Today, there are approximately 130,000 Tibetans living in exile throughout the world. Tibet was invaded by the Chinese in 1950 and in 1959 the Dalai Lama was forced to leave Lhasa the capital of Tibet and escape over the Himalayas to India. Since then, he has lived in exile in Dharamsala, Northern India where he has made extensive efforts to preserve the Tibetan cultural heritage. Buddhism and the monastic way of life have always been an integral part of the Tibetan culture. As the Chinese destroyed over 6000 monasteries in Tibet it was essential for those who fled into exile with the Dalai Lama to India, Nepal and Bhutan to establish monasteries and nunneries and to keep the Tibetan traditions alive. Despite the loss of Tibet’s independence in 1950, the country is still very much alive in the hearts and minds of its exiled community.

Tibetan settlements in Nepal

There are more than 20,000 Tibetan refugees living in settlements across Nepal, however the true number of Tibetan refugees is unknown. Some estimates suggest that 30,000 Tibetans live in Kathmandu alone. Over 60,000 people in Nepal speak Tibetan and areas such as Mustang and Langtang have large concentrations of Tibetan-Nepalese people.

The Nepali and Tibetan cultures have historically had strong links. This has resulted in a religious crossover between Hinduism and Buddhism. Many Nepalese Hindus also worship at Buddhist monasteries, temples and stupas such as Boudanath and Swayambunath. Traditionally, Nepalese and Tibetan people have always traded with one another and many Tibetan traders have frequently travelled through Nepal to trade with Indian traders. Many Tibetan traders have also passed through Kathmandu, which in turn has influenced the local culture. Boudanath was frequently the start or end point of a long journey over the vast Himalayan mountains.

Since arriving in Kathmandu, many Tibetans have become successful. Most have worked very hard upon their arrival, allowing them to put money towards building monasteries and temples in Nepal. Many of the monasteries in Boudanath have been funded by Tibetans earnings. The Tibetan culture has also contributed to the local Nepalese economy through the souvenir trade. Some of the most popular souvenirs include Tibetan Thangkas, prayer wheels and prayer flags just to name a few.

Livelihoods

There is a large Tibetan population Within Kathmandu. The majority of the population are Tibetan refugees who settled in Nepal after 1959. Non government organisations such as the Red Cross have assisted the refugees along with embassies from various foreign countries. Switzerland has continued to provide support for the Tibetan refugee settlements in Nepal.

The main source of income for the Tibetan refugee community is carpet weaving. Our business is associated with one refugee camp in the Lalipur region of the Kathmandu valley. The handicraft centre within the camp is a non profit organisation and all of its proceeds are directly used to sustain its struggling Tibetan community. It provides employment for families, funding for its schools, aged care facilities, housing and employment for the Tibetan refugees.

The adjacent weaver is Mrs Tsering Dolma. She is 50 years old. She was born in Bawa, Kham, in Tibet. She has been weaving carpet for 20 years. She started weaving carpet for our Handicraft centre soon after arriving from Tibet in the early 1980s. She has a husband and two children. Both children are in school. Her family left Tibet due to growing interference by the Chinese government in their personal lives. Her husband also works at the handicraft centre and he is in charge of the wool section. Please visit About us for more information about our handicraft centre and the Tibetan refugees.