A large choice of souvenirs
In Nepal, there is a golden rule when you enter a souvenir shop: negotiate! Firmly. All the more so as many objects are increasingly being made in China or India, on a mass production line. Remember to check the origin of what you buy. Sometimes it is better to buy less but of better quality. Some of the main standard bearers of Nepalese handicrafts include carpets, jewellery, khukhris, carved wooden objects, handmade paper, shawls, thangkhas, singing bowls, prayer wheels, spices and tea. To this list we can also add yak milk soaps, incense, Buddha T-shirts and sweaters stamped with Buddhist signs, papier-mâché dolls, and sculptures in bronze, copper, brass or tin... not to mention trekking equipment, which is particularly interesting in terms of price and quality in Nepal. The best shopping addresses are unquestionably located in Thamel and Asan Tole, in Patan, the Mecca of metalwork (statuettes, bells...) and Bhaktapur, famous for its pottery, traditional Newar carved wooden objects and handmade paper factories. In any case, if you move away from the big cities, take Nepalese rupees in small denominations. The same goes for vending machines, which are harder to find outside Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Shawls and pashminas
Made of pashmina, they're sold everywhere. Pashmina is actually the winter down on the neck of Himalayan goats, where the fibre is the softest. It takes about ten goats to make a shawl, which makes this product rather expensive depending on the percentage of pashmina contained in the fibre mix and the part of the animal from which it comes: the wool on the back is indeed cheaper than the wool on the belly, the wool on the neck being worth five times more than the former. In other words, the lower the price, the less pashmina there is. Therefore, avoid as much as possible to buy them in ultra-tourist areas. Beware also of shawls made of yak hair that have only the name yak! It is in fact acrylic and wool ..
The jewels
In Nepal, jewelry aficionados should be thrilled! Necklace, bracelet and earrings are absolutely gorgeous. Nepalese jewellery is very colourful and usually made of silver. One can even ask for a personalized creation, it remains very affordable. However, beware if you buy gemstones. From one stone to another, prices are soaring and fake stones have invaded the market. You should also know that if you absolutely want 100% Nepalese, you will have to forget about precious stones, which are all imported from India or Tibet. We can never advise it enough: for jewellery and stones, only enter the really serious shops. Imitations are unfortunately (too) common!
Tibetan handicrafts
Wooden tea bowls set with chiselled silver, xylographic prints inspired by Tibetan iconography, bells and vajra, ritual knife (phurba), ringing tibia (kangling), two-sided drum (damaru),... Tibetan handicrafts are decidedly very varied. One also finds a multitude of wooden objects, coming from the distant Himalayan valleys, such as the masks of gods and demons representing the pantheon of Tibetan Buddhism. The production is suitable for all tastes and all budgets! Tibetan carpets are also very popular with tourists. It is the Tibetan refugees in Nepal who, in order to survive, have naturally devoted themselves to this industry. Made of Tibetan yak wool, these carpets with various patterns offer a very good quality and have a long life span. There are some at all prices and there again, do not hesitate to negotiate and obtain information on the origin of the carpet.
Khukhris and saranghis
Here are two typical Nepalese handicrafts. The khukhri is the traditional knife that the Nepalese wear on their belts. Long and curved, it was used as a weapon and tool. There are a multitude of models, their value varying according to their quality (wooden, horn or metal handle, more or less carved, work of the blade, material of the case) and their age. Musicians, for their part, will be tempted by a saranghi, a traditional musical instrument with rubbed strings, often heard in Indian music. It consists of a wooden viol with four strings made of goat gut, which is played with a small horsehair bow.
Prayer wheels and singing bowls
It's hard to return from Nepal without one of these items so characteristic of the country! You can find them everywhere, in craft markets, in small shops, in the streets. However, it is an impossible mission to find a 100% original prayer wheel. It is better to opt for a beautiful handcrafted copy rather than a model that you will be presented as an antique and which is usually a fake... Also think about checking that the sacred texts are inside. As for the singing bowls, they are made of seven different metals. We advise you to buy them in music shops rather than in markets.
The Thangka
The thangka are religious paintings on canvas made according to Buddhist canons, invoked during meditation to gain merit. The Newar people were initially the initiators of this painting tradition, which gradually spread to the Tibetan culture in Nepal. This art became popular throughout the country and was later developed by Tibetan refugees in Nepal. Thangka can be found at all prices and in varying qualities, depending on the colours used (chemical or natural), the talent of the painter and the time he has devoted to it. The creation of a thangka can indeed take months or even years. The artist begins by meditating on the deity he wishes to paint in order to "collect" his energy and to be able to transcribe it. To judge the quality of a thangka, one must look at the pupils of the character, which are painted last, for it is with this gesture, which requires great finesse, that the painter gives life to the deity. Traditionally, the thangka is framed by three pieces of brocade whose colours vary according to the theme of the painting. Golden strokes can quickly raise the price of the thangka, without affecting the quality. Finally, be aware that a thangka does not have a signature, as Buddhist art is not perceived as an individual mode of expression.
The prayer flags
To stay in the mystical side, prayer flags are among the must-have in Nepal. They are small, rectangular and colourful pieces of cloth, printed with a mantra and hung in the open air (on the tops of mountains, on the roofs of houses, on bridges) so that the wind can carry away the prayer. According to Buddhist philosophy, the blowing wind scatters the printed sacred formulas in space to transmit them to all those it touches. They are good luck charms. Choose them rather in cotton, because the quality is better, and prefer a flag made by a monk.
The spices
Widely used in Nepalese cuisine, they are usually sold in small, airtight packages. Cumin, long pepper (which grows in the foothills of the Himalayas, and has a deliciously pungent taste), Timut black pepper (from Sichuan) with citrus fruits, garlic, ginger (found everywhere and especially in Lemon Ginger Honey, a sweet infusion deliciously spiced up with lemon), coriander, turmeric, curry, cardamom, cloves, chilli..., not forgetting the famous masala which literally means "mixture of spices". Everyone makes their own masala of ten different spices. Don't hesitate to try those proposed by private individuals on Asan Tole, freshly prepared homemade spice blends.
The tea
The Indians call it chai, the Nepalese chia, in any case, chai tea is served everywhere in Nepal! It is particularly comforting when prepared with milk and masala spices, a typical Nepalese specialty! Masala tea can be found in all tea and souvenir shops. Long in the shadow of its neighbours, Nepal is now one of the largest producers of black teas. The best teas come from eastern Nepal : Ilam, Ontu, Kanyan, Dhankuta and the May Valley. They come from soils similar to Darjeeling, hence their similarities, with strong floral and fruity notes. The districts of Ilam and Dhankuta produce exceptional teas of an astonishing delicacy which are nowadays among the Grand Crus. For those who are interested in these teas, please visit specialized tea shops for advice.
The paper
China didn't wait for Gutenberg to print texts, and Nepal has a long history of producing a selection of high-quality papers that are resistant to tearing and insect bites, thanks to a natural fungicide. Daphne bark is baked in an ash solution. The fibres, after being softened, are finely chopped, boiled, kneaded and crushed to form a paste that is placed on a sieve and dried in the sun. After the water has evaporated, the dough is shaped into parchment sheets. This traditional paper, with its special texture, is then used to make books, mobiles, bookmarks and notebooks of rare authenticity and quality. This paper has a very long shelf life and its ashes are believed to have antiseptic properties.
Carved wooden objects
Wood craftsmanship is being revived in Nepal and is enjoying great success. More and more workshops are specializing in making replicas of Newar furniture, especially chests containing secret drawers. Window and pillar sets are key pieces, often ordered in advance. For this type of object, which requires very specific know-how, we would advise you to visit a specialized shop. Bhaktapur is the best destination for this type of purchase, especially the workshops located on the outskirts of the city.
