Must-see shopping in Nepal

As the name suggests, this is Thamel’s sweetest-smelling shop. It’s a good one-stop shop for dhoop (incense), essential oils, Himalayan soaps and almost…

The people's cooperative society of Tashi Palkhel run this arcade in Lakeside East where you can shop for Tibetan crafts, organise a tour of the refugee…

This friendly gear shop makes its own down products and offers equipment rental, including down jackets (Rs 60 to Rs 100 per day), sleeping bags (Rs 150…

Come here for tablecloths, cushion covers and clothing made from dhaka-style cloth from eastern Nepal. Most items are cotton, but silk, banana and nettle…

This knowledgeable local publisher offers an excellent selection of academic books and is a magnet for local writers and researchers. Ask to see the…

Over 80% of the woven products on sale here have been made locally by deaf and blind men and women in an initiative to empower local people with…

Kathmandu's best bookstore tragically burned down in 2013. Its reincarnation has risen from the ashes and still has a good selection of titles.

A recommended place for paper, batiks, Mithila crafts, felt products and clothing woven from natural fibres. Credit cards accepted.

There is no dearth of bookshops in Lakeside but Nepal Mandala probably has the best selection of books and maps in town.

The better trekking gear shops are at the southern end of Thamel, and Holyland is one of the better choices.

Sonam makes its own brand of quality trekking gear, with this the larger of its two shops in Thamel.

Good prices, a central location and a huge selection of new and secondhand titles.

The only outlet selling the real thing at prices similar to home.

With a good selection of souvenirs, this small, family-run business produces its own honey in various delectable flavours and sells batik art and…

For batik clothing, jewellery, hand-painted T-shirts and elephant-dung paper, which is a lot nicer than it sounds. No sign: located directly beneath Gig…

The shop at Shechen Gompa has an on-site workshop that produces painted and embroidered thangkas and incense. The shop also sells Buddhist reference books.

Durbar Marg has several top-end showrooms concentrating on statues, Tibetan furniture and other crafts. Curio Arts is a good place to start.

One of the the largest supermarkets in the city, with 13 stores, though the location is slightly inconvenient, south of the Chinese embassy.

A useful supermarket in Lazimpat.

This is the place to find an inexpensive (often plastic) souvenir. Located near the main entrance, it's a very long row of shops all selling similar…