“Chaos at the airport!” You’ve seen those headlines and TV shots the last few days, and you know they’re accurate. You also know that, at least for now, the new immigration rules are under legal challenge, with an uncertain outcome.
21.07.2023 - 08:26 / roughguides.com
Nepal ranks high on most adventurers’ bucket lists, and with good reason. Home to the magnificent Himalayas, Nepal reigns supreme when it comes to landscapes. Its world-famous trekking routes and national parks teem with vastly underrated wildlife. In its bustling market cities, cultures collide and living divinities hold court over ancient spiritualism.
If you’re lucky enough to make it here, you’ll want to bring home a keepsake or two to remind you of your once-in-a-lifetime trip. Whether you’re sifting through the stalls in Kathmandu’s Thamel neighbourhood, visiting Patan’s fair-trade shops or checking out the vendors in lakeside Pokhara, there’s a treasure trove of unique items to choose from. To help you return with the perfect memento, we’ve compiled a list of the best Nepal souvenirs.
Before you start browsing, keep these two small nuggets of advice in mind:
Tip 1: Don’t pay over the odds
Bargaining is commonplace in Nepal. Hone your haggling skills and aim for a 15 – 20% discount on your chosen Nepal souvenirs.
Tip 2: Avoid ‘antiques’
Unscrupulous vendors will often claim their wares as ancient, but this seldom rings true. And even if you do manage to find a bona fide piece of history, don’t be tempted to try and take it home. It’s illegal to bring antiques out of the country without a certificate of permission from the government.
Nepalese singing bowls are traditionally used during Buddhist meditation and prayer. Crafted from metal, they’re usually sold with by a wooden baton. When the baton is rubbed in a circular motion along the bowl’s rim, it produces a soothing ring that helps with meditation and is believed to have healing qualities. Bring back a bowlful of calm, or just a really fancy place to put your keys.
Thangkas are works of textile art with intricate details embroidered and painted in vibrant colours. The most opulent feature gold and silver threads and pigments made from ground up semi-precious stones. Thangkas depict important Buddhist stories and were originally created to instruct trainee monks and help with personal meditation. Depending on the size and detail, they can take up to 18 months to make.
Thangka painting © oceanfishing/Shutterstock
These super soft shawls are made from a fine wool that’s taken from the undercoat of the Himalayan mountain goat. Woven on handlooms, they’re a traditional product of Kathmandu Valley. ‘Pashmina’ is a Persian word that means ‘soft gold’ but you can find them in all colours and lengths. To qualify as a real Pashmina, the fabric must be made from yarn with a 97% purity, so watch out for mixes that incorporate synthetic material.
Tea plantations flourish in Nepal’s hilly climate and you’ll find beautifully packaged envelopes of every leaf
“Chaos at the airport!” You’ve seen those headlines and TV shots the last few days, and you know they’re accurate. You also know that, at least for now, the new immigration rules are under legal challenge, with an uncertain outcome.
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People have looked to the mountains for spiritual consolation for millennia. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,” say the Psalms, “from whence cometh my help.” For Nepalis, the link is especially powerful. The Himalayas are where the Hindu gods go to meditate and replenish their tapas, or spiritual “heat”, and the Buddhist peoples of Nepal’s Himalayan regions regard many of the highest peaks and lakes as sacred.
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While the frenetic chaos of Kathmandu sprawls and teems across the Bagmati River to the north, Patan – or Lalitpur as it's also known – abides in the ways it always has: more peacefully, more quietly, and with an inclination towards the considered and the artistic. It’s no coincidence that Buddhism has long exerted a strong hold on the city – Buddhist enclaves in Nepal, as throughout South Asia, are often characterised by a serenity which eludes their wider, more Hindu surroundings.
Nepal and yoga seem to go hand in hand: with yoga's beginnings linked to Hinduism and over 80% of Nepalese identifying as Hindu, it's only natural that Nepal yoga retreats have become extremely popular. And that's without mentioning the stunning mountain scenery that immediately helps visitors feel detached from the hustle and bustle of every day life. Whether you're a beginner or pro yogi, want a quick immersion or an extended stay, here are some of the best yoga retreats in Nepal.
“The Persians called this square, Naqsh-e Jahan Square, half the world, meaning to see it was to see half the world,” Samira Ahmed explains. The joy of seeing the grand square laid out in front of her speaks stories on her face, a broad grin gradually emerging. She is in Esfahan to tell the fascinating tales of this grand monument for BBC Four’s Art of Persia – an exquisite series looking at the history and culture of the alluring land of Iran, once known as Persia. I may be sat in my London flat right now in a looming lockdown, but I once saw half the world.
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