When you are thinking of traveling to Nepal, you don’t want
to forget to think about what you’re going to buy before you leave Nepal as
well. Because apart from its unmissable natural beauty, the majestic Himalayas,
timeless cultures and traditions, rich history and the amazing ever-smiling
people, it also offers the varieties of unique souvenirs to the travelers and
the tourists alike. If you don’t have any ideas in these souvenirs that only
Nepal can offer and you depart from the country without even buying or carrying
any one of these, your trip to Nepal will seem so unworthy and a waste. All
influenced with the nature, arts, cultures and the histories, these Nepalese
souvenirs are the best things to take to your family and friends.
Without further ado, let’s get some insights into all the
souvenirs you can buy in Nepal with the help of Nature Lovers’ team or by
yourself in the touristic areas of the Kathmandu valley or the Pokhara city. We
firmly believe you will fall in love with our list of Nepali souvenirs and you
will surely grab one of these souvenir items to take back home.
1.
Thangka (Thanka) Paintings
Topping our list is the all-time
favorite of the travelers from all over the world, Thangka. Many people even
come to Nepal only to buy them alone because of the fact that Thangka in Nepal
is worldwide popular of its finest quality. A souvenir which will ensure you
good health, happiness, fame and the fortune is really worth of spending your
time and money. Thankas are the hand paintings made on cotton or silk which
usually depict the lives of the Buddha or the lives of the great Buddhism
leaders. Thankas in Nepal has some of the richest and intricate designs. In
Nepal, they also hold powerful religious significance. Perfect for hanging on
any wall of the house, the price of a Thangka will differ variously depending
upon the size, the quality of the drawings or paintings and the time duration
spent on creating one. You will have to take a closer look, or consult with the
artist or the expert himself to get the clear knowledge. Undoubtedly,
the most valuable souvenir of all souvenir items in Nepal.
2. Cashmere or Pashmina
One of the most fashionable and the
most luxurious items in Nepal can be the pashmina which is also known as
cashmere. The genuine pashmina shawls or the scarves are of high quality and
can be costly too, however lately even the cheaper options are available. There
are a lot of varieties and different qualities to try from. The pashmina in
Nepal is handmade and hand-spun from the real fiber. Those fiber comes from the
soft hair of the mountain goats found in the Himalayas of Nepal. They are also
made of Yak wool in Nepal but since pure Yak wool is hard to find, you might
not be able to get the pure pashmina made out of it. If you have a woman in
your house back home, then this is the right souvenir choice for you to buy. In
addition to the pashmina shawls or scarves, you might also want to check other
similar items like cardigans, stoles and blankets in the stores which add more
elegance to the souvenir style.
3. Khukuri (Nepali knives; Gurkha
knife)
The authentic Nepali knives are called
‘Khukuri’ which are famously known as the Gurkha knives. Khukuri is an
exquisite example of the Nepalese craftsmanship. Very simple to use and lot
easier to handle or carry, Khukuri or the Nepalese dagger is connected to our
rich and the proud history. Our ancestors had fought bravely with this weapon
against our enemies back in the past. It has a shining strong blade with the
inside curve which serves as both the weapon or the utility knife. Khukuri also
comes in various shapes and sizes these days. Don’t be confused that the
ordinary Nepali Khukuris are sharp and deadly but the souvenir styles are blunt
and only for the showpiece but they look similar definitely. The must-buy
souvenir style of Khukuri normally comes in small or moderate sizes which you
can easily carry in your luggage while going back to your home.
4. Mad Himalayan Honey
We have added Himalayan honey in our
top priority of the souvenir list as it’s highly trending these days. People
are mad about these honeys which are found in the wild hills and the cliffs and
made delicately by the wild bees collecting nectar from different herbs and
plants in the wilderness. Himalayan honey has always been popular ever from a
long time but it’s gaining more recognition of late. There are different honeys
in the market but typically obtained from the Himalayas is what we are talking
about in here. One small dose of the honey will give you a psychedelic trip
that’s why Himalayan honey is on high demand in Nepal and to which any tourist
would love to add in their souvenir list.
5. Singing Bowls of Nepal
Another leading souvenir in Nepal is
the singing bowls. Widely popular throughout the world especially in the
European nations, singing bowls are the mostly dealt objects in the
international market. Nepal produces abundant singing bowls and supplies to the
entire world. There are the varieties of singling bowls in terms of handmade or
machine-made or in terms of the plain or decorated singing bowls. It also
differs with the materials used and thus the price varies accordingly. Singing
bowl is all about sound and the harmonic vibration it creates. The vibration
that comes from the bowl has the healing qualities and it is usually used for
the healing purpose. Secondly, it can also be used for the meditation purpose.
The authentic Nepali singing bowl is highly expensive in terms of other
duplicate products in the market. To help in your meditation or just to gain
the soothing experience, get the singing bowl before you leave Nepal.
6. Lokta Paper Products or Rice Paper
Products
Nepal has a unique paper called ‘Rice
Paper’ which is being used in most of the government offices and also to make
the official documents in Nepal for a long time now. These papers are really
soft and smooth. Out of many exotic handicrafts in Nepal, Rice paper or Lokta
paper is also one of them. It is interestingly made either from the rice husk
or the bark of a certain type of tree, found in the remote areas of the
country. Nowadays, these paper has given birth to a lot of interesting products
in the market such as photo albums, wallpapers, calendars, handbags,
lampshades, notebooks, gift boxes, etc. naming just few. These are real cheap
while look intriguingly awesome too. So, do not miss to buy one of these lokta
paper products as the souvenir for your close ones in your next Nepal holiday.
What a wonderful money-saving souvenir for your family!
7. Hemp Bags and Backpacks in Nepal
Hemp is the fibre extracted from the
stem of the cannabis plant. Natural hemp are mainly obtained from the Himalayas
of Nepal. Very trending in the market these days, bags and backpacks made of
hemps are out for grabs for the trendsetters. They look really fashionable and
will go great with any sort of looks especially with Boho look. Westerners love
these and they certainly cannot go without buying at least one of these before
leaving this wonderland country Nepal. Usually handmade, these hemp bags are intricately
made and very tempting to the eyes. Hemp backpacks are especially popular among
the trekkers while hemp bags are appealing to everyone. So, what else can be
the better souvenir other than hemp bags and backpacks!
8. Statues and Masks
Religious, traditional and cultural
statues and masks are one of the most important symbols of Nepal and the
Nepalese society. They show the real talents of our artists in Nepal which we
all are proud of. The statues and masks are made of many different materials like
metals, brass, bronze, clay, gold and silver and many other similar things.
These statues and masks play the important roles in forming the Hindu religious
structures like temples and others while they also are the important parts in
the religious festivals. They are the great showpieces for your interiors and
also the luck bringing charms to you and your family. Keeping some of these
statues and masks in the house, Hindus and Buddhists have a lot of beliefs that
the evil eyes will not fall upon the households and they have prosperity. Most
of them are associated with the Buddhism. Nothing can beat the statues and
masks in such style of souvenirs.
9. Dar Cho –Tibetan Prayer Flags
Tibetan prayer flags or dar cho, are
mostly used by the Buddhism and is mostly hanged in and around the houses,
monasteries, temples and the stupas. If you go to trek in the Himalayas, you
will find the prayer flags on your path, on the chortens or the mani walls, in
the deserted places and around the settlements as well. The colorful Tibetan
prayer flags are used for the well-being and the increase of fortune and life
for all sentient beings. It is believed that with the mantras, symbols and the
sacred texts inscribed in the flags, they generate the spiritual vibrations
which is released once touched by the wind and carried in the air as the silent
prayers. Since the flag is related to the blessings, one can buy this as a form
of souvenir and gift it to your loved ones. The Tibetan prayer flags are
available in various shapes, sizes and colors as well. The best blessings and
love can be shared through the Tibetan prayer flags in the form of
souvenir.
10. Gold, Silver, Bead, Bone and Stone
Jewelleries
There is no doubt at all that such fine
and exotic, Nepalese jewellery can enter the woman’s heart very easy. What else
can make a woman happy other than the beautiful jewelleries! The jewelleries in
Nepal constitute the biggest portion of all the Nepalese handicrafts and they
are made of many precious items like gold, silver, bead, bone, stone, etc.
There are millions of choices to choose from in the varieties of forms like
bracelets, necklaces, pendants, rings and more. So many colorful and attractive
stones or the semi-precious stones are found in Nepal only which can be mixed with
any other jewelleries and form a unique masterpiece. You can either buy the
ready-made or custom-made depending upon your choice. Don’t wait until you get
old and ragged to make your woman happy when you can do it right now, here in
Nepal by buying a simple jewellery souvenir.
11. Tea and Spices
Nepal is remarkably known for its
varieties of teas and spices as well. We, Nepalese love drinking tea. What
about you? If you ever get to taste typical Nepali tea or locally known as
‘Nepali Chiya’, you will fall in love instantly. Why not buying it to bring it
to your own home which you can enjoy for the rest of the life! Besides normal
tea, we have so many other varieties of teas like earl grey tea, masala tea,
green tea, oolong tea, golden tips tea, silver tips tea, herbal tea, etc.
Moreover, they come in the beautiful packets as well. Nepal has a huge
production of high quality tea. What are you waiting for! Just go and buy a tea
packet for your lovely people and tell them it's the most precious souvenir from
Nepal, which will cost you merely small amount only.
Thanks to so many spices as found in
the Nepali market, our food taste unique and exotic. Nepal is solely
responsible for manufacturing so many varieties of spices. They can be used
extensively in the varieties of cuisines to shape the tastes as per the
people’s choice of taste. Whether it’s about the collection or it’s your
personal interest in cooking foods, buying spices to your home could be a great
idea. Freshly extracted from the Himalayan fields and the wilderness; the most
commonly used spices in Nepal are ginger, garlic, coriander, Sichuan pepper or
timur, chillies, turmeric, fenugreek seeds, cumin, cloves, cardamom, bay
leaves, mustard seeds, and so on. They can be found either in raw form or
the powdered form; a number of spices to pick as the souvenir for your chef
back home.
12. Tiger moving game (Bagh Chal)
If you’re looking for something
different and unusual which is typical Nepalese style also, then tiger moving
game is right for you. Locally known as (Bagh Chal; Bagh means tiger), it
is a very classical game in Nepal which is loved and enjoyed by all age groups.
This game has a board layout which simply has a square figure or a box with a
lot of small boxes and the lines inside. There are 4 tiger pieces and 20 goat
pieces in the game. Either the tiger wins or the goat wins. The tiger wins by
engulfing all the goats while the goat wins by blocking all the tiger pieces.
Tiger moving game is an intelligent puzzle game which is somehow compared to
the chess game but is simply quite easier to learn and execute. Buy this
interesting game for your kins and they will surely love this souvenir from
Nepal.
13. Trekking Gears and Equipment from
Nepal
Can you really find the trekking gears
and equipment in Nepal to buy as a souvenir? Obviously yes, that’s even in the
cheaper price for the good quality items. Since Nepal has the majority of
tourists coming in for the trekking, Nepalese business leaders has been
manufacturing trekking gears and equipment and catering to the tourism markets
for decades now. Why not going to the mountains with your own trekking gears
and gear yourself up in those impossible hills and the mountains! Most
importantly, you can buy any of these items as the souvenir and gift them to
your friends and family. They will be surprised. You don’t even have to finish
the big deal of amount and you can buy these items at cheaper rates than in the
foreign countries. Some local brands like Kala Patthar, Shona’s Alpine and
Sonam Gears are the most popular brands in Nepal and abroad which supply these
souvenir trekking gears and equipment.
14. Nepali Dhaka products
The exclusive Dhaka from Nepal has got
its unique prints and patterns. This typical Nepali product is made from cotton
fabric and is weaved in the traditional loom. It reflects the pure Nepali
craftsmanship. The Dhaka fabric has gained much popularity in the recent days
and from Dhaka, there has been a lot of innovative products like Nepali sarees,
hats, shirts, shawls, bed sheets, handkerchiefs, table mats, etc. The colorful
designs have become one of the most recognizable and remarkable handicrafts in
Nepal. Palpali Dhaka hat or called as Palpali Dhaka Topi is the most renowned
Dhaka hat in Nepal. Dhaka hat is a part of the national dress and also the
symbol of Nepalese nationality. According to Nepali culture, the clothes made
of Dhaka is significantly used by the groom on the wedding day. Ready to buy
the Dhaka products as the souvenir which is sure to make your woman look
elegant and the man look glamorous.
15. Nepali Music and the Musical
Instruments
Everyone loves music, don’t they? Nepal
also boasts of having so many varieties of music. Nepali music has been gaining
popularity among the tourist as well. Especially the folk instrumental music
played with combining different musical instruments. Listening to the tunes or
the songs, a traveler can enjoy more during their journey in the Nepal
Himalayas. Why not taking a music collection back to your home as a souvenir
and the reminder of your amazing Nepal stay! The most popular Nepali song is
the ‘Resham Firiri’ while the famous tunes are ‘Om Mani Padme Hum-a Buddhist
tune’and ‘Nepali Lok Dhun’. There are countless others to listen to. Now,
there's no comparing to the musical souvenirs, is there?
On the other hand, buying the musical
instruments can also be a choice and could be a beautiful treat for yourself
too. There are innumerable musical instruments in Nepal which is used during
the casual friend gatherings and from the formal to the informal occasions.
Some of the most famous folk musical instruments of Nepal are Bansuri (the
flute), Madal, Murchunga, Dhimay, Panche Baja (sets of 5 traditional folk
instruments), Sarangi (the most classical musical instrument) and similar
others. These could be the interesting souvenir to take back home.
16. Prayer Wheels in Nepal
Similar to prayer flags, prayer wheels
are also used for spreading spiritual blessings and the well-being. Imprinted
with the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum in the Indian script or in
Tibetan script, around an axle, the prayer wheel is spun round and round.
Tibetan Buddhists believe that reciting this mantra, silently to oneself or
saying out loud invokes the powerful blessings of Chenrezig, the Buddha of
compassion. Mani wheels or prayer wheels are found abundantly all over the
trekking routes of Nepal which are influenced by the Buddhism. These wheels can
be found in all Buddhism sites and the monasteries. In the form of souvenir,
one can buy different sized prayer wheels and bring it with them for the inner
peace and to achieve the immense blessings.
17. Traditional Nepalese Clothing
Nepal is a multicultural country where
inhabits vast number of communities living together preserving their own unique
cultures and traditions. With this comes the number of styles of clothing that
is worn by them multiple communities known as traditional clothing. There are
so many beautiful dresses or the attires which has gained the popularity even
among the tourists today. Traditional clothing in Nepal is very colorful and
joyful. They are comparatively cheaper to purchase as well. From the 70s look
to the modern trendy looks, the Nepali clothing are improving time to time and
the generations to generations. Made from the varieties of fabrics including
wool, cotton, cashmere and silk, Nepali traditional clothing is distinguishable
by its durability, warmth and often the vibrant colors. From hats to the
slippers, shirts to the jackets, trousers to the pants and from blouses to the
dresses, more than enough choices are there to choose from while buying as a
souvenir for your close ones.
18. Traditional Dolls and Puppets in
Nepal
One of the most typical Nepali
souvenirs which you can buy before you fly to your home nation is the
traditional dolls and puppets. Been existing here for centuries, Nepalese
produces so much of these handicrafts either to export or mainly to showcase
the craftsmanship of the local Nepali artists to the foreigners. Bhaktapur in
the Kathmandu valley is mainly popular for the production of the unique dolls
and puppets. They usually depict different gods and goddesses or even demons
according to the Hindu traditions while could also portrait the different
cultural attires in different shapes and forms of a human figure at the other
times. Would you consider of buying one of these dolls or puppets as a souvenir
to your family??
19. Tiger Balm
Here’s another simple but a very
effective item you can buy as a souvenir, known as tiger balm. Tiger balm is
like a lotion which you apply on the skin to ward off the cold at winter times
or to finish off the running nose problems. It’s similar to the Vicks if you’ve
heard of it which will come very handy while you are traveling overseas. You
will find it easily on the streets of the touristic markets as these lotions
will be carried by the individual street vendors who is always on the move to
and fro. Probably one of the cheapest souvenirs you can find in the Nepali
touristic market.
20. Other Traditional and Cultural
Nepali Handicrafts
Except for the pashmina products, lokta
paper products and various jewelleries that we have mentioned before, there are
also many other traditional and cultural handicrafts which proudly showcase the
beauty and uniqueness of Nepal and the Nepali society. Lots of varieties to
choose from, which will keep you all enthusiastic and interested throughout
your shopping period. We also have many bamboo products, the carpets and rugs,
leather goods, incenses, wooden crafts, ceramic items, stones and crystals,
alloy goods, bags and luggages, plastic recycled items, utility items and a
whole lot of other souvenir items.
Our list is never ending but these
items were on the top of our list of the souvenirs you can buy when traveling
to Nepal or before flying back home to your lovely country. Didn’t get enough
of the souvenirs we’ve listed so far? Nature Lovers can recommend you more
exquisite and valuable souvenirs for you to take to your home. You’ve been an
interesting reader, thank you lots.
