Tibet Heritage Fund

Talk at Leipzig University	5:29 PM, 09 Jan 2012
THF's André Alexander will give a talk on Songtsan Gampo's temple-building activity at Leipzig University (in German) on 11.01.2012. Read More
Beijing Exhibition by two local THF volunteers	4:54 PM, 14 Nov 2011
Details here 远离尘嚣 Far away from the madding crowd -在为保护藏区建筑文化遗产的那些日子里Building heritage in Ladakh&Tibet This exhibition displays the work of two architects, Min and Yun, as volunteers for Tibetan Heritage Fund. Their inspiration is drawn from Tibet in China and Ladakh,in North India, where the artists worked on projects to preserve indigenous architectures and artifacts - this exhibition looks to reflect on their experience and memories of these projects, as well as to express thanks to those they met who value and seek to preserve local customs and traditions in their everyday work and life. Exhibition by：LiangMin梁敏 , NieYun聂云 with kinh.architects 策展 Location (download flyer) 北京市东城区鼓楼东大街小经厂胡同15号at kinh.architects office Opening/ 开幕时间：2011年11月19日14:00 Read More
THF wins third UNESCO Heritage Award for Amdo Monastery Restoration	1:02 PM, 19 Jan 2012
THF's restoration of Nangra Serkhang in Amdo won a 2011 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award, the third time THF wins such an award. Read More
Preview Opening of Central Asian Museum Leh	3:48 AM, 21 Aug 2011
On August 23 and 24, the completed Central Asian Museum Leh will be opened to the public for a special preview, with an exhibition of artefacts, photographs and works of art telling the story of the ancient caravan routes linking Ladakh with the Silk Road. On 23 there is also a workshop on conservation. Read More
Contemporary art event at Central Asian Museum	4:35 PM, 15 Aug 2011
On August 7, Liechtenstein artists Hansjörg Quaderer and Helena Becker made a special one-day show of their contemporary art works at the Central Asian Museum. Read More
Two new publications by THF	2:23 PM, 14 Aug 2011
The House of Tashi Tsering, written and illustrated by Pimpim de Azevedo, is about a young Tibetan boy who goes on pilgrimage through Tibet with his parents, and dreams about how to construct his own house one day. Jullay Ladakh - Hong Kong-based artist Fongie visited THF's Ladakh project in 2010 for two months, and created unique drawings of sites and people in old Leh. Read More
Exhibition of paintings by Ghulam Mustafa in Lala’s Cafe	2:49 PM, 14 Aug 2011
Native Leh resident Ghulam Mustafa is not only the owner of the Grand Dragon Hotel, but also one of the most accomplished contemporary painters. On August 3, THF/LOTI inaugurated an exhibition of his naturalist water colours and modern abstract oil paintings at Lala’s Café. The event was attended by community members, school children, officials, staff of the Ladakhi state-run television channel and friends. Read More
Library Inauguration	2:39 PM, 14 Aug 2011
On June 9, the library was formally inaugurated by Saleem Beg (Intach J&K) and Executive Councillor Ghulam Abbas Abidin, and is now open to the public. We hope for more book donations. Read More
Chinese NGO distributes THF Hutong study	3:31 AM, 16 Jun 2011
On June 14 and 20, the NGO Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center holds special events to distribute THF's Beijing Hutong Conservation Study Read More
Ladakh May 2011 Update: Central Asian Museum nearing completion, and other projects	5:24 PM, 08 Jun 2011
Work at the Central Asian Museum Leh (CAML) is progressing very rapidly this year: the Central Asian Museum, research library and various house restoration and upgrading projects are nearing completion. Read More
Workshop on Heritage inaugurates Central Asian Research Library	9:31 AM, 29 May 2011
On May 21, THF/LOTI hosted a workshop on Research and Heritage Cooperation in Ladakh in the Central Asian Research Library (attached to the Central Asian Museum). Supported by Intach J&K, scholars, officials, NGOs and institutions engaged in conservation participated, along with three visiting scholars from CNRS France. Read More
THF starts restoration of Gangtok Tsuklakhang in Sikkim	8:20 AM, 03 Apr 2011
On March 21, under patronage of Her Highness, Princess Hope Leezum Namgyal of Sikkim and in cooperation with the Tsuklakhang Trust, THF began to work in Sikkim on the conservation of the wall-paintings of Gangtok's Tsuklakhang temple. Read More
THF hosts Central Asian Museum workshop in Leh	5:26 AM, 06 May 2011
THF is co-hosting and co-organizing two workshops in Leh to celebrate the preview-opening of the Central Asian Museum Leh (CAML) and the Central Asian Research Library (CARL). Sponsored by Martin Vernier from Switzerland and Intach J&K, the first workshop will bring together all NGOs and individuals working on heritage conservation in Ladakh on May 21. On the occasion of the Ladakh Studies Conference in August, there will be a one-day workshop on August 23 for the participants and the general public, to coincide with a preview opening of the Central Asian Museum. The events are organized and carried out by THF/LOTI in cooperation with the Central Asian Museum Leh, Anjuman Society Leh, CNRS Paris, Inach J&K, the International Association for Ladakh Studies, and a group of French and Swiss researchers.
THF in ARTE documentary	4:58 PM, 29 Mar 2011
On April 11 at 19.30 there will be a documentary featuring THF Ladakh on arte, made by Hajo Bergmann and Manuel Bauer. Read More
THF in Bhutan conference	4:38 AM, 08 Nov 2011
THF's Andre Alexander was selected as speaker for the conference, INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE – LIVING IN HARMONY WITH THE FOUR ELEMENTS”, Thimphu December 12-14, 2010, inaugurated by the prime minister of Bhutan. The presentation featured THF's recent experience with the Yushu earthquake (where a building restored by THF withstood the earthquake) and the flashflood that hit Ladakh in 2010.
Sikkim Talk	4:02 PM, 06 Dec 2010
A presentation at Rachna Gallery, in Gangtok, Sikkim, about THF's work and traditional Lhasa architecture on 6 November. Read More
Official Yushu Post-Earthquake Redevelopment Plans	3:28 PM, 06 Sep 2010
The Chinese government recently made public the official redevelopment plans for the historic Tibetan town of Jyekundo (chin. Yushu) that was badly damaged by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake on April 14, 2010. There will be a complete new town build with little similarity to the historic trading town, and even buildings that survived the earthquake may get flattened unless they can get historic building status. Download the plans here. Thanks to friends who pointed these out.
THF relief work after Flashflood and Mudslide Disaster in Ladakh	3:15 PM, 04 Sep 2010
On August 5, Ladakh was hit by mudslides and flashfloods triggered by a cloudburst. Affected were lower Leh, Choklamsar, Sabu, Shey, Basgo, Nyemo, Skorbuchen, Dhar Hanu and other villages, causing untold destruction and so far about 200 confirmed deaths, download the official damage assessment here. THF is helping to prevent collapse of buildings in Leh, and plans to assist rebuilding and flood prevention if funds can be raised. More info about the situation in Ladakh soon on this space. Read More
German Ambassador to India inaugurates Tsatsapuri project	3:04 PM, 02 Sep 2010
On August 3, the German Ambassador to India, Mr. Mattussek, has inaugurated THF"s Tsatsapuri restoration project in Alchi village, Ladakh. The project has been funded for the past three years by the Cultural Section of the German Embassy in India. The event was covered by the local Ladakhi TV news channel.
THF featured on BBC's Heritage Heroes series	3:26 AM, 08 Nov 2011
THF is featured in the BBC's series, Heritage Heroes. Transmission 24/07 @ 01.30, 08.30 GMT and 25/07 @ 14.30, 20.30 GMT. Read More
THF in Asian Community Architects Meeting	3:11 PM, 04 Jul 2010
On 12-16 June 2010 THF participated in the Asian Community Architects Meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Organised by ACHR and part of the Asian Coalition for Community Action (ACCA) programme, the meeting brought together 125 participants from 23 and was hosted by Chiang Mai University's Faculty of Architecture. Participants shared their experiences and projects working to help disadvantaged communities. Read More
Central Asian Research Library nearing completion	4:52 PM, 08 Jun 2010
THF is currently hard at work to complete the Central Asian Research Library, attached to the Central Asian Museum and funded by the Embassy of Finland in Delhi. Read More
Central Asian Museum project continues in Leh	4:12 PM, 08 Jun 2010
In May 2010 THF and its local partner LOTI have resumed work on the construction of the Central Asian Museum in Leh, Ladakh. Read More
THF-restored Mud House Survives Earthquake	3:39 PM, 11 May 2010
The Chatsongtsang (Ja tshong tshang) House in the small historic center of Jyiekundu town (Jiegu, chin. Yushu) that was restored by THF in 2009 has survived the April 14 earthquake in Yushu Prefecture, Qinghai, China. It is a traditional mud-and-timber structure, typical for the region. Read More
Yushu Earthquake Support	4:52 AM, 08 May 2010
THF has joined other NGOs and volunteers to send help to the Tibetan town of Jiegu (Jiekundo), devastated by the earthquake on 14 April 2010. Please contribute funds. You can download the information here, or click below for more information . Read More
THF gives two talks in Hong Kong Nov. 19 & 24	1:44 AM, 30 Nov 2009
The THF core team have been invited to give a presentation for the City Talk series at the School of Architecture, Chinese University of Hong Kong on November 19 2009. On November 24 we will be giving a different presentation at the Asia Society, entitled: The Spirit Travels: Tibetan Architecture in Lhasa, Amdo, Mongolia and Ladakh. Read More
THF wins second UNESCO Heritage Award	4:32 PM, 25 Sep 2009
THF's Sangiin Dalai Monastery Restoration Project in Mongolia wins the Award of Excellence (the highest award given in 2009) in the 2009 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards. Read More
14th century Serkhang monastery restoration completes major phase	6:07 PM, 24 Jul 2009
THF has completed the main phase of the restoration of the Sangye Lhakhang, the main hall and oldest building of the 14th century Nangra Serkhang monastery in Amdo. Read More
Course on Himalayan Architecture and Sustainable Designs at Berlin University of Technology	9:22 PM, 13 Jul 2009
Andre Alexander, Prof. Peter Herrle and Prof. Peter Berten are offering a course on Himalayan-Tibetan architecture and urban heritage in Ladakhat the Habitat Unit of the School of Architecture, Berlin University of Technology. The course runs from July 6 to 21, and on August 24 the entire class will arrive in Leh for field work. Read More
THF's Ladakh project in 'Indian Architect and Builder' magazine	9:25 PM, 13 Jul 2009
A special issue about heritage conservation in the renown Indian magazine, Indian Architect and Builder, carries an article about THF's Ladakh project, see www.iabforum.com/magazines_may09.html Read More
Ground floor of Central Asian Museum nearing completion	8:34 PM, 03 Jul 2009
The ceiling of the ground floor of the Central Asian Museum Leh, built by THF/LOTI, is nearing completion. Read More
Lala's Gallery opens with exhibitions of old Ladakh photos	12:28 PM, 14 Jun 2009
Lala's Gallery, the Leh Heritage House operated by THF/LOTI, opens the season with two exhibitions of photos of Ladakh in the 1960s and 70s by local photographers Nissar and Skarma Rinchen. Read More
THF uses pyramid scheme to rescue big Buddhist rock carving	5:18 PM, 06 Oct 2009
The half-buried stone image of Maitreya Buddha was recorded by THF for the Leh old town inventory in 2003 in a backyard in the Manikhang area. Long forgotten, it once marked the boundary of Leh town. In 2008 we asked restorer Patrick Juergens to conserve the image, which was decaying probably as a result of salts in the soils and accumulating waste. In early 2009 local historian S. Puntsog, the owners of the backyard and the manikhang area community requested THF to move the image so that it would be safe from pollution and visible again. On May 25-26 this was performed by THF's team of 35 artisans from Ladakh, Nepal, Bihar, Jammu/Kashmir, Germany and France, using a technique pioneered by the ancient Egyptians to roll the 3-ton image away. We estimate it to be from the 10th-12th century, but the inscription has not yet been fully deciphered. Read More
Interview with THF's Pimpim	9:44 AM, 02 Apr 2009
The Japanese-language website Washington Japanese Women's Network (www.wjwn.org/) published an interview with THF's co-director Pimpim about her 15 years of work on heritage preservation.
Papers and presentations Nov-Dec 08	12:30 AM, 10 Feb 2009
On Monday December 8 André Alexander will give a presentation at the University of Leipzig, Institute of Central Asian Studies at 17.00. On December 4, he gave a presentation at Potsdam School of Architecture. On November 28-29 he gave a paper at "The Sacred World of Central Asia", a conference in Varsaw hosted by the Polish Society of Oriental Art and the Asia Pacific Museum. Read More
THF wins Travel+Leisure 2008 Global Vision Award	8:55 AM, 25 Nov 2008
Travel + Leisure magazine awarded THF their 2008 Global Vision Award for Historic Preservation for the Leh Old Town conservation project. From the Jury: "By working with local artisans to restore the Leh Old Town, the Tibet Heritage Fund ensures that regional art and architecture techniques are not lost." Read More
World Peace Stupa consecrated in Amdo	2:46 PM, 28 Mar 2009
THF helped a local community in Trika county to rebuild a lost stupa, completely in traditional construction materials and style. Read More
THF builds Central Asian Museum in Leh	5:06 AM, 03 Jun 2009
On August 22, the foundation stone was laid for the Central Asian Museum in old Leh. Leh's first museum-to-be was the brainchild of the Anjuman Society in Leh (the site owner), with whom THF had cooperated in 2007 to restore Leh's oldest mosque, and Intach J&K's Saleem Beg. The project is financed largely by the Jammu & Kashmir Ministry of Tourism. The museum is designed and being built by THF/LOTI. Read More
THF hosts exhibits on Buddhist stone carvings	2:40 PM, 21 Jul 2008
On July 11 THF opened an exhibit entitled "Early Buddhist Rock Sculptures of Ladakh" by Phuntsog Dorjay (Ph.D). Phuntsog Dorjay has been travelling across Ladakh and Zanskar to document monumental early sculptures such as the well-known Mulbek and Khartse standing Maitreya Buddha-s, and he has also discovered a few previously unknown ones. Read More
Withering Heights	2:34 PM, 21 Jul 2008
THF opens exhibition on Ladakh's petroglyphs in Lala's Gallery Read More
THF paper in new UN publication on Poverty Reduction	2:35 PM, 21 Jul 2008
THF contributed a paper to a new UN publication, Poverty Reduction that Works: Experience of Scaling Up Development Success. This is due to the inclusion of THF's Lhasa Old Town Project in UN-Habitat's list of projects with Best Practice for Improvement of the Living Environment. Read More
UNESCO awards THF Ladakh project	8:01 AM, 31 Aug 2008
UNESCO Regional Advisor for Culture in the Asia-Pacific region, Mr. Richard Engelhardt, visited THF's Leh Old Town Conservation Project on May 3 2008 for a special award ceremony attended by local government representatives, community members, Ladakhi dignitaries and friends. Read More
International Conference in Berlin	5:33 PM, 14 Dec 2007
Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development of Historic Cities in Asia - Safeguarding traditions and ancient knowledge to promote development, Berlin 4.-5.12.2007, Berlin University of Technology and Humboldt University (program)(abstracts). Read More
Leh Project in AFP News (in Japanese)	10:20 AM, 05 Oct 2007
THF/LOTI's Leh Old Town Project is featured on the AFP news website, text by Tripti Lahiri and pictures by Manpreet Romana.
Course on Tibetan Architecture at Berlin University of Technology (TU).	3:26 PM, 25 Sep 2007
From November 26 to 30, THF's first chairman André Alexander teaches a compact course on Tibetan architecture at the Faculty of Architecture, Berlin University of Technology. Read More
THF at Asia-Pacific Weeks Berlin September 12	2:53 PM, 24 Sep 2007
THF co-director André Alexander speaks at the Urban Sustainability Conference during the Asia-Pacific Weeks 2007. This annual event is organized by the Berlin Asia-Pacific Forum, and the conference takes place in Berlin's Townhall in Mitte district. Read More
THF gives paper at 13th Colloquium of the International Association for Ladakh Studies	2:52 PM, 24 Sep 2007
THF Leh team managers André Alexander and Andreas Catanese have prepared a paper on the Leh Old Town for the 13th Colloquium of the International Association for Ladakh Studies, held in Rome 7-11 September 2007. Read More
THF celebrates completion of Sangiin Dalai monastery restoration project in Mongolia	1:38 PM, 24 Oct 2007
After four years of work, THF co-director Pimpim de Azevedo and Mongolian partners and supporters have celebrated the completion of the Sangiin Dalai restoration project on September 1 2007. The celebration was attended by the governor of the South-Gobi region, the head lama of Ganden monastery in Ulan-Bator and many other guests. Read More
THF Ladakh Project in Indian TV News	3:51 PM, 16 Aug 2007
The Indian News Channel IBN produced a video feature and a news item about THF's Leh Old Town Project. Read More
First Ladakhi wall-painting conservators trained by THF and TFH Erfurt now in Germany	1:25 PM, 16 Aug 2007
Despite an abundance of historic (and often threatened) wall-paintings in Ladakh, there are no indigenous wall-painting restorers. Since 2005 THF has been training two Ladakhis students in basic skills and approaches to wall-painting conservation, in partnership with University of Applied Sciences Erfurt (TFH). In 2007, funded by Inwent, the two, Yangchen Dolma and Skarma Lotos, could go to Erfurt to be trained in the laboratories.
THF participates in A.S.I.A. Tibetan heritage seminars in Italy	5:34 PM, 08 Sep 2007
As implementing partner to A.S.I.A. initiative to launch a campaign to discuss and raise awareness about sustainable development of Tibet's physical heritage, THF experts Lundrup Dorje, Christine Jürgens and André Alexander, and affiliated architect Beate Heyne participated in three day-long seminars in Napoli, Turino and Roma. They were joined by a number of Tibetan, Italian and European experts. Click here to view pictures of the events, and here to hear Lundup Dorje sing a Tibetan song during dinner time.
THF's Leh project wins second international award	9:04 PM, 16 Sep 2007
THF's Leh Old Town Project has won a Best Practice Award for Improvement of the Living Environment, courtesy of Dubai Municipality and the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN Habitat). Read More
Leh Old Town listed among world's 100 most endangered sites	3:56 PM, 12 Jul 2007
The World Monuments Fund has accepted THF's nomination of the Leh Old Town for inclusion in WMF's bi-annual list of the 100 Most Endangered Sites. THF and WMF are currently discussing ways to cooperate to increase conservation activities in Leh.
Three seminars on CULTURAL HERITAGE in Italy	5:29 PM, 08 Sep 2007
THF, A.S.I.A., Universita degli Studi di Napoli "L'Orientale", Politecnico di Torino and Istituto Centrale per il Restauro di Roma organize three seminars on CULTURAL HERITAGE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF HISTORICAL CITIES IN ASIA - Safeguarding traditions and ancient knowledge to promote development, as part of a EU-supported project, 18.20.22 June 2007. Read More
THF Ladakh Project continues	11:31 AM, 28 Feb 2010
The THF Ladakh team has arrived in Leh to continue the work with the local LOTI team on the Leh Old Town Conservation Project. Read More
Buddhapurnima festival at Leh	5:58 PM, 08 Sep 2007
The birthday of the Buddha was celebrated in Leh with a huge procession around the town with all its monasteries and shrines. Read More
Qinghai team continues work	2:28 PM, 14 Aug 2007
Yutaka Hirako has joined the Qinghai team for new building restoration and mural conservation projects. Read More
Pimpim presents paper on Mongolian architecture	2:50 AM, 30 Apr 2007
THF's Pimpim de Azevedo presented a paper at "The Conference for Conservation of Traditional Temple Architecture" on Revival and transmission of traditional skills and rehabilitation of Sangiin Dalai Monastery - Mongolia. Read More
Prayer festival at Serkhang	6:21 PM, 08 Sep 2007
April 17 End of prayer festival at Serkhang (gser rkang) monastery in Qinghai. Read More
Visit to Samtenling monastery	3:11 PM, 10 May 2007
April 5 2007 Enthronement of new incarnation of Choeshyi Rinpoche at Samtenling Monastery (sgrub sde bsam gtan gling) in Qinghai Province. Read More
Mongolia project continues	2:27 PM, 14 Aug 2007
April 2 2007 Pimpim de Azevedo and Danilo Thiedemann re-start the Mongolia Sangiin Dalai Monastery Project after the winter-break. Read More
Andre's schedule	10:54 AM, 21 Apr 2007
Travel for the 10-historic cities in Asia project: Bangkok, Penang, Kyoto and Bagan from February 21 to March 23. Read More
Ragya monastery project completed successfully	3:14 AM, 29 Apr 2007
October 2006 THF celebrates completion of 4-year project at Ragya Monastery in Qinghai Province. Read More
THF wins UNESCO award	10:47 AM, 21 Apr 2007
September 1 2006 THF wins one of the 2006 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for the Leh Old Town Conservation Project. Read More