheduled individually according to the participants availability)
B. Participants will receive their materials via mail to begin the drawing process by first selecting their subject (one of five Tibetan Buddhist Deities) and begin the grid and drawing process.
C. Participants will arrive at the retreat equipped with their divine drawings and simple but powerful preliminary yoga practice ready to fully dive in. In order for participants to have the opportunity to experience the process in depth at every stage the retreat will happen in phases.
LOCATION
Nestled in the Himalayas in Northern India is the Himalayan Art Museum. Envisioned by Master Locho and his wife Dr Sarika Singh, the space exhibits 45 contemporary quality Thangka paintings based on the 2500 years tradition of Buddhist Paintings gradually carried forward by Indian and Tibetan masters. Apart from the Himalayan Art Museum, the centre includes the Thangde Gatsal Thangka Painting School, Nalanda Temple and the Bodhi Gardens. The location of the centre is ideal for nature walks and spiritual growth.
HOW TO REACH
Address: Kandi, Khaniyara, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh - 176216.
Nearest Airport: Kangra Airport (Code:DHM)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fAxekD4ih8Y3abtJ9
CONTACT:
OriginArtsAndWellness@gmail.com
India: +91-9418655401 and +91-7018617451
USA: +1-615-900-4320.
DATES FOR 2026
15-Day Retreat Dates:
2026 April 10 to April 24
Check In: April 9, 12pm onwards
Check Out: April 25, 12pm onwards
Accommodation extension after the Retreat is available.
Availability: 13 spots
REGISTER
15-Day Retreat Dates:
2026 October 16th to October 30th
Check In: October 15th, 12pm onwards
Check Out: October 31th, 12pm onwards
Accommodation extension after the Retreat is available.
Availability: 15 spots
REGISTER