10 Things to Buy In Nepal for Souvenir

Nepal is a small and beautiful country, but visiting it once is not enough. Sandwiched between China and India, Nepal is a piece of heaven on earth. The country is blessed with natural resources, gigantic Himalayas, and vibrant culture – it is pretty tough to detach yourself from Nepal. If you are in Nepal and seeking gifts or souvenirs for yourself, take a stroll around the local market or shops. You will find several unseen items and tokens of love to take with you home.

Probably, you have noticed a bunch of good quality but low-priced made-in-China-type souvenirs occupying the stands and stalls of many tourist destinations these days.

From Jewelry to handmade clothes and popular Rudraksha seeds. You’ll get all the things in Kathmandu. If you are still in a dilemma about what you should buy while in Nepal, we will come to help you. Here is the list of some of the most popular things to buy in Nepal for souvenirs.

Thangka Paintings

With the dominant Hindu and Buddhist, some of the prominent souvenirs of Nepal have a religious meaning and importance. They describe the faith and culture of the people. One among those is Thangka painting/art.

A thangka is a Tibetan Buddhist painting on cotton or silk applique, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, scene, or mandala.

The decorations and designs of Thangka are admirable. A thangka painting comprises picture panels that are painted or embroidered over. Then, they are mounted with textiles and covered with silk. It is undoubtedly one of the best gifts or Souvenirs to buy in Nepal.

Singing Bowls

The healing propertied Singing Bowl is one of the most prominent things you can take from Nepal as a token of remembrance for you. This is also one of the best options to buy as gifts or souvenirs.

These bowls are made of metals. They make a soothing sound when the rim is rubbed circularly with a small wooden stick. Apart from the soothing sound, the vibration of the bowls produces healing qualities and creates a perfect atmosphere for meditation.

The singing bowls can be found in different sizes. Talking about the size of the bowls, there are primarily two variants: handmade and machine-made.

In contrast to the hand-made bowls, the machine-made bowls are perfectly symmetrical, highly decorated, and less costly.

Pashmina Shawls

In Nepal, Pashmina is regarded as one of the world’s most luxurious natural fabrics. However, it is popular to the word by the name Cashmere. These shawls are made from the soft hair of mountain goats found on the Tibetan Plateau.

Soft and warm, these handmade shawls are the perfect items to take away from Nepal.

The Pashmina shawls make a great fashion sense; they never go out of style and are incredibly outstanding for any occasion. And other stuff like cardigans, blankets, and stoles are better alternative gifts or Souvenirs to buy in Nepal that you can take back home.

Khukuri

The authentic Nepalese daggers are known as ‘khukuri.’ These daggers are the best things to take away from here.

It occupies a significant position in the history and culture of Nepal. However, these daggers in Nepal are pretty different from those available in the other parts of the country. Thus, buying gifts or souvenirs that reflect Nepalese identity is a great option.

It has a solid shining blade with an inward curve that serves the purpose of both a weapon and a knife. The hilts of these daggers are often designed with authentic Nepalese designs. While buying, you will get two smaller blades that help sharpen the knife.

The khukuri is usually tiny and light-weighted, but some heavily designed daggers are also available in the market. Since khukuri occupies a little space and hence they are easy to carry. Also, these Nepalese daggers are very often used in important ceremonies like weddings and other functions.

Rice Paper Products

Rice paper is the traditional form of paper available in Nepal. It is handmade from rice husks and the daphne or bark, found in remote areas of Nepal. You can buy them from there.

Usually, this kind of paper is used for manuscripts and paintings; it is an exciting gift or souvenir to take away from Nepal. You will find rice paper stores in areas like Patan, Bhaktapur, and Thamel.

Lampshades, calendars, journals, diaries, notebooks, etc., are some paper products that have been designed for tourists to carry back home easily (the lampshades are often available in foldable designs). The Babar Mahal Revisited mall also has a store selling these products.

Handicrafts

When you step into Nepal, you will easily find handicrafts in all nooks and corners of the country. Nepalese handicrafts are unique and exotic.

The handicraft items like prayer wheels, puppets, traditional masks, carved wooden sculptures, pottery items, and hemp products are some of the most famous handicrafts you can find in Nepal.

Truly evocative of the place, the painted masks of local gods are available in various sizes. And the wooden carvings, boxes, and vases are an excellent option for you.

Hemp products include t-shirts, pants, backpacks, and bags are also popular gifts or souvenirs that you can take along with you in your country.

Beware of the fraud people trying to sell items as an antique. Also, authentic antiques are hard to come by and are prohibited from leaving Nepal without government certification. For this reason, you should be careful while buying antique products.

Statues and Masks

When you walk through the streets and corners of Kathmandu, especially in Thamel, you will find several shops displaying different forms of statues and masks.

The statues are made from several materials like brass, bronze, clay, and other products. They are a great showpiece to spruce up your house with. Many people regard them as lucky charms.

The Nepalese masks are unique. The masks in Nepal range from average masks to the masks of Buddha, Shiva, Indra, or other deities. Usually, they are hanging on the wall. Additionally, they play a significant role in Nepal’s local and traditional festivals.

Tea

Nepal is one of the prominent places to buy Teas.

If you stay in Nepal for some days, you will become addicted to delicious Nepali tea, locally known as Chiya; better pack different leaf flavor tea for your family.

The perfect way to bring home a little taste of Nepal is by purchasing some local tea. The climate and hills of Nepal are perfect for tea bushes and other herbs. So, the cultivation of tea is quite widespread there.

Flavorful and tasty Nepali tea has many health benefits and is refreshing too. Also, you can find different varieties of tea in Nepal, which include green tea, oolong tea, white tea, and hand-rolled tea.

Jewelry

There is no doubt that the way to a woman’s heart is through fine jewelry, and jewelry as delicate and exotic as that found in Nepal could make any woman happy.

Nepal offers them all: silver or gold, beads or semi-precious stones, blue lapis, or yak bone. Also, you can either buy something ready-made or custom-made, or you can opt to buy individual beads to create your necklace.

Nepali Spices

The Himalayan country of Nepal is famous for its spices and rare herbs. Undoubtedly, the fragrance of these distinctive herbs can be found in every Kitchen in Nepal. 

As you move around the local market and alleyways, you come across the pleasant aroma of fresh spices. The Nepali market is filled with multiple spices. Also, some of them are unique to the country.

Conclusion

These are some of the most popular souvenirs that genuinely reflect the authenticity of Nepal. And for your kind information, bargaining is quite normal in Nepal. So, be prepared to negotiate the price to get the best deal.

Furthermore, if you plan to buy something expensive, it is a better idea to shop around the different stores. So, we tried our best to list out the best Souvenirs to buy in Nepal. I hope you have a great time shopping! 

Besides that, if you are planning to visit Nepal for Nepal Trekking or Nepal Tour, please feel free to contact us. We will manage the best trip that fits your interest.