Souvenirs and handcraft Nepal

 Shopping

The famous khukuris (knives) of the gurkha soldiers, carried at the belt by the Nepalese, the little saranghis (violas) of travelling musicians, the bronze "singing bowls", Nepalese writing paper decorated with traditional patterns, prayer wheels... In Thimi (near Bhaktapur), you can find beautiful pottery in the shape of animals and great quantities of papier-maché masks representing deities. Tibetan handicraft is mostly made of objects of worship, traditionally woven rugs (allow USD 80 for a 3.5 feet x 7 feet pure wool rug), tea or tsampa bowls, made of wood and chiselled silver, jewels and ancient masks... The unavoidable souvenir: the thangkas - framed painted brocade banners, representing religious scenes or mandalas - geometrical compositions symbolising the universe.
An interesting place for shopping: Baber Mahal, Kathmandu's old Rana palace which houses a wide range of shops and restaurants. Shops open early in the morning (around 7 AM) and shut at night fall, sometimes with a break in the early afternoon. They are shut on Saturdays and on official holidays.