Shopping in Bhutan
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Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre
This private centre at the south end of Thimphu produces hand-woven textiles on site and has a selection of cloth and ready-made garments for sale. This is one of the few places where you can watch weavers at work. A finely embroidered kira can take a year to make and cost over US$1000; cheaper ones start at US$40.
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General Stores
Thimphu has a plethora of general shops containing a hodgepodge selection such as light bulbs, stationery, farm implements, shampoo, computer disks and canned fish. To provide even more variety, shops may sell drinks by the glass and their sign may read 'shop cum bar' or the all-encompassing 'general cum bar shop'. Many items on sale are made in India, but there are lots of interesting Bhutanese products, especially textiles, baskets, jewellery, incense, books and religious items.
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Rural Handicrafts Sales Centre
The Rural Handicrafts Sales Centre is a showroom for Khaling’s National Handloom Development Project, so is the place to pick up woven kiras, table runners and scarves, particularly if you can’t make it to the weaving centre in Khaling. Kiras aren’t cheap (Nu 4000 to 16,000) but bear in mind that an elaborate piece can take up to six months to weave.
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Bhutan Archery Shop
Catering to the large community of Bhutanese archers, this store specialises in US-made Hoyt brand bows that cost from US$600 to US$1300. Arrows are the steel-tipped Easton brand, which sell for Nu 550 to Nu 720. Traditional bamboo bows are usually home-made, but bamboo arrows can often be picked up at the weekend market.
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Yoser Lham Shop
Yoser Lham is the main outlet for the Swiss Farm enterprises. The shop sells Red Panda beer, apple juice, peach brandy and apple or honey wine, as well as soft Gouda or hard Emmenthal cheese at Nu 300 per kg. This cheese is made for eating off the block, unlike the soft Bhutanese datse, which is used only in sauces. Honey is usually available in July and August.
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Vajrayana Art Gallery
Vajrayana Art Gallery features art by self-taught Bhutanese artist Chimmi Dorje, who incorporates Buddhist themes such as prayer flags and mandala motifs into his abstract art. The gallery is often closed out of high season.
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Handicrafts Emporium
If you want to wear Bhutanese dress, there are many shops in Thimphu’s shopping complexes that have ready-made gho and kira in a variety of sizes, patterns and quality. Handicrafts Emporium is worth a try.
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DSB Books
This place has probably Thimphu's best selection of coffee-table and other books on Buddhism, Bhutan and the region. Its prices are reasonable, especially for Indian editions, which are cheaper than overseas editions. It's on the ground floor of Jojo's Shopping Complex; enter from the lane behind Chang Lam.
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Philatelic Bureau
This tiny back room at the post office offers the best souvenir sheets of Bhutanese stamps. Also for collectors, a tiny stall on the ground floor of Hotel Tandin has a small selection of postcards and unusual stamps. Several of the souvenir shops also sell stamps.
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Kelzang Handicrafts
If you want to wear Bhutanese dress, there are many shops in Thimphu’s shopping complexes that have ready-made gho and kira in a variety of sizes, patterns and quality. Kelzang Handicrafts is worth a try
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Handicrafts Emporium
This showroom of a government-supported handicraft project sells textiles, wooden bowls, tables runners and ghos (traditional dress for men). It's opposite the turn-off to the Amankora and Wangdichholing Palace.
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Sony Shop
In Thimphu the Sony Shop below the NT Hotel and Jimmy Bros Stationery sell blank video cartridges. Grab a copy of Lonely Planet’s Travel Photography for tips and advice.
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Duty Free Shop
At the Duty Free Shop you can buy imported liquor, wine, biscuits and other ‘luxury’ items, but you have to pay the full price, including duty, unless you’re a diplomat or a senior government official.
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Art Shop Gallery
Located near the Clocktower, Art Shop Gallery has art supplies, traditional paper and handicrafts, and contemporary paintings from the Voluntary Artists Studio Thimphu.
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Kuenphen Colour Lab
There are colour-printing facilities in Thimphu and Phuentsholing. Kuenphen Colour Lab in Thimphu has an automatic machine. No lab in Bhutan has facilities to process colour slides.
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Sonam Handicrafts
Sonam has pricey but nice pieces, including chang (barley beer) holders and ornate gau (amulets). Credit cards incur a surcharge of 5%.
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Book World
At the southwestern end of the square next to Jimmy Bros Stationery, this tiny shop has a good selection of coffee-table books and posters as well as internet access.
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Choki Handicrafts
Near the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, Choki sells masks, thangkas, paintings and painted lama tables called choektse. Many products come from the affiliated Choki Traditional Art School.
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Druktrin Rural Handicrafts
At the rear of the Wangchuk Hotel (enter from Clocktower Sq), this shop offers a great variety and has a small museum with antique jewellery and textiles.
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Zhayden Nagtsho Traditional Boot Unit
Zhayden Nagtsho Traditional Boot Unit is the place for a pair of traditional handmade Bhutanese boots, retailing around US$60.
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Sangay Arts & Crafts
You can purchase works by students of the National Institute for Zorig Chusum at this nearby shop, run by a former student.
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Sachok Enterprise
If you are missing a piece of gear for your trek, this place has both real and fake brand-name gear, and the owner is honest about what's what.
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Handicrafts Emporium
This government-run emporium, on the main street, has books and modern souvenirs at tourist prices.
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Lam Tshering Dirji General Shop
Marked by a row of colourful prayer wheels, this interesting local shop, sells prayer flags, incense and other religious items.
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Deki Dem Shop
Marked by a row of colourful prayer wheels, this interesting local shop, sells prayer flags, incense and other religious items.
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