Shopping in Nepal

Remarkable handicrafts items of brilliant workmanship are made in Nepal. Many of these handicrafts also carry religious significance. Artistic works of stone and metal, silver and gold trinkets, and exquisite wood carvings are in great demand.

Other souvenir pieces include Nepali tea, famous Gurkha knife or Khukuri, prayer wheels, stone carvings, singing bowls, papier–maché masks, thangkas and pauvas, pashmina, carpets, jewelry etc. Souvenir items are available in tourist areas like Thamel, New Road, Basantapur, Asan, Patan, Bhaktapur and around major hotels.

Nepal is a cheap country in comparison to any other Country. Shopping in Nepal is now improvised and now has come to a modern state. Shopping can be done directly from shops, departmental stores, Online markets and free markets. It actually depends upon what to you want to shop in Nepal. Regarding to cloths and other wears , fancy shops and departmental stores are best. There are all international and national brand we can get acquainted with in the stores. The wears are generally of china , Thailand, Korean and any other varying in price.
If one is willing to shop for food i.e packaged food , home centers and departmental stores are best. If you are outside the Kathmandu valley , normal good shops are also okay. For the meal, you can buy from restaurants and Fast food centers.

In Nepal regarding to shop the things that have cultural and ritual importance, places like Asan, Durbar square sides are the best where you can get the variety of cultural sculptures.

Shopping malls and departmental stores sell branded items and accessories like cell phones, i-pods and laptops to electronic appliances, cameras, music systems, kitchenware, garments, jewelry, perfumes, watches, toys, fitness equipment and a multitude of household items. Shopping areas in the valley are around New Road, Putali Sadak, Kumaripati, Bhatbhateni Lazimpat, Sundhara, Tripureshwor, Lagankhel and Jawalakhel. In Pokhara, the major shopping areas are Lakeside and Mahendrapul Bazaar. Popular shopping malls in Kathmandu Valley are: Bhatbhateni chain of stores, Saleways chain of stores, City Center in Kamal Pokhari, Civil Mall in Sundhara, Kathmandu Mall in Sundhara, Labim Mall in Pulchowk, Salesberry in Satdobato.

In Kathmandu, the Capital city to shop the books can be the great deal. For now, you can just buy them online or if you want to buy them directly, Thamel is the good place to buy the books. Outside the valley if you are travelling , buy things from the shops which look good and clean. While buying Junkies in the remote villages of Nepal never forget to check the Manufacture and Expiry date. For buying the Nepalese special items like “ Pashmina saal”, “Buddha sculptures”, The areas around temples are best .

Before buying from the shop, just try the price in 2-3 other shops too. And it is not preferable to do shoping in the free market, near bus station sites, since these places are always complained to have low quality goods and they take higher price.