Himalayan Heritage: Journey to Nepal and Bhutan

Save the Date Join the SAA for an unforgettable trip to the “Roof of the World.” Mantled with the high Himalayas to the north, Nepal is a land of scenic splendor, age-old temples, diverse cultures, exotic wildlife and some of the friendliest people on the planet. We’ll start in Kathmandu where we will be immersed in Buddhist culture, religion and art with our scholar Swosti Kayastha, who was a Fullbright Visiting Scholar at the Asian Art Museum in 2024 – 2025. We also visit Chitwan National Park where we’ll see many of the Nepali fauna in their natural habitat. What would a trip to Nepal be without going to Lumbini, birthplace of the Buddha. A short plane ride will take us to “The Land of the Thunder Dragon” – Bhutan where we will be joined by art historian, Ariana Maki, whose research focuses on the material and visual cultures that constitute South Asia and its borderlands, with particular expertise in Bhutan and the broader Himalayan region. She is a two-time Fulbright scholar to Bhutan. Ariana will introduce us to the arts and textiles of Bhutan and we’ll visit museums, craftspeople engaging in their arts, and workshops. Buddhism is as important in Bhutan as it is in Nepal, so we will also see one of the largest seated Buddha statues in the world as well as either the iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery or Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest and most sacred temples (your choice). We will stay in 4 or 5 star hotels, which are walkable to sites. These two countries are not to be missed! An email announcement with trip details and registration instructions will be sent in September to all Society members and newsletter subscribers. The trip is limited to 20 Society members and will be filled on a first-come first-serve basis. Swosti Rajbhandari Kayastha Ariana Maki