Nako

This unique book published under the title Nako is dedicated to the little village of Nako. Once a significant centre of Buddhism in the Western Himalayas the village perches at a height of ca. 3,625 m up in the high mountain chain characterising the region in Himachal Pradesh (India). The largely 12th-century temple complex is one of the most important and unique of its kind. The four temple buildings - the Lotsawa Lhakhang, the Lhakhang Gongma, the Gyaphagpa Lhakhang and the Karchung Lhakhang contain early artistic heritage of Tibetan Buddhism, which has been lost in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Erected in the traditional earthen building technique, the temples interiors are decorated with artistically painted wooded ceiling panels, elaborated wall paintings and polychromed sculptures. However, over recent years there have been alarming signs of deterioration: the increasing weathering of this unique cultural site has accelerated especially as a result of repeated earthquakes, climate changes, rising damp, structural alterations to the infrastructure and improper treatment. Consequently the "Nako Research and Preservation Project" aimed to research this valuable complex of buildings and to find a way to preserve this cultural heritage. The publication of this volume examines the information about Nako`s cultural heritage, gleaned during 20 years of interdisciplinary working and research campaigns, and makes it available to the public for the first time. Different contributions from well-known art historians, Tibetologists, architects and restorers provide the interested reader a comprehensive insight. The art historical research and examination of the wall paintings, sculptures and decoration in the temples interiors present the opportunity to study different forms and styles of Tibetan art. The pictured deities and settings are described in detail and compared with similar pieces in other temples. Another focus is on the architecture and building substance of the region as well as on the advantages and weak points of the earthen building technique. Due to the endangered state of preservation of Nakos temple buildings strategies and guidelines for the future long-term preservation of this valuable complex of buildings were established by restorers. Two of the temples and their interior decoration could be conserved by the Institute of Conservation (University of Applied Arts) within its working and research programme. The multifaceted contributions to this publication reflect many years of collaboration among numerous different professional disciplines, and are substantially responsible for making the public more aware of Nako and its impressive cultural heritage.