Pottery: Wheel Throwing & Hand Building
Wheel throwing, hand building and studio training with Param, in Lower Tapovan
- Led by Param
- Lower Tapovan
- Beginner friendly
- 90 minutes to 45 days
- Wheel + hand building
Overview
A hands-on pottery studio in Lower Tapovan, led by Param, the studio's own potter. You work with real clay on a real wheel, learning to prepare it, centre it, and shape it with your hands while Param guides you through every stage.
The studio moves through the whole craft: wheel throwing, hand building, shaping and surface work. You can come for a single afternoon or stay for weeks, from a 90 minute introduction to a 5 day foundation course to a 200 hour professional training.
The shorter formats suit beginners and travellers who want to make something with their hands. The longer ones are for people who want to learn pottery seriously, through to glazing, firing and setting up a studio of their own.
A day here
How a session flows at the studio, from settling in to refining your drawing with the instructor beside you.
- 1Prepare the clayYou get to know the material and ready it for the wheel, so it behaves when you work it.
- 2CentreBalance the clay on the spinning wheel, the quiet skill everything else is built on.
- 3ShapeYour hands, pressure and control come together to open and form the piece.
- 4RefineProportions, trimming and surface detail, taken to the level your chosen format reaches.
- 5PractiseRepeat it, with Param's guidance beside you, until the wheel starts to feel like your own.
- 6The longer formatsThe 5 day and 200 hour programmes carry this same rhythm across more techniques, so throwing, hand building, glazing and firing each get the time they need.
The workshop
Why this workshop
- A calm, creative way to spend part of a Rishikesh stay
- Start from the very basics, with no pottery experience at all
- Learn on a real wheel, with hands-on guidance from Param throughout
- Work up to heavier clay and finished, fired pieces you can take home
- Choose a single afternoon or go deep with a full professional programme
- The longer formats add hand building, glazing, firing and studio practice
Course highlights
- Glazing and firing
- 90 minute wheel introduction
- Hand building: pinch, coil and slab
- Studio setup in the professional programme
- Advanced clay work, up to 5 kg on the wheel
- 5 day foundation course, about 2.5 hours a day
- Wheel throwing: centering, balancing and shaping
- 200 hour professional training, roughly 30 to 45 days
The syllabus, section by section
Foundation skills
- Clay preparation
- Wheel mechanics
- Centering
- Shaping with pressure and hand position
Wheel throwing
- Centering and balancing more clay
- Form development and vessels
- Vase making
- Trimming after the clay firms up
Hand building
- Pinching
- Coiling
- Slab work
- Surface decoration
Advanced pottery
- Heavy clay, up to 5 kg
- Advanced shaping of larger forms
- Clay recycling
- Glazing
Firing and studio practice
- Bisque firing
- Glaze firing
- The kiln workflow
- Studio organisation and professional setup
Who should enrol
- You are an aspiring ceramic artist building real skill
- You are a hobby learner who wants repeated practice at the wheel
- You are a complete beginner wanting the 90 minute or 5 day format
- You are a serious pottery student ready for the professional programme
- You are a creative traveller who wants to make something by hand in Rishikesh
- You want to open your own studio one day, which the professional programme covers
Choose your track
Three formats, from a single afternoon to a week of focused studio practice. Pick the one that fits your days in Rishikesh.
90-Minute Wheel Introduction
Rs. 1,500 / person
90 minutes
A simple first taste of the wheel for beginners and travellers: handle the clay, centre it, and shape your first piece with Param guiding you.
You will work on
You take home. Your first thrown piece and a feel for the wheel.
Included
- Studio workspace
- Clay for the session
- Guided instruction
- Wheel practice
What each step covers
- 1Arrival and setupSettle in at the studio and get ready at the wheel.
- 2Understanding the clayA quick feel for how the material behaves.
- 3CenteringBalance the clay on the spinning wheel.
- 4Opening and shapingOpen the clay and begin to form your piece.
- 5Guided wheel practice with ParamHands-on time with Param beside you.
- 6Finish and reviewFinish your piece and look back at what you made.
5-Day Foundation Course
Rs. 7,000 / person
5 days
Several days of focused practice, about 2.5 hours a day, adapted to your pace: wheel throwing, trimming, surface work and an introduction to hand building.
You will work on
You take home. A stronger foundation in throwing and hand building, with selected pieces prepared for firing.
Included
- Studio workspace
- Guided instruction
- Wheel and hand-building practice
- Clay for the course
- Trimming and surface work
- One bisque firing for up to five pieces
What each step covers
- 1Day 1 Clay and the wheelClay preparation, wheel basics and centering.
- 2Day 2 Centering and controlBalance about 1 to 1.5 kg, with pressure and speed.
- 3Day 3 Throwing and formOpening, pulling walls, and vessel and vase shapes.
- 4Day 4 Trimming and surface workRefine the form and add surface decoration.
- 5Day 5 Complete the processFinish selected pieces, with one bisque firing for up to five pieces.
200-Hour Professional Studio Training
Rs. 50,000 / person
200 hours, 30 to 45 days
A serious, in-depth programme across roughly 30 to 45 days, about 2.5 hours a day: the full ceramic cycle from raw clay through advanced wheel work, hand building, glazing, firing and professional studio setup.
You will work on
You take home. A deep, practical command of pottery from raw clay to finished, fired, glazed ceramics, plus the know-how to set up a studio.
Included
- Studio practice
- Structured instruction
- Wheel and hand-building training
- Advanced clay work, up to 5 kg
- Glazing instruction
- Studio process training
- Two bisque firings, five pieces each
- Two glaze firings, five pieces each
What each step covers
- 1Stage 1 Foundation and clay preparationGet to know the clay and ready it well.
- 2Stage 2 Wheel fundamentalsThe wheel, centering and the basics of form.
- 3Stage 3 Developing controlSteadier centering and cleaner shaping.
- 4Stage 4 Advanced wheel workHeavier clay, up to 5 kg, and larger forms.
- 5Stage 5 Trimming and refinementTrim and refine your pieces to a finish.
- 6Stage 6 Hand buildingPinch, coil and slab techniques by hand.
- 7Stage 7 GlazingChoose and apply glazes to your work.
- 8Stage 8 FiringBisque and glaze firing, and the kiln workflow.
- 9Stage 9 Studio practiceWork independently with studio organisation.
- 10Stage 10 Professional studio setupWhat it takes to set up and run a studio.
Dates. The 90 minute introduction runs through the week at the studio. The 5 day and 200 hour programmes are arranged by availability, so tell us the dates you have in mind and our team will set it up with the studio.
What's included
- Clay for your programme
- Studio workspace and wheel time
- Guided studio instruction with Param
- The tools you need for your chosen programme
Experiences during the workshop
Add-ons
No pottery-specific add-ons right now. Book My Rishikesh can separately arrange a nearby stay, local transport, or other Rishikesh experiences.
What's not included
- Meals
- Accommodation
- Personal expenses
- Transport to and from the studio
- Anything not listed under your chosen programme
Where the studio is
Lower Tapovan, Rishikesh. Near Tapovan Market, The Ganga, Nearby stays, Nearby cafes, Rishikesh Artshala (charcoal).
- 1Rishikesh Pottery Studio (Lower Tapovan)
The exact pin
Rishikesh Pottery Studio is in Lower Tapovan, side by side with Rishikesh Artshala (the charcoal studio). Your full booking details and directions are sent when your session is confirmed.
Getting there
Once your booking is confirmed, Book My Rishikesh sends the studio location and booking details. The studio is in Lower Tapovan, a short walk from the market and the Ganga. For the longer courses we suggest staying nearby so the daily rhythm is easy to keep.
Good to know
Physical effort
Pottery is hands-on and works the hands, forearms and core. The demand grows with heavier clay and the longer programmes. The wheels and tools are provided.
The mess factor
Clay and slip get on your hands and clothes, so wear things you do not mind marking.
Longer formats
The 5 day and 200 hour formats need repeated studio practice and more time than the introduction.
Professional training
The 200 hour programme runs across roughly 30 to 45 days, depending on your pace.
Firing
Firing is included per programme, in the quantities listed on each track.
Beginners
No experience is needed for the introduction and foundation formats.
What to bring
- A refillable water bottle
- A notebook for the longer courses
- Your phone for the booking details and location
- Comfortable clothes you do not mind getting clay on
- Any personal references for forms or ideas you want to try
Cancellation
Cancel 7 or more days before: full refund. 3 to 6 days: 50% refund. Within 3 days: no refund.
Full payment and refund policyQuestions, answered
Do I need any pottery experience?
No. Beginners are welcome, and the 90 minute and 5 day formats start from how to handle the clay. Param meets you where you are.
How much does it cost?
The 90 minute introduction is Rs. 1,500, the 5 day foundation course is Rs. 7,000, and the 200 hour professional training is Rs. 50,000.
Where is the studio?
In Lower Tapovan, Rishikesh, led by Param, side by side with Rishikesh Artshala. The exact pin is shared with you when your session is confirmed.
What is wheel throwing?
It is shaping clay on a spinning potter's wheel: you centre the clay, open it, and pull up the walls with your hands to form a vessel.
Can I start with no experience?
Yes. The introduction and the foundation course are built for people who have never touched a wheel.
What do I learn in the 5 day course?
Clay preparation, centering, wheel throwing, vase forms, trimming and surface decoration, plus an introduction to hand building, over about 2.5 hours a day.
How long is the professional programme?
The 200 hour training runs across roughly 30 to 45 days, about 2.5 hours a day, depending on your pace.
How much clay will I work with?
In the professional programme you work up to 5 kg of clay on the wheel as your control grows.
Does the professional programme include glazing?
Yes. The 200 hour training covers glazing, along with bisque and glaze firing and the kiln workflow.
Are firings included?
Yes, per programme. The 5 day course includes one bisque firing for up to five pieces. The professional programme includes two bisque firings and two glaze firings, five pieces each. The 90 minute introduction has no firing.
Can I learn hand building too?
Yes. Hand building, pinch, coil and slab work, is part of the 5 day and 200 hour programmes.
Is accommodation included?
No. The programmes do not include a stay, but Book My Rishikesh can help you find a nearby place for the longer courses.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothes you do not mind getting clay on. Clay and slip are part of the fun and they do not always wash out.
Who teaches the classes?
Param, the studio's own potter, guides every programme hands-on at the wheel.
How do I book?
Tell us your programme and dates through Book My Rishikesh. A human from our team confirms it with the studio and writes back with the details and the location.
Words from Rishikesh Pottery Studio guests.
Verified reviews from Rishikesh Pottery Studio guests will appear here once the first sessions run.