Shopping in Kathmandu- What to Buy, Where to Buy in 2024

By - September 18, 2024 - Nepal
Shopping in Kathmandu, Nepal

Who does not love shopping! Markets are an integral part of our lives, from purchasing daily goods to spluttering entirely unnecessary items. Kathmandu is a heaven for shoppers to fill their shopping bags with a wide variety of goods. While some items like Woollen robes, clothes, etc. are available throughout the city, it is always good to know the typical Nepalese things that you rarely find anywhere else and are thus a must-buy on any trip to Nepal.

Souvenirs Shopping in Kathmandu – List of 10 Things To Buy

Read more and discover what these unique objects are and where they can be found, and also the Kathmandu city’s famous marketplaces.

1. Pashmina Items

Pashmina fabrics are soft and lightweight fabric that comes from mountain goat fur with lovely brothers. It is undoubtedly revered all over the world. In Nepal, you can find these materials cheaper than most others as one of the few places in the world where Pashmina is originally woven. It’s worth bringing Pashmina products home, therefore think of stoles, scarves, ideal for anyone or yourself.

Pashmina products are available in Kathmandu’s Thamel district and also in some shops on New Road. Be aware of cheap duplicates. Rather than 100% pure Pashmina products, choose a 70/30 mix with silk as they are more durable.

2. Thangka

Thangka is a kind of unique Nepalese painting. They usually depict deities, scenes, and mandalas in Buddhist as well as Hindu and are made of cotton or silk. These colorful paintings deserve to be decorated and are therefore a must-buy for your house. Shops in Thamel have good Thangkas paintings.

Read also: Best Places to Visit in Nepal in October

3. Singing Bowls

These are actually metal bowls, handmade or made by machinery, a unique musical instrument found in Nepal, which comes with a small wood stick rubbed to the edge of the bowl to create sound. The sound is supposed to possess a cure! Shops at Thamel and Kathmandu Durbar Square have this product.

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4. Dining items like Lapsi and Chhurpi

You must try these if you want to experiment with foods and like to taste new foods. Titaura is a sweet, sour, or ardent delicacy of the sapwood while Lapsi or Nepali hog plum is a kind of sour fruit that is indigenous in Nepal. Lapsi is also made to make pastries, sweets, and tarts.

Chhurpi is a typical cheese made of cow or yak milk, either hard or soft. Taste them, and pack some home if you like them. From Kathmandu New Road market, buy Lapsi and Titaura as well as from the departmental shops of Bhat Bhateni these can be bought.

5. Khukuri

You will find them on display in shops in Kathmandu, a traditional Gorkha cloth with twin blades. In the wars of the 18th century, these were used by Nepalese soldiers, as well as by hunters and farmers. Interesting patterns appear on the covers of these knives. If you want a touch of vintage Nepal, this is a nice souvenir to buy.

6. Beads and Gems

While in every corner of the world you get traditional gold and silver gems, the beads, bones, valuable Himalayan gems, and semi-circular jewels are unique to Nepal. A wide selection of chunky and colorful collars, bracelets, ankles, and pillars shown in various shops is sufficient to make the majority of women crazy! Give the ladies in your family or friends as much as you want, either prepared or custom-made according to your preference.

Read also: A Guide to Eating Out in Kathmandu

7. Nepalese Handicrafts

Another popular item shopped by tourists is Nepalese handicrafts. They include wood products, metallic masks, sculptures, Lord Buddha and Hindi deity statues, marionettes, dolls, pilgrims’ wheels, pottery,  and beverages. While some are antique original, others are only made for the market. In general, the former is higher and requires the government to take home special permits.

8. Hiking Equipment

Nepal, which houses some of the world’s highest mountains, is a base for many trekking excursions. Those who want to buy trekking equipment should visit some stores in the capital city. Sleeping bags, jackets, boots, clothes, and everything is available. Although they come at higher costs, of course, you will not want your equipment to break down in the middle of your trek so go for the authentic branded products.

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9. Rice Paper

Rice paper products are also known as Lokta paper, a lovely souvenir to buy from Nepal. It is made of rice husk and because of its durability is used in a number of items. These include pictures, manuscripts and state documents, menus of the restaurant, notebooks and diaries, albums and frames, lampshades, and manuals.

10. Tea from Nepal

Most of us have a cup of tea every day (some of us are even more addicted!). In Nepal, there are many tea estates in the eastern mountains. Pack authentic Nepali tea, with different flavors – green tea, lime tea, silver and golden tips, oolong tea, and Earl Grey, before departing from Nepal. The taste also varies by the time that the tea leaves are picked. The first one, second, monsoon and autumn are four different times.

Where to Buy from Kathmandu’s – 5 Best Popular Markets

#1. Thamel

Thamel has a number of shops selling different types of goods, which can be purchased in the main part of Kathmandu. The area is said to be especially good for the purchase of trekking equipment and handicraft. Actually, authentic clothing and equipment brand, ‘The North Face’, a popular alpine brand, can only be found throughout Nepal in this area.

You can also buy CDs of music, clothes, woolens, Pashmina, Khukuri, etc. You can buy music too. The Thamel region is also home to a number of restaurants, cash changing centers, and hotels.

#2. New Road

New Road is a popular shopping area, located south of Thamel. The focus of all businesses and shops in Nepal is said to be there and so shops selling a host of goods such as clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, jewelry, fruits, vegetables, spices, and also flavors such as Titaura and Pushtakari can be expected here.

Besides street shopping, there are many malls, including the first supermarket in Nepal, Vishal Bazaar. You also have ATMs to handle your financial needs during the shopping

#3. Indra Chowk and Ason Bazar

Indra Chowk, another popular shopping spot, is known for “potes” – colorful glass beads for married women in Nepal. In Indra Chowk, where you will find the Pote Bazaar and Raki Bazar. It is also possible to buy clothes, bedsheets and woolen clothes. The Ason Bazaar, known as the oldest market in Kathmandu, is situated near Indra Chowk. Textiles, foodstuffs, spices, electronics, gold and silver items can be found in this place. These two markets are a part of Kathmandu’s ancient route of trade between India and Tibet. In this area, there are also several Hindu temples.

Put your business skills to good use in all the four markets above or be ready to be pillaged by shopkeepers who are always targeting tourists on account of their ignorance of local prices.

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#4. Durbar Marg

A beautiful area, if you are obsessed with brands, Durbar Marg is the place to go to Kathmandu. Think all of it from Reebok, Adidas, Puma, Zara, UCB, Levi, and Lee Cooper. It has many other expensive restaurants, pubs, shops, and hotels, also known as the King’s Way. Not for the budget shopper, definitely.

#5. Supermarkets

At the capital of Kathmandu, you have a number of malls offering the convenience of shopping in an air-conditioned environment for nearly every good under a single roof. The Civil Mall, Kathmandu Mall, City Centre, Sherpa Mall, Times Square Mall, department stores of Bhat-Bhateni, and many others are among these. You can also visit food courts and multiplexes in addition to shopping for the world-famous brands in these malls!

Thus, in Kathmandu, there were many shopping opportunities. Some of the shops remain closed on Saturdays so it would be preferable to visit any day other than Saturday. Begin preparing your shopping lists now and carry additional bags to bring Nepali goods home.

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