Research and publication remain key focus areas of the Saraf Foundation. We encourage learning across the fields of heritage, culture, and art. Collection, preservation, and documentation are only part of our scope. What completes the process is research and its access. We strive to promote knowledge and an in-depth understanding of our collections through the research projects we support and the books we publish. 

In 1998, Mr Arun Saraf published a catalogue, “The Fifth Seal,” featuring an impressive collection of calligraphic icons by Rolf A. Kluenter, a German artist, enriched by articles from different scholars. The catalogue was produced after the exhibition of paintings by Klunter, which Mr Saraf dedicated to his father, Radhe Shyam Saraf, continuing his interest in fostering an appreciation and understanding of Nepal, its culture and fine arts. 

With the Foundation’s vision in mind, Mr. Saraf initiated the “Himalayan Traditions and Cultures Series” in 2012 for research and publication. Under this series, the Saraf Foundation has published eleven books and two multi-volume book sets. 

In 2021, the Foundation supported two architectural documentation projects on rural settlements and vernacular architecture in Thabang village in Rolpa and Taka village in Rukum. We encourage research projects and surveys documenting Nepal’s vernacular settlements, indigenous knowledge, material culture, built heritage, and intangible culture, especially those with limited resources and support – as publishing relevant research remains our primary objective.

The Saraf Foundation is also a local partner for the Nepal Heritage Documentation Project run by Heidelberg University, which builds comprehensive digital records of Nepal’s endangered historical and cultural monuments. These records are made available for research and access through a digital database.