Global Compact Nepal, Nyadha House host Thangka art exhibition in Patan

PATAN, LALITPUR: Global Compact Nepal (GCN) and its member company Nyadha House hosted the Nyadha Open House and Thangka Art Exhibition at Nyadha House Bed & Breakfast, Patan Dhoka, on Wednesday. The event brought together diplomats, local officials, cultural practitioners and civil society leaders to celebrate Patan’s living heritage and promote sustainability and responsible tourism.

The programme featured a curated display of traditional Thangka paintings presented by Phenomenal Art Gallery, set against the backdrop of Nyadha House’s restored Newari architecture. Organisers said the exhibition aimed to give visitors insight into the spiritual and artistic significance of the Himalayan Thangka tradition while demonstrating how heritage sites can operate as sustainable hospitality spaces.

Distinguished guests included Dagny Mjos, Norwegian Ambassador to Nepal; Eric Norman Olsen; Mohd Firdaus Azman, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Malaysia; Mike Harker, Public Affairs Chief at the US Embassy in Nepal; Manjali Shakya Bajracharya, Deputy Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City; and Darshana Shrestha, President of Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs' Associations of Nepal (FWEAN).

The event was inaugurated by Deputy Mayor Shakya with a traditional lighting ceremony, followed by a Newari cultural dance. On the occasion, GCN President Samir Thapa highlighted the need to integrate sustainability into heritage‑based tourism and shared findings from the network’s carbon footprint assessment of Nyadha House, stressing the role of small hospitality businesses in measuring and reducing environmental impact.

On the occasion, Mike Harker praised initiatives that link cultural preservation with community‑based tourism and underscored the importance of protecting Nepal’s artistic and architectural heritage. A guided tour of the Thangka exhibition by Phenomenal Art Gallery followed the formal remarks, and Mohd Firdaus Azman expressed appreciation for the programme and a commitment to promoting Thangka art in Malaysia.

Guests were treated to a Dhime Naach performance and traditional Newari dishes such as yomari and bara, offering a rounded cultural experience. Representatives of Nyadha House described their efforts to preserve Newari culture while operating as a community‑focused, environmentally conscious hospitality venue.

Organisers said the event fostered dialogue on heritage preservation, sustainability and inclusive tourism in historic cities like Patan. GCN reiterated its commitment to working with member companies and partners to advance sustainable practices and responsible tourism across Nepal.

Key organisers included Sadiksha Thapa, Managing Director of Nyadha House, and Tsering Tamang, Gallery Director of Phenomenal Art Gallery. The event drew more than 50 participants and ran from 2:30pm to 5:30pm.