If you are visiting Nepal you will be getting plenty of street vendors and specialty stores, selling almost everything and anything imaginable. Many of shopping items reflects Nepal’s way of life and culture. The Handicraft items are the example of this tradition. The herbal items that are found from high altitude mountain to the lowland of Nepal are used as medicine as normal food as well as many plants offered to god and goddess under Hindu mythological rituals. Similarly the Garments both hand woven and manufactured from parts of people’s use as per their need and cultural way of life. Nepal is a heaven for the shoppers. Shopping can be very rewarding and exciting in Kathmandu. You can buy various kinds of handicraft goods like clothing to the jewelry, incense, Tibetan items like singing bowls, mane , decorative things likeThankas, statue, beautiful potteries, antique things and others typical Nepalese crafts. Pashmina shawl and its clothing are other beautiful things hand made in Nepal. Kathmandu also offers you handicraft items such as miniature paintings, stone idols, bronze busts and junk jewelry.

They are popular export items from Nepal to other countries. Popular shopping items include knitted mittens and socks, topis (caps), Tibetan dresses, multicolored jackets and shirts and Pashmina (fine goat's-wool blankets), khukri knives (the national knife), Sarangi (a small, four-stringed viola played with a horsehair bow), Tibetan tea bowls, paper mashes masks, Buddhist statues, bamboo flutes and many other folks goods. Patan and Bhaktapur are famous for their bronze and copper works and has various items on offer. You can go for miniature bronze busts and idols. The bronze Buddha idol is a must buy. You can also buy tiny Khukuri, as the real one is not allowed on airlines. At Pokhara, you can buy Gorkha insignias such as banners, flags and medals. Pokhara is also famous for Newari artifacts. These artifacts are very beautiful and reflect the cultural contribution.

Note that all foreign visitors other than Indian nationals are required to pay their trekking permits, hotel bills and airline tickets in foreign currency. Also note that it is illegal to exchange currency with people other than authorized dealers in foreign exchange. All visitors should get hold of Foreign Exchange Encashment Receipts when changing currency and they should keep them, as they may help in many transactions such as getting a visa extension or a trekking permit. Credit and debit cards such as American Express, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in almost all shops, hotels, restaurants and agencies.

The things available in the Nepalese markets are:

Handicrafts

The Handicraft of Nepal includes many “crafts” such as wooden craft, metal craft and many other crafts. They include musical instrument, day to day utensil, decoration items and many others. The wooden craft items include much stuff like typical tradition window, different birds, elephants, idols of god/goddess and even traditional houses, temples and stupas. Similarly the handicraft musical instruments coverMadal, Sarangi and Flute etc.. There are quite a few other items of special value that carry some legends also. They include some weapon as a means of not destruction but as a protection device like the Khukuri. This is made by the traditional iron-smiths identical to the Gorkha who fought the ancient wars with this weapon and won the war from the hands of their enemy. However, it is construed that the purpose of keeping it is not to use it but protect from being used.

Thanka or Paubhas

These are traditional paintings, depicting deities and religious icons and symbols drawn from Buddhism. Painted on cotton scrolls or canvas, the best paubhas (thankas in Tibetan) use ground stone pigment for the vivid colours. For hundreds of years, scroll paintings have decorated the walls of monasteries, temples, and homes in East Asia. Especially, the Tibetan and Newar styles come from a time when these cultures were at their peak.

Gems & Jewelry

The gems and jewelry occupy a great attraction to the international visitors to this country. 
Nepal's most distinctive gems are the exquisite tourmalines from the eastern ranges, in pink, sunset rose, peach, golden, amber and green. There are very rare lime-green tourmalines that are found nowhere else, and some with more than one color in a single stone. The newly-discovered lemon-yellow tourmalines are especially fine. They include very precious and real stones such as Crystal, Topaz, Aquamarine, Ruby and many in a range of colors. These are used for making valuable jewelry that signifies beauty luxury of life and social status as well as religious/cultural symbols. These are made up gold, silver, copper etc. Nepal has some of the best goldsmiths and silversmiths in the world, i.e. the Newar craftsmen, who have been delighting collectors and royal patrons with their exquisite creations for more than 600 years. 

Gems Kathmandu has one of the widest selections of loose gems in South Asia. Ruby, aquamarine, black and green tourmaline, quartz, rare hamburger, panburite, felspar, epidate, and "healing stones" are mined in the high hills and mountains of Nepal, and therefore, are available in Kathmandu at competitive prices.

Hand Woven Items

The hand woven items of Nepal cover a wide range of goods that have been used as items of daily use as well as sophisticated items of standard including as export items as a means of commercial earnings. The woolen carpets from Nepal have earned a good reputation due to its warm and warmth and have occupied many luxurious drawing rooms of Europe, Japan and Americas. Nepal is also a country renowned for Pashmina, Silk, Cotton call Khadi and Kogita in local language. These Pashmina and silk materials are used for Shawl, stoles, Muffler, scarf and ready-made wear for both ladies and gents as winter wear. The cotton used for the ready made purpose for both men and women wear. Many weavers in the Valley produce handwoven cotton cloth of many colors and patterns. Visitors will find beautifully designed clothing and fabrics in Kathmandu's shops. The Magars of western Nepal also weave fabrics for ready-made garments. Tussar which is the best Nepalese silk is not shiny but has a natural glow. It is made from an undomesticated forest worm found in the southern jungle regions. The Newars of the Kathmandu Valley and the Rai people of eastern Nepal have passed on the tradition of making block printed paper and cloth to modern producers.

Garments

Though the history of garments of Nepal date backs as long as the Lichchhavi period but it has been since past few decades that the garments have been one of the popular items that has attracted users of many countries. They include ready made shirts, trousers, pants, jackets, suits and also dresses used for sports, swimming costumes, beach wear, summer wear and winter wear for both ladies and gents of all ages. Shawls, woolen sweater, jackets, trousers and caps are functional as well as interesting articles to take back home. The exceptional embroidery of the Kathmandu tailors is also something to be mentioned.

Herbal Items

The herbal product of Nepal serves as the real fruits of nature like they serve the purpose of daily medicine, hygiene and cleanliness. The washing soaps, bath soaps, tooth-paste and even hair tonic are made of herbal items in Nepal. The Silajit and Yarsagumba are believed to be stipulated in enhancing sexual potentiality. The Tulasi and Nim leaves are considered to work as a medicine for all-purpose. Thus a trip to Nepal can serve to any international travelers who comes here as a tourist, as a researcher, as a business person, as a diplomat as well as pleasure traveler. The visitors can make multipurpose use of their visit to this Himalayan kingdom. We will be more than happy to serve any travelers with a most appropriate itinerary of choice to the entire satisfaction and suitable to their time, budget and areas of interest.

Spices

Asia is an ancient spice stronghold. Since ancient times, traders have followed their noses to the spice markets of Asia. Kathmandu's markets, particularly, the spice market at Ason offer exotic ingredients mixed with the skills handed down from time immemorial. Nutmeg, ginger, saffron, mace, green anise, fenugreek, peppers, and coriander seeds are just some of the spicy names.

Tea

The eastern districts of Nepal, notably llam, are where excellent varieties of Himalayan tea are grown and produced. Though most of it is exported, shops in Kathmandu and elsewhere in Nepal offer a wide selection of the finest tea, packaged attractively as suitable gifts, and guaranteed as a great brew. The teashops offer a wide selection of fine Nepalese tea in attractive packages, which make great gifts to take back home.

Woolen carpets

These are hand-knotted pieces of art, using the traditional techniques of Tibet. The best of Himalayan sheep wool and New Zealand long staples are used in weaving the best-quality carpets. Vegetable dyes are used in authentic carpets though usage of imported cost- effective and enduring chemical colors is also seen these days.

Statues

The casting of bronze, brass and copper statuary in Nepal dates back to the 13th century. Nepal is famous for the ancient and painstaking "lost wax method" in which ornate figures are modeled and molded in beeswax

Pottery

The Kathmandu Valley potters are famous for their delicate art of shaping and sizing both terra-cotta and glazed utility and decorative earthenware. The potters' square in Bhaktapur is the place to buy these souvenirs as well as to see the potters in action. A popular inexpensive souvenir, Kathmandu's potters makes both terra-coat and glazed earthenware in the formof household utensils, small souvenirs and decorative items. 

Woodwork

Woodcraft is the specialty of the Newar artisans of the Kathmandu Valley. Among the items that you may wish to purchase while in Kathmano its making, and the details that have been worked into it. The wooden images are made by using tools that were used a thousand years ago. The Newars are expert in their artistry in wood. Their intricately-carved doors, windows, pillars and lattices are seen in and around Kathmandu. Tourism has greatly encouraged the manufacture of these ornate works in wood, mainly in the workshops of Patan and Bhaktapur.

Metalwork 

Metal ware, in Nepal, decorative as well as everyday household utensils are made of copper, brass, and bronze. These are elaborately engraved. Karuwas (water jars), antis (liquor jars), and hanging oil lamps are some of the very popular and useful souvenirs. Statues of high quality are available for prices ranging from a few thousand rupees to gold inlaid life-sized works. The beauty of the traditional copper, brass and bronze engraved items is hard to ignore. Oil Lamps, water jars, statues and others. Such items can be found in the Mahaboudha area in Lalitpur.

Carpets 

Tibetan carpets are popular floor coverings in Europe and much of Nepal's foreign exchange earnings have come from the sale of carpets in the past two decades. The designs are traditional as well as modern. The modern designs have been created by some of the best artists working today in Europe and the products of the better manufacturers have graced many a Tibetan rug collections. Today, special effort has been made to break into the American and Japanese markets with special designs and quality rugs. Carpets made in Nepal are hand knotted using the traditional techniques of Tibet. The best of them are woven from a mixture of highland Himalayan sheep wool and New Zealand long staple wool.

Mithila Paintings

Mithila paintings, known as Madhubani paintings in India and Janakpur paintings in Nepal, are a common practice among the women of southern Nepal. The wind, sun, and rain very easily discolor these wall paintings, but they were not designed to withstand climate and time. The paintings, in fact, are usually painted over with clay when the woman's house clean for the next festival.

Paper Products 

Traditional Nepalese kagaj paper, popularized by the Hippies as "rice paper", is actually made of Lokta (Daphne) bark found in the high hills of Nepal. Because of its cross-fibrous, and therefore, strong texture, it has been used for official documents. Commercially turned out as writing pads, calendars and lamp shades, Lokta have also gained international fame as the material for the UNICEF greeting cards produced in Bhaktapur.

Baskets

Baskets used for household and decorative purposes in Terai region are made from grass. The baskets come in different shapes and sizes according to their application. Raw jute which is one of Nepal's largest exports is grown in the southern Terai region and made into baskets and other materials.

Pashmina

Pashmina, from the Persian word for wool, is popularly known in the west as CASHMERE, wool of Kashmir. The fine wool comes from the undercoat of the Himalayan mountain goat, which lives in the most remote regions of the Tibetan Plateau. Today most of the world's Pashmina shawls are woven on handlooms in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. Most are woven on a warp of spun silk for increased suppleness and strength. In recent years, the silk and Pashmina blend has become the darling of the western fashion world. Pashmina is the latest and fastest growing Nepalese export.

Khukuri

Khukuri, curved metal knife is synonymous with the legendary Gurkha soldiers and their valor in many international wars. Its origin is humble, belonging to the hills of Nepal. Manufactured by iron smiths with surprisingly simple and rudimentary traditional implements, this is an ideal souvenir to take back home with. Gurkha Khukuri is one of its kind of knives found only in Nepal. Price ranges according to the hardness of the blade and the origin of its make.

Note: There are government restrictions that visitors should be aware of before purchasing items to take home. Antiques are not permitted to be taken out of Nepal. An inspection by the Department of Archaeology is required for any exports of antiques. To be on the safe side, visitors should have antique Tibetan carpets, old Thangkas, and metal statues examined by the Department of Archaeology. They should then obtain a certificate from the office before leaving Nepal.

All the above mentioned goods are found in the Kathmandu valley. You need not have to visit the other parts of Nepal for shopping purpose only. Kathmandu is the hub of shopping. All the products of Nepal are available in the valley so the shopping tour we have managed for you can be practiced on the basis of saving your time & money. It also reduces the hazards of traveling long distances in the country. We take you to the central area of shopping in Kathmandu. During the tour we join you also with sunrise tour & the mountain flight. Hurry up! Come to us for the fulfillment of your shopping quest