Statistics at the Tourist Information Center Bhaktapur show the number Chinese visitors jumped 21.51 percent (58,859) this fiscal year.

Bhaktapur, the city of temples and rich cultural heritage, is also famous for Thangka — a painting on cotton, or silk, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, scene, or mandala.

Local Thangka businessmen and stakeholders say Chinese tourists are the major buyers of Thangka painting. “Earlier, we used to have customers from the US, the UK and European countries, but now Chinese tourists are our main customers,” said Sushil Karmacharya, who runs Lama Thangka Painting School at the Durbar Square. Karmacharya has been in the business for the last 10 years.

Bhaktapur has five such big-scale Thangka schools that offer the paining courses to both Nepali and foreigners. “In the morning, I attend my college, and I spent my spare of time in the day by painting, from where I also get pocket money,” says Local Thangka painter Raman Lama.

Lama Thangka Painting School charges Rs 1,000 per month to foreigners for the training. The school currently has 80 students. Another such school, Genuine Thangka Painting School, is currently offering the free training to 40 students.

Thangka school operators say Chinese, Israeli and German are the major enthusiasts of the painting. “Chinese people are more curious about the art as most of them are Buddhist. They are our main customers,” said Karmacharya.

He said the tourists even stay for up to three months to learn the art. “Mostly Chinese are well aware of Thangka,” says Karmacharya.

Kala Chakra, used by Dalai Lama for meditation, is the highest selling painting, local traders said. A Kala Chakra costs between Rs 1,000  and Rs 50,000. Other popular paintings include Manjushree and Green Tara and White Tara. These paintings cost between Rs 5,000 and Rs 50,000.

n Local Thangka businessmen and stakeholders say Chinese tourists are the major buyers of Thangka painting.