Hands of Patan: The City of Craftsmen

Patan — Lalitpur, the “city of beauty” — has been home to master craftsmen for centuries. Statues, temple struts, windows and ritual objects made here can be found across the Himalaya. In side streets and courtyards, families still work the same way their grandparents did.

Inside the workshops

The film follows a piece from wax model to finished metal statue, then visits woodcarvers working on window frames for temple restoration. Every step takes patience, and many of the techniques are passed down only within the family.

A machine can copy the shape. It cannot copy the prayer that goes into it.

Visiting respectfully

Many workshops welcome visitors, but they are working spaces. Ask before filming, don’t touch pieces in progress, and if you want to take something home, buy directly from the makers.