Shopping in Nepal
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Aroma Garden
As the name suggests, this is Thamel’s sweetest-smelling shop. It’s a good one-stop shop for incense, essential oils, soaps and almost anything else that smells great.
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Dhukuti
Dhukuti sells an interesting selection of arts and crafts produced by village cooperatives around Nepal, and prices are fixed.
reviewed
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New Tibet Book Store
The best collection of Tibet-related titles but few discounts.
reviewed
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Authentic Himalayan Textiles
Authentic Himalayan Textiles 'From exile to textiles' could be the slogan in this stylish showroom, which specialises in antique striped Tibetan aprons, known as pangden, that have been collected from across the Himalaya (each region has its own characteristic design). Older pieces are used to create stylish patchwork wall hangings, cushion covers and bags, and any spare threads are rewoven into carpets.
Even the carpet dust is reused in paper production! Products aren't cheap but you can be sure that only traditional vegetable dyes have been used.
reviewed
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Mahaguthi, Durbar Sq
One of the best of the 'crafts with a conscience' is Mahaguthi, which was established with the help of Oxfam. It has three shops and sells a wide range of crafts produced by thousands of people across Nepal. It's a one-stop shop for beautiful hand-woven dhaka weavings, Nepali paper, pottery, block prints, woven bamboo, pashminas, woodcrafts, jewellery, knitwear, embroidery and Mithila paintings. The main showroom is in Kopundol.
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Babar Mahal Revisited
This unique complex of old Rana palace outbuildings, originally built in 1919, has been redeveloped to house a warren of chic clothes shops, designer galleries, handicraft shops and even a wine shop, as well as a couple of top-end restaurants and bars. It's aimed squarely at local expats and wealthy locals so prices are as high as the quality. It's southeast of the city near the Singh Durbar government offices.
reviewed
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Tachupal Tole
Shops and stalls catering to visitors are concentrated around Tachupal Tole. Bhaktapur is renowned for its woodcarving and you'll see good examples in stalls around Tachupal Tole and the alley beside the Pujari Math, right under the peacock window in fact. Popular pieces include copies of the peacock window or masks depicting the god Bhairab.
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Mahaguthi
Mahaguthi was founded by a Nepali disciple of Mahatma Gandhi and its Kopundol showroom is a treasure house of dhaka weavings, handmade paper, ceramics, block prints, pashminas, woodcrafts, jewellery, knitwear, statues, singing bowls, embroidery and Mithila paintings. There’s a second branch in Kathmandu’s Lazimpat district.
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Jawalakhel Handicraft Centre
The Jawalakhel Handicraft Centre, established in 1960, is a large cooperative workshop where you can watch the carpet-makers at work and buy the finished article. The quality is high, there is a great selection, the prices are fixed, credit cards are accepted and staff can arrange shipping for you.
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Mahaguthi
For general handicrafts such as handmade paper, ceramics and woodwork – much of it made by disadvantaged or minority groups – the best places are the showrooms of the nonprofit development organisations that are based in the Kopundol district of Patan. Mahaguthi, has an outlet in Lazimpat.
reviewed
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Kumbeshwar Technical School
Near to the Kumbeshwar Temple in the backstreets of Patan, the Kumbeshwar Technical School provides disadvantaged low-caste families with training, education and a livelihood, making carpets, knitwear and woodcarvings. Sales from the showroom help fund the work of the attached school.
reviewed
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Dhukuti
A shop worth looking at is Dhukuti, which represents the artisans of the Association of Craft Producers. Browse several floors of clothes, batiks, bags, paintings, toys, woodcarvings, felt slippers and even Christmas decorations, produced by over 1200 low-income women.
reviewed
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Happy House
For something a bit upmarket, head to Happy House near the Jungle View Restaurant. This small, family-run business produces its own honey (in various delectable varieties) and sells gorgeous Mithila paintings produced by women’s craft cooperatives near Janakpur.
reviewed
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Amrita Craft Collection
This is a good place to start, with a broad collection of crafts and clothing. Subtract 20% from its fixed prices and you get a good benchmark for what you should aim to pay on the street if you don’t mind haggling. The branch across the road has a larger selection.
reviewed
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The Peacock Shop
The Peacock Shop is near the Peacock Window down the side of Pujari Math. Prices are higher than some other stores, but so is the quality and you can visit the workshop to observe the pressing, drying, smoothing, cutting and printing of the paper.
reviewed
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Fishtail Organic Garden
Fishtail Organic Garden is run by the NGO Sustainable Agriculture Development Program (SADP) and sells organic products from yak milk soaps, wild honey, organic coffees and Ilam tea. SADP can organise volunteer placements.
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Mountain Hard Wear
One of a collection of pukka (authentic) gear shops on Tridevi Marg Mountain Hard Wear offers imported gear at foreign prices, These shops sell everything from Black Diamond climbing gear to proper Thermarests.
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Patan Industrial Estate
Despite the dubious-sounding name, this tourist-oriented crafts complex boasts a number of workshop showrooms selling high-quality carpets, wood carvings and metalwork. It’s around 500m south of Lagenkhel Bus Stand.
reviewed
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Tibetan Thangka Gallery
Just past the Hotel Ambassador, this is another good little place. Thangkas are painted on the spot (you can watch the artists at work) and many pieces from here end up in the Durbar Sq shops with higher price tags.
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Digimax
Fairly reliable, Digimax can handle colour prints and E-6 or Ektachrome slides. Mounted slide processing will cost you around Rs 500 for 36 slides. Passport photos are available on the spot (Rs 200 for nine photos).
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Tea World
Tea World is a reliable place for high-quality tea and spices. Find it down a long corridor beside the Student Guest House in Thamel. The manager offers free tasting and will tell you a lot about the teas on offer.
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Sana Hastakala
This is a showroom for a nonprofit development organisation where you can purchase general handicrafts (much of which is made by disadvantaged or minority groups) and know your shopping is making a difference.
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Woodcarving Studio
Artist Lee Birch’s studio displays some of the best carvings in the valley, made on site by Newar woodcarvers. Prices are generally high, but so is the quality. It’s best to call ahead to check it is open.
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Paper Park
There are dozens of shops in Thamel that sell handmade paper products from photo albums to paper lamps. One of the good shops is Paper Park, next to the Hotel Marshyangdi.
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Mandala Book Shop
There are dozens of bookshops along the strip at Lakeside. All sell maps, guidebooks, postcards and reams of glossy coffee-table books. Mandala Book Shop probably has the best stock.
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