Textiles and traditional dress
In Bhutan, handicrafts that have been produced for centuries to be sold for local purposes demonstrate a high quality of craftsmanship, which justifies relatively high prices for both objects and textiles. Nevertheless, beware of the provenance of certain objects: to meet the growing demand, more and more souvenirs sold in Bhutan are made in India or Nepal!
Textile is the primary art of the Himalayan kingdom and is the prerogative of women whose know-how is internationally recognized: for generations, they have devoted themselves to dyeing, weaving, sewing and embroidery. Cotton, wool, yak hair and nettle fibres are patiently worked on rudimentary looms. Scarves, stoles or pashminas are undoubtedly must-haves to take back in your suitcase. Want to treat yourself to a traditional Bhutanese outfit? In Thimphu, many shops, such as Sephub Gyeltsen Tsongkhang, one of the specialists in this field, sell models of gho (for men) in wool and cotton or kira (the traditional dress for women). Count at least 850 Nu (12 €) for a kira and up to 6,000 Nu (75 €) for a hand-woven gho. A little advice: ask someone to show you how to put on a gho or a kira, there's a real helping hand to be had!Masks and wood carvings
With their shimmering colours and mystical shapes, the carved wooden masks worn by dancers during tschechu to symbolize deities or animals are among the most typical objects in Bhutan. Those sold in souvenir shops are the same as those used by the dancers. Available in life-size or smaller versions, they are usually made from pine and birch traditionally worked on foot-operated towers. The same is true of phop (lacquered bowls) and gofur and dapa (carved vessels), which are used as food containers during offerings. They can be found in most souvenir shops. Another object that is very popular with tourists is the phallus. Craft shops have them in all sizes, mostly made of wood. For the Bhutanese, the male sex is a symbol of fertility that protects from the evil eye. Bringing one back is therefore a good omen!
Jewelry and goldsmithing
Imposing silver bracelets set with corals or turquoise, pearl necklaces, necklaces of zi (striated agate) or large coral grains, earrings decorated with turquoise ... Bhutanese jewelry is most often made of silver, using the technique of repoussé metal. There are also beautiful silver-set bowls that are used for alcohol, tea or butter.
The thangka
In Bhutan, thangka are the main modes of expression of sacred painting, used in meditation as a medium for visualisation. The realization of a thangka requires years of practice and responds to very precise iconographic canons. The key to appreciating the quality of a thangka lies in four détails : the iconography, the fine details in silver and gold, the facial expressions and the general aesthetics. Thangkas are painted on canvases previously coated with glue and lime and stretched over wooden frames. Once the canvas has been prepared and sanded, the artist draws a pattern of geometric shapes that will serve as a reference. The mixture of natural pigments, water and glue brings transparency and depth to the colours applied. Most shops, including the Thimphu State Craft Shop, offer beautiful thangka made by authentic Bhutanese artists. Calligraphy enthusiasts will be able to buy handmade paper made from Daphne bark, which is of very good quality, as well as novels and books about Bhutan written in English, which are available in the souvenir shops in Thimphu and Paro.
And also..
Incense, teas, spices, Tsheringma herbal teas scented with safflower and redcurrant, lemongrass oils and sprays, rattan and bamboo objects (high baskets, mats, baskets, hats and containers), not forgetting the famous cordyceps, a mushroom, native to the high Himalayan plateaus. Nicknamed brown gold, it is renowned for its tonic properties and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. In the souvenir shops of Paro and Thimphu, cordyceps can be found in powder form, in jars, or mixed with tea.
