Souvenirs in Nepal (5)

Introduction to Rath Nepal Organizational Profile

Welcome to Nepal Art Climate Culture and Customs Economy Environment Flora and Fauna Geography History Language People Population Religion

Nepal At Glance Access to Nepal Business Hours & Holidays Communication Facilities Embassy and Consulates Foreign Currency and Credit Cards Note for Trekkers Places of Interest Some dos and don'ts Souvenirs Visa Formalities

Masks

Masks have always been popular among the Hindus of Kathmandu valley and are an important part of the cultural performance in festivals and rituals. Masks of different religious deities are worn by performers during Lakhe dance in Indra Jatra day. Masks of Bhairav (god of terror) and Ganesha (Elephant god) and other deities are very popular. Interesting masks are available at most tourist junctures like Thamel and the three Durbar Squares area of Kathmandu valley.

Books

Books that dwell on a wide array of subjects are aplenty in the tourist's hotspots of Kathmandu and Pokhara. Books on different subjects, beautiful picture books of Nepali people and far off Himalayan and Terai landscape, information about the ancient Nepal or the Nepali people, trekking information and travel guides as well as latest books on national and international contemporary issues, and popular fictions are available in bookstores of Thamel, Kantipath and other tourist areas of Kathmandu valley and Lakeside area of Pokhara.

Other items suitable to take home as gifts or Souvenirs

Bags and Accessories: Purse, hand bags, travel bags and the like made from cloth and leather.

Bamboo Crafts: Various types of products made from bamboo and cane and craft using wheat, rice bran, stem, waste thread and other materials.

Fancy Hats: Hats with impression of flags and animals.

Nepali Dolls: Dolls and puppets of Nepali culture made of cloth, clay and wood.

Home furnishing: Bed covers, bed linens and the like with block, screen printing, embroidery, crochet and similar skills.

Incense: Incense that has different kinds of aroma and is packed in various circular and square type elongated boxes made of copper, brass and other metals.

Natural Buttons: Buttons made from small tree branch, stone, bone and horn.

Fiber Products: Apparel and non-apparel products made from hemp, nettle and similar indigenous plants.

Wood Game Boards: Wooden games and puzzles, chessboards etc.

Shopping Malls and Departmental Stores:

Nepal is fast becoming a shopping paradise with malls opening up every now and then with an assortment of products ranging from branded cloth wear to household items. Shopping malls and departmental stores have become indispensable feature of the urban lifestyle due to the quality and affordability. Even though shopping malls and departmental stores are gaining popularity in bordering towns of Nepal like Biratnagar, Bhairawa, Nepaljung, and so on larger ones are found in Kathmandu and Pokhara where you can shop for items like electronic, appliances, music system, kitchen-wares, branded garments, jewelry, perfume, watches, children toys, fitness equipments and household items. Popular shopping centres in Kathmandu are New Road , Putali Sadak, Kumaripati, Tangal, Lazimpat, Sundhara, Tripureshwor, Jawlakhel and in Pokhara they are Lakeside and Mahendrapul Bazaar areas among others. You can shop both local items as well as branded stuff. Periodic sale with as much as 50 percent seasonal and festival discounts on selected items are provided.

CAUTION!

All handicraft items above 100 years are termed as antique and taking out of the country is illegal and a serious offense. But rest of the handicraft items particularly made of stone, metal and wood or paintings or any handicraft resembling historical artifacts need to be cleared from the Department of Archaeology (Kathmandu near Supreme Court) to obtain clearance certificate before being taken abroad. Please take the purchase receipt for clearance of the same.

>>>