At home in Canada, I am not too much of a shopper. But while travelling I am always trying to buy as many things as I can fit in my suitcase. Whether it’s something to spark a memory of the trip, building up a collection of home decorations from around the world, or getting unique gifts for family and friends (for me it’s all three), there are lots of reasons to shop abroad. And many of my favourite souvenirs are from Nepal. There is so much beauty there, with a culture that really values art, so you can definitely find the most gorgeous handmade gifts.
If you are headed to Nepal, trust me, there will be no shortage of souvenirs and gifts you will want to buy. But here are some of my absolute favourites to help inspire you.
Tibetan Singing Bowls
The Tibetan singing bowls are probably my favourite Nepali souvenirs. Not only are they beautiful, but they are also a great tool for meditation. You can also take classes in Nepal about how they are used for meditation and healing. While I was at a meditation retreat at Osho Divine Zone in Kathmandu, I got to experience a sound healing session with these bowls and it was such a cool experience.
The bowls come in various sizes and vary in material, design, and the sound they make. But the biggest indicator of the quality of the bowl is whether it is machine made or handmade. Be wary of the differences, as a lot of shops will claim their bowls are handmade even when they are not. The handmade ones are uneven around the rim and will have visible hammer marks. They also produce a clear, louder sound that lasts longer.
I got my bowl from 8ChakraHealing in Bhaktapur and am so happy with it. The owner of the shop was really kind and knowledgeable.
Paintings
You can find so so so many beautiful paintings in Nepal. But there are two main varieties to look out for. The first is simply acrylic or watercolour paintings of the Himalayas, city streets, other scenery, local animals in Nepal, Buddhist monks, temples, or other images representative of Buddhist culture. You could wander around the art stores in Nepal for hours. There are so many talented painters there.
The second type is Thangka paintings. These are a type of traditional Tibetan Buddhist painting. Thangka paintings typically depict Buddhist deities – sometimes one main figure, sometimes a scene or college with many figures, and sometimes a mandala. They are meant to showcase different moments or events in the lives of the Buddha and other important deities.
The painters of these types of paintings go through a lot of training, and there are different levels and rules surrounding the process. There are not a lot of places in the world where you will see so many original thangka paintings, especially not for the relatively affordable prices you can get them for in Nepal. So, this is definitely a very special thing to buy here and one of the best souvenirs you can get.
Tibetan Prayer Flags
While travelling around Nepal, especially trekking in the Himalayas, you will see a lot of colourful flags flowing in the wind. These, of course, are Tibetan prayer flags. They have mantras and prayers written on them. The idea is that once they eventually blow away in the wind, the prayer will be released . They are also just really beautiful to look at, and I promise they will always take you right back to standing in the Himalayas, perhaps with a a few yaks walking past you.
Plus, you can easily buy packs of these prayer flags, in various sizes, so they make for some of the best gifts from Nepal to give to family and friends.
Buddha Statue
A Buddha statue is also a perfect gift to bring back for loved ones, as it is considered a symbol of love, happiness, and positivity. There are several different hand positions that these statues can have, all corresponding to a different Buddha, with different meanings. Depending on which buddha you get, there are certain places in the home you are recommended to put them. Whoever you buy it from can probably give you some advice on this, or a quick google search. Or you can just put it where it makes you the happiest!
Goats and Tigers Board Game
If you have friends or family members that are big board game fans, then look no further than this traditional Nepalese board game. It is a fun little game for two people. One player will be the tigers, of which there are 4. The other player will be the goats, of which there are 20.
The game starts with the tigers in the four corners and no goats on the board. Gameplay consists of players taking turns, with one player placing goats onto the board and the other moving the tigers. Once all the goats have been placed, that player will then switch to moving the goats around the board as well. The goal of the tigers is to “eat” the goats, by jumping over them. The goal of the goats is to “trap” the tigers by making it so they do not have any valid moves.
Despite having relatively simple rules, I think it’s a really interesting game. It’s unique how the two players have such different roles in the game. It also feels a bit like chess in the way that you have to think several moves ahead.
Wood Carvings
Nepali craftsmanship is truly incredible. I saw so many beautiful wooden trinkets and sculptures here. From wooden elephants with intricate designs, to incredible detailed Buddhist deities, there were tons of impressive wood carvings. But the most famous and popular would be wooden masks. These are traditional masks belonging to the various ethnic groups that populate the country, and they are very cool.
There is also a wood carvings museum in Bhaktapur (probably the unofficial capital for the Nepalese handicrafts) that is definitely worth checking out!
Stone Carvings
Wood is the not the only carving medium of the skilled artisans in Nepal. You can also find some super cool art carved into stones!
Yak Wool Knitted Items
In the land of so many yaks, it is no surprise that yak wool is popular. You can find lots of knit products here and it’s a great idea to buy some before you head off trekking! That way, your cozy hats, mitts, scarves, or headbands can double as a practical way to keep you warm and as a cool souvenir.
Hemp Bags
I was recently in a funky shop in Canada that had hemp bags for sale. They were selling for $100+ and their tags said “made in Nepal”. That sure made me glad I bought a super cute hemp bag for like $20 when I was in Nepal. Plus, hemp is a really cool, eco friendly material and, like the yak wool knitting, it is a great idea for the practicality too. It’s the perfect place to store all your other Nepali souvenirs!
Clothing
There is a lot of super cute clothing for sale in Nepal. My absolute favourites were this quilted pattern. You could buy shirts, pants, even overalls like this. There was lots of other cool stuff too. All loose fitting, light, very comfortable clothing.
The shirt I got is definitely one of the best things I bought, I still love to wear it! I am even wearing it right now as I type this. Plus, seeing this type of clothing at the same store in Canada where I saw the hemp bags, I was even more stoked that I got one in Nepal. I paid less than a quarter of the price.
Lokta Paper Products
Well, you’re going to need a card to go with all the unique Nepali gifts you will be giving your friends and family members, and what better place to get one than also in Nepal? There are a lot of interesting and beautiful rice paper items (known as Lokta paper) available in most, if not all, Nepali markets. They feel really soft to the touch compared to regular paper, and are so unique.
Jewelry
Of course, when you’re thinking about gifts and souvenirs, jewelry is always worth considering. Depending on who you’re shopping for, jewelry can be a safe bet for a great gift. Personally, I got some beautiful necklace pendants with semi-precious stones. I was also given gorgeous bangles by both the family I stayed with during a homestay and the hosts of a meditation retreat. (However, I didn’t know what wearing the red ones meant until I started getting asked an interesting question – for that story read tip number 6 of my top tips for visiting Nepal. )
Spices
They have delicious food in Nepal, and I promise you will miss it when you leave. But the good news is, if you bring home some fresh Nepali spices with you, you can recreate some of these flavours at home. Fresh cumin, coriander, pepper, mustard seed, and of course Himalayan sea salt are all popular spices to buy in Nepal. But better yet, are the various types of masalas, or premixed spices you can get.
Other Great Nepali Souvenirs
After buying all of the above souvenirs, my bag was pretty much full to the top, even with the new hemp backpack I bought! But given more space (and time and money), I definitely could have kept shopping in Nepal. Some other interesting souvenirs I saw a lot of while wandering through the shops were: pashmina shawls, prayer wheels, musical instruments, Khukuri knives (the national knife of Nepal), goat’s milk soap and Nepali tea.
Important Notes on Shopping in Nepal
Despite how much I loved all of the beautiful items I came across in Nepal, and the affordable prices, sometimes I found actually buying things a little intimidating. This is because it is a bartering culture. While it feels good to get a deal, I would way rather just have price tags on everything. This is not the case here.
The price of any item (or service for that matter) in any store is up for negotiation. Whatever price you are initially told will definitely be quite a bit higher than it is worth. Usually, there will be tons of souvenir shops selling whatever kind of product you are interested in, so ask around at several to get a general price range. Then, offer 20-40% less than the lowest price you are told, and be prepared to meet them somewhere in the middle.
For more on this, and other tips, read my post on things you should know before going Nepal.
And check out these posts about Nepal:
- Nepali Homestay Experience
- What to do in Pokhara: Best Itinerary After a Trek
- The Time I Crossed a Crocodile Infested River in Nepal
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