Thangde Gatsal Thangka Painting School

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ON-LOCATION PROGRAMS

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Why Thangde Gatsal Thangka Painting School?

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The school is situated in the lap of Himalayan mountains, in Kandi, a small village in Dharamshala which is the home of HH the Dalai Lama. The spiritual atmosphere of the school is ideal for learning, creating, rejuvenating and for self-transformation. The school offers a range of unique structured courses, which the masters have worked on for 10–15 years to bring these courses to you. Master Locho and Dr. Sarika Singh are the finest masters in the Himalayan region who are committed to transmitting this ancient art to anyone who is willing to surrender to its process.

 

How long does the painting take for students?

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It takes 1–3 months for a student to paint a basic Thangka Painting. 

 

What is my Daily Schedule at school?

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Daily Schedule – Monday to Saturday

9am                 Morning meditation in the museum

9.30am           Tutorage from Masters (philosophy or technique)

10am - 1pm   Painting in the studio

1pm                 Lunch provided by the school (every day)

2pm - 5pm     Painting in the studio

5pm                 Free time

7pm                 Educational films every Wednesday (in the common living area)

 

Sundays are a free day. Students are encouraged to explore the local area and culture as they wish, including visits to Dharamshala, McLeod Ganj and the local village. However, if students would like to work on their painting on a Sunday, the school will provide all necessary support as required.

 

Study tours will be organised by the school from time to time, and students will be informed of this in advance. For these study tours, taxis and transportation will be provided by the school.

 

Are payments or fees for courses refundable?

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For more information about refunds, please visit the Refunds page on our website. 

 

Is online class good or on location?

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Both mediums of learning and understanding have different benefits.
We encourage you to come, draw, paint and experience the life of a thangka artist here at our studio in the mountains.

 

What materials would I need for the online courses?

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For Online Drawing Courses:
Lead Pencils, Eraser, Divider/Compass, Ruler, Drawing Sheets, Cutter to sharpen the tip of pencils and extra A4 printing papers in order to create paper scales.

For Online Inking Courses:
Details on Brushes, Ink and use of practice sheets will be provided upon enrolment. Students will need the following Brushes- Windsor & Newton Series 7 or Raphael or Chinese/ Japanese Brushes of size 00, 0, 1 and 2 for Inking.

 

What is the food like on the programs and how to buy food?

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Food and Shopping

The school serves pure vegetarian food, mostly Rice and Daal

Local grocery shops are available a short walk away from the school, providing fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as general groceries and are open daily. Students are also able to visit Dharamshala Market, and the In & Out Convenience Store at Bharat Petrol Pump in Dharamshala, for more extensive supplies as they wish, although this will require a local taxi or auto.

 

Local Restaurants

Our favourite local restaurants are GOLU (Dharamshala), Infinitea (Dharamshala),

Nicks (McLeod Gang) and Om Hotel (McLeod Gang). GOLU is also available for home delivery, using the Zomato food app, where you will find other local restaurants which can deliver to the school.

 

Local Taxi

Numbers include:

Anil: +91 8580737246

Anil 2: +91 9805494051

Rajan: +91 9805909171

 

 

What kind of students would there be?

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There are at a time 2–4 students for the exclusive residency programs sharing the studio space. The rooms are assigned for individual accommodation. The students come from all around the world creating a conducive environment for cultural exposure and intellectual exchange.

 

Is there access to the internet?

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The premises has Wi-Fi equipped with high speed internet.

 

Should I bring my computer?

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All students enrolled in the courses are required to bring their own laptop computer.

 

Do I have to speak Tibetan to participate in the residency program?

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No, although learning Tibetan and/or Hindi could be a very rewarding experience, you will be able to communicate and get around Dharamshala speaking only English.

 

Are Visa or Passports necessary?

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Visas are necessary for India and can be purchased from the respective embassy.
To apply for Visa to India you can also visit: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/
Please note that post Covid pandemic, rules have changed, so please check with the embassy to find out the latest details on duration and fees. If coming from the US, please visit www.state.gov for more information and application.

 

Which Visa should I apply?

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Only TOURIST VISA Please. 

 

What should I carry?

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Warm clothing, heavy duty jackets, trekking shoes and socks.
An umbrella, your medicines, a mosquito repellent, a torch, a thermos bottle.

 

Is the School substance-free?

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Yes, the Centre is completely substance-free. No alcohol or drugs are permitted on the premises.

 

Can I get a heater in winters?

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Yes, you can buy a heater yourself and pay for electricity at ₹100 per day.

 

How to reach the School?

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By Air

Kangra Airport (also known as Gaggal) is the closest domestic airport to Dharamshala and is about 17km away.

By Train

The closest mainline train stations are in Pathankot (Punjab) which is about 95km

away.

By Bus

Buses run regularly to and from Delhi, directly to Dharamshala, including night buses. The closest bus stand to the school is the Bharat Petrol Pump (Near Maximus Mall). A taxi is recommended from here.

 

Can I get my room cleaned during or on the last day of my stay at school?

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Yes, we have a cleaner available to clean the room, washroom and kitchen for INR 1000, one time.