Traveling is not only about visiting new places, enjoying new delicacies, and meeting new people but also about making unforgettable memories. And what better way is there to store their precious memories than in the form of souvenirs?
If you visit Nepal, you must go on a shopping spree. From small authentic gifts to unique products, Nepal has lots of options to choose from. Moreover, Nepali products’ prices couldn’t be any cheaper, and they will fit right into your budget. So, let’s check out these top things in Nepal.
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Thangka Paintings
We start our list with the renowned Nepali painting called Thangka Painting. Done in Tibetan style, these artworks depict the images of Lord Buddha and the mandala. They are painted on silk and cotton clothes and must be kept from humid and moist places.
Although fragile, Thangka paintings can last long if stored carefully in a dry place. Similarly, paintings’ sizes vary from small to large; some are 30×50 cm, whereas some are 100×100 cm long.
Thangka paintings’ designs primarily revolve around the life of Buddha, his teachings, and various spiritual scenes. In Nepal, Tamang and Lama communities primarily create Thangka paintings.
Visitors can buy four Thangka paintings in Nepal: Embroidered, Applique, Precious Bead, and Lacquered Thangka. But be sure to check the quality and materials used before purchasing.
- Where To Buy: Thamel, Asan, Bhaktapur
- Price Range: $20 – $350
- Price Compare: Nepal Handicraft Product, Lucky Thanka, Ritual Thanka
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Pashmina: A Must Thing to Buy in Nepal
Second on our list is classy and elegant Pashmina fabrics. These fabrics are made from mountain goats’ fur and are warm, lightweight, and soft. It is also called cashmere in Nepal.
An interesting thing about Pashmina is that it is not limited to one clothing item. You can buy Pashmina shawls, Pashmina blankets, and Pashmina scarves. However, I recommend buying Pashmina shawls, which are beautifully embroidered, multi-colored, and classy.
Pashmina products are elegant, beautiful, and affordable. You can take them as souvenirs or gift them to your friends and family. Anyway, it will be worth every penny.
- Where To Buy: Thamel And New Road shops
- Price Range: $25 – $200
- Price Compare: Nepal Handicraft Product, Daraz, Pashminas Nepal
Rice Paper
Have you ever heard of rice paper? Paper products are made from rice husk and rice starch and are edible. These rice papers are the specialty of Nepal, paying homage to its ancient paper-making technique.
If you are worried about the durability of these papers, don’t be. They are durable and are often used for making manuscripts, diaries, and journals. Easy to carry and cheap to buy, Nepali rice papers are one of the recommended things to buy in Nepal.
- Where To Buy: Kathmandu And Pokhara’s public markets
- Price Range: $0.15 – $12
- Price Compare: Mulberry Paper & More, Handicrafts In Nepal
Khukuri
Khukuri and Nepal’s history goes side by side. This Gorkha knife saw Nepali people fighting against invaders in the 18th and 19th centuries. Moreover, it was a battle weapon for Nepalese people during the Anglo-Nepalese war and the Battle of Nalapani.
Khukuris are more than simple knives; they carry Nepali legacy and history. Nepal’s iconic symbol of bravery, Khukuri, is a perfect souvenir for visitors to take back home. You can use them as a decorative item or in daily life.
Moreover, these Gorkha knives are available in many shops and markets in Nepal. You can bargain for cheaper prices and choose from various options. Be careful, though, as Khukuris are sharper and can nick your fingers.
- Where To Buy: Local markets in Asan, Thamel, and Basantapur
- Price Range: $20 – $150
- Price Compare: KHHI Nepal, KhukuriHouse Online, GGK
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Nepali Tea: A Delicious Delight
While Western countries are known for their coffee preference, Asian countries are more into teas. Likewise, Nepali people love drinking tea early in the morning, sometimes during the daytime and evenings. As a tea lover, I can not overstress the importance of enjoying a cup of tea in the mornings.
Among various teas, Ilam tea’s flavor and aroma are wonderful. Nepal’s authentic teas are delicious, flavorful, and healthy. Hence, Nepali visitors have to try these tea varieties during their visit.
Travelers can take back home authentic teas as souvenirs. They come packed in various flavors and sizes. I recommend Ilam Tea, a healthy and qualitative tea product. You can also buy green teas, herbal teas, and more.
- Where To Buy: Thamel, Kathmandu
- Price Range: $2.5 – $100
- Price Compare: Nepal Tea Collective, Nepal Tea Exchange
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Nepali Jewelry: Small and Aesthetic Beads
Would you like to buy small and aesthetic trinkets? If you do, you will get tons of options to choose from in Nepal. Furthermore, they are different than your regular gold and silver jewelry. Nepali jewelry comprises beads, yak bones, semi-precious and unprecious stones, and glass.
These beads are beautiful and come in vibrant colors. They come in bracelets, necklaces, pendants, and ankle bracelets. Even if you are not a jewelry fan, you will likely be impressed by these beads’ unique designs.
These aesthetic jewels are for both men and women. Visitors can order customized jewelry or buy ready-made ones. We recommend you try these chunky beads during your visit to Nepal.
- Where To Buy: Thamel, Jorpati Bouddha, Lazimpat, and Asan
- Price Range: $4.25 onwards
- Price Compare: Beads For Life Nepal, Happy Mango Beads
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Traditional Nepali Wear
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)
One can never have enough clothes. No matter how much you buy, you will keep on adding more. We recommend buying traditional outfits for a wardrobe change while visiting Nepal.
Nepal’s traditional attire is Daura Suruwal with Dhaka Topi (for men) and Gunyocholi and sari (for women). They are beautiful to wear and reflect Nepalese culture and identity. Also, let’s not forget their comfiness and impressive material quality.
If you visit Bhaktapur in Nepal, you should try Newari traditional clothes, Haku Patasi. It is a black sari and kurta with red borders. Moreover, Newari women wear this attire during festivals, celebrations, and weddings.
Other Nepali traditional attires include the Bakhu Dress (Sherpa and Tamang people), Gurung dress, Magar dress, Rai dress, and more. Each attire is different and reflects their cultural heritage.
- Where To Buy: Thamel, Bhotahity, New Road, Bhaktapur
- Price Range: $20 onwards
- Price Compare: Daraz, iMart Nepal
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Handicrafts
If there is one thing that Nepal can proudly boast about, it should be handicraft items. There is no limit to Nepalese people’s creativity and skills. These designing skills have also been passed down from generation to generation, keeping the legacy alive.
Visitors will see a variety of handmade products in Nepal. This ranges from embroidery, ceramics, jewelry, paper crafts, and pottery to woodwork and statues. Handicrafts are some of the best-selling items in Nepal.
I will recommend that travelers purchase woodcarving products. You will have multiple options, such as wooden decors, frames, flutes, and masks. Furthermore, clients can place orders for custom-made products or buy readymade items.
If woodwork doesn’t suit your taste, you can buy paper crafts or handwoven carpets. Nepali Galaicha, aka Nepali carpets, are famous worldwide. They could be a nice piece of decoration for your home.
Other handicraft options include handmade jewelry, stone and bronze statues, clothes, and incense. With these many options available, you will certainly not leave Nepal empty-handed.
- Where To Buy: Asan, Thamel, New Road, Lazimpat
- Price Range: $5 onwards
- Price Compare: Handicrafts In Nepal, Nepali Handicraft
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Pottery Items
Potteries are the must-buy items in Nepal. The pottery culture has a long history, dating back over 5,000 years. Although statistics might vary in different reports, pottery’s deep roots in Nepalese history and lifestyle can’t be underestimated.
Initially, Nepali people created clay pots and ceramics for daily use. It evolved into decorative items after Nepal started trading with Tibet and India. At that time, many pottery items were exported to foreign countries.
Even today, Nepali pottery’s influence is by no means less. Many local people in Bhaktapur and Patan run their households making potteries. Moreover, Bhaktaur’s Pottery Square is famous as a pottery-making hub among tourists.
Returning to the point, visitors can purchase ceramics and potteries around Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Thimi side. They can choose from clay pots, utensils, decors, and statues.
- Where To Buy: Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Thimi, Patan
- Price Compare: Thimi Ceramics
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Singing Bowls
You might have been intrigued by Singing Bowls’ name. It is a unique and beautifully crafted musical instrument whose origins trace back to Tibet. This bowl produces a soothing sound and creates a peaceful atmosphere.
Singing Bowls come with a set of wooden sticks. They are clanked on the bowls’ edge to produce a sound. Furthermore, its vibrations generate a relaxed atmosphere for mediation.
Tibetan Buddhist monks initially used these bowls for meditation. These bowls reportedly provide a therapeutic experience, relaxation, and release stress. They can also help improve your concentration.
You don’t have to be a musician or a big fan of meditation to buy singing bowls. You can just use them as a decorative item at home. Or, you can gift them to your friends and relatives. It’s a win either way.
- Where To Buy: Thamel, Durbar Marg
- Price Range: $10 and above
- Price Compare: Nepali Handicraft Product, iMart Nepal
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Puppet Dolls
You might be shocked to see puppet dolls gracing our list of top things to buy in Nepal. Nepali puppet dolls vastly differ from kids’ puppet dolls and voodoo dolls. Instead, these puppets reflect ancient Newari tradition and culture.
Nepali puppet dolls represent Lakhe dancers in their colorful and ethnically-dressed form. They are tied on strings and suspended from a wooden frame. These strings control the puppet’s hands, legs, and head movements.
Another exciting thing about Nepali puppets is their two masks. They represent two sides of the puppet and allow the puppeteer to represent multiple characters simultaneously. These puppets also carry significant Newari cultural value and often tell past stories.
Aside from traditional puppets, visitors can purchase modern puppets, animal puppets, and more. They are beautiful, portable, and won’t cost much. Now, would you like to buy Nepali puppets as souvenirs?
- Where To Buy: Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square
- Price Range: $6 and above
Hemp Bags
A Hemp bag is another Nepali handmade item that could be something you want to consider taking back home. These bags are eco-friendly and made up of hemp fibers. They are light, cheap, and stronger than plastic bags.
Nepali youths love hemp bags; many use them for school, office, and travel. When you buy a hemp bag, you take back a souvenir and help Nepali manufacturers. It’s a win-win, right?
Moreover, hemp bags will be a stylish accessory to complement your outfits. Their beautiful designs have soared their popularity. These bags will also look great with a hippie or boho look.
- Where To Buy: Bhaktapur Shops
- Price Range: $4.53 – $37.72
- Price Compare: Hemp In Nepal, Handicrafts In Nepal
Statues and Masks
The Newar community has lived in Kathmandu since the ancient time. As such, their culture and tradition have influenced much of the city’s attraction, products, and lifestyle. Speaking of which, Newari masks are a must-buy item among visitors.
If you want to buy something dramatic and unique, Nepali traditional masks should be your ultimate destination. Newari masks, in particular, are beautifully crafted sacred art. They represent deities and gods and often look ferocious.
These masks combine clay, bones, copper, and coral. Newari people wear masks during jatras, festivals, rituals, and celebrations. Furthermore, the Rai, Gurung, and Tharu communities also have masks depicting the Buddha and other deities.
Similarly, bronze and stone statues represent Nepalese culture and heritage. These sculptures feature gods and goddesses of the Hindu and Buddhist religions. They can be gifted as a token of love.
- Where To Buy: Bhaktapur
- Price Range: $35 – $320
- Price Compare: Traditional Art Of Nepal
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Tibetan Prayer Flags
If you visit any Buddhist shrine in Nepal, you will see an array of colorful rectangular cloths hung along the way. They are Tibetan prayer flags arranged in the order of blue, white, red, green, and yellow flags. Moreover, they are hung to provide peace and blessings to the surroundings.
Guess what? You can buy these Tibetan prayer flags in Nepal. These handmade flags are colorful, symbolic, and decorative. They clear negative energies and promote feng shui in your home.
If you are spiritual, we recommend buying these Tibetan prayer flags. They promote blessings, peace, compassion, and wisdom.
- Where To Buy: Kathmandu
- Price Range: $2.5 – $65
- Price Compare: Nepa Crafts, Dharma Shop
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Food: Eatables Lapsi and Titaura
The final item in our article is none other than food. Nepal boasts multiple delicious, healthy cuisines and something you have never tried before. But there is a problem: you can’t take those mouth-watering dishes home.
While you can’t take every food you enjoy in Nepal, you can take several eatables that can be stored for a long time. So, here we list several famous Nepali eatables that visitors must buy before returning to their countries:
Lapsi: The Nepali Hog Plum
Lapsi is a local favorite fruit that is sweet and sour. These tiny fruits are strong in Vitamin C and good for health. Furthermore, they can be eaten fresh and as dried products, making it easier to take outside Nepal.
I recommend visitors try the Lapsi pickle, which is found in sweet and sour versions. They are homemade and will leave you craving for more. Additionally, visitors can buy lapsi candies and other lapsi products.
- Where To Buy: Local Markets In Bhaktapur and Kathmandu
- Price Range: $1.09 per kg or above
- Price Compare: Online Tarkari Pasal, Nepal eMarket
Titaura: A Mouth-Watering Delight
If you are from Nepal, you must know titaura. I am not exaggerating when I say we Nepalese love titauras. The sight of the red-colored titaura alone is mouth-watering.
Titauras are available in spicy, sweet, sour, and combined versions. Some of its ingredients are lapsi, imli, mango, lemon, and amala. Sometimes titauras are made using a single ingredient, whereas they are mixed using more than one ingredient.
Even if you are not a fan of spicy food, you should give these delicious candies a go at least once.
- Where To Buy: Shops in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur
- Price Range: $1.5 onwards
- Price Compare: NetForNepal, Nepal eMarket
Chhurpi: A Cheese Variation
Finally, Chhurpi is a local cheese produced from yak and cattle milk. This product comes in soft and hard form and can be eaten with side dishes or alone. However, Nepali chhurpis are primarily renowned as the hardest cheese in the world.
Chhurpis are mostly found in Nepal’s Himalayan region. This snack is hypoallergenic, nutritious, and healthy. It also has a high percentage of omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, protein, and antioxidants.
- Where To Buy: Solukhumbu, Namche Bazaar, Okhaldhunga
- Price Range: $1.5 and above
- Price Compare: Big Basket, Nepal eMarket
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There are lots of things to buy in Nepal, are there not? When you buy any Nepalese item, you buy more than a souvenir. You are taking part in Nepalese culture and heritage.
These symbolic Nepali products will be the perfect gifts for your loved ones. They will let you remember the fantastic memories you made during your trip to Nepal.
