23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
The Mandala maker

In a small village in the Punakha region, this artist fills his studio with hand-painted mandalas, each one crafted with patience, philosophy, and devotion. After studying art in Thimphu, he decided to keep Bhutan’s spiritual artistry alive, creating intricate worlds of color in the quiet of the countryside.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Bhutan
Camera: NIKON Z 8
Copyright: © Agnieszka Wieczorek