On the way to Dhankar Monastery

"Nature is not a place to visit. It is home."  GARY SNYDER

Dhankar is situated at a high altitude ( 12744 feet ) in Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh . Reaching Dhankar and viewing the world around literally makes you feel at the top of the world. Painted below is a Commission work in watercolour, of a beautiful scene at Dhankar. It is situated between Tabo and Kaza, two beautiful small towns surrounded by deserted, barren land and mountains.

The air is pure, the wind chilly, the clouds so clearly visible in the sky. There are homestays for tourists which we were unaware of when we visited about more than two years back. Had we known, we would have stayed there for may be two full days soaking in the breathtaking views.

Dhankar, Himachal Pradesh

water colour painting on Fabriano paper

Size 14" X 18"

Not available for sale

For this particular painting I have used Fabriano water colour paper. I purchased the Fabriano water colour pad of 24 sheets some months back as it was on a discount. This paper is cold pressed, 300 gsm and fairly good for landscape works. But for wet on wet paintings I would prefer the Arches.

Fabriano studio water colour paper pad.

On the way from Tabo to Dhankar monastery ( Himachal Pradesh )

The soft pastel painting below is of a view that we got to see while we were on our way to visit Dhankar Monastery from Tabo ( Another scenic town of Spiti valley ). Spiti valley is a bleak high altitude desert that inspired Rudyard Kipling to say, "Surely the gods live here, this is no place for men." Every turn of the road leads to a totally different view and life seems to be so much at peace.

The mountain cliffs with light falling on them, eroding with time as the loose soil falls below leaving sharp structures standing out, and the Spiti river flowing below.

On the way to Dhankar Monastery

Soft pastel painting on black Fabriano Tiziano paper

Size 6" x 9"

Some day soon ie after my Exhibition I would love to try some water colour paintings.

One of my favourite and very inspiring water colour artists is Joseph Zbukvik

who is based in Melbourne, Australia and all his works are just amazing.