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Shopping |
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Guide > Recreation
> Shopping |
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Shopping
in Kathmandu is a delight and a major preoccupation of many
Indian tourists. It is not only local Nepali products, but also
a large variety of foreign goods that are bought by tourists
visiting Nepal. Among the most frequented and also the most
convenient are the supermarkets that have mushroomed here. Among
the foreign goods, cameras are cheap in Nepal. All kinds of
electronic goods from VCD players to calculators are available.
Especially cheap are the Chinese goods that arrive via Khasa
near the Tibet border. Many brand names have their outlets here
in Kathmandu, like Madison (shoes, bags etc) Benetton (T-shirts
- jeans), Bally, etc.
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You can shop
for souvenirs along the streets of Kathmandu, Pokhara and some
of the tourist destinations like Namche Bazaar high in the mountains
along the trekking routes. Gems and jewelry stores have proliferated
in Kathmandu in recent years. Many stones like aquamarine, tourmaline,
rubies etc are mined in Nepal. The famous Gurkha knives "Khukuri"
are in great demand as souvenirs. A vast array of garments like
woolen sweaters, jackets, trousers and shawls are exported from
Nepal. Brass, copper and bronze wares are available in the form
of decorative as well as ritual objects. Nepal is renowned for
its metal works especially in making statues, which are also
exported in great quantity. But anything over 100 year old cannot
be taken out of the country. The more expensive items are woolen
carpets, Thangkas or the Nepali Paubhas, Woodcarvings and Tibetan
furniture. Besides these there are Nepali hand-made paper known
as "rice paper" made of Lokta bark, Papier Mache masks,
ceramics and terracotta and musical instruments. Among edibles
there are various spices, tea (both local as well as Darjeeling,
Assam and Sri Lanka), sweat meats like Gudpak and Pustakari.
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Most of these
souvenirs can be bought in tourist areas like Thamel, Freak
Street and New Road. Sweat meats are best bought in New Road.
Bhaktapur is a good place to buy thangkas as many thangka painters
reside there. Patan is known for statues and the art still flourishes
there even today. The lost wax technique is widely used and
some repousse work is still seen.
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