Woodwork has been part of Nepal’s traditional architecture, and wood carvings have graced temples, monasteries, residential homes and palaces since the twelfth century. However, the earliest surviving temple decorated with wood carvings bears the date 1396. Another traditional architectural site, which is believed to have been built as a shelter for travelers in Kathmandu, still stands and is believed to date back to before 1143 but there is no evidence of its true date. In fact, the history of woodcarving in Nepal is older than that.
Woodcarving in Nepal is an excellent example of Newari art. The Newari language comprises of a rich vocabulary of wood carving terms and each component forms a part of a traditional pattern. Each detail of the craft has a name. The decorative work has to be very precise so that the countless pieces used to make up the pattern fit perfectly, because no glue or nails are used.
Historic sources name a kind of wood called Dhusi or Chasi, meaning in Newari “as strong as a tiger”. Today mainly agarth, chapa & sal wood are used, as there is plenty in and around the valley. Wood has been the traditional building material in the Valley not only used to form the heavy framework, which forms the essential part of the structure, but beams, struts, pillars and roof supports. All the available wood surfaces on the buildings, including doors, windows, cornices, lintels and brackets are formed and carved into decorative patterns of geometrical, floral, animal and human forms.
Today, woodcraft in Nepal is its best industry, made up of family businesses that employ a small number of workers to help in the production. These families enjoy a strong local and foreign market for their products and most of the woodcarving industry is focused on providing local people and tourists with gifts such as miniature statues & frames. Many of these treasures can be found in the Barkhor Square market in Lhasa, Tibet as well as in the Himalayan region and even in India. As well as being a decorative part of individual residences, it has been used on main parts of architecture and buildings known to the world.