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Shopping in Nepal
is easy. With a little money and some time one can obtain the best
buys this little kingdom has to offer. It will be helpful to have a
Nepali for company if a huge shopping project is at hand. Common
tourist shopping items include souvenirs and trinkets like gems and
jewelry. However, one should be careful while buying jewelry as
assessing their quality is difficult. Hand-weaved cotton fabric is a
popular buy among visitors. Some buy pashmina that this Himalayan
region is famous for and some also buy fresh tea and spices.
Popular
buys among visitors are local craft and artwork. Among these are the
Tibetan and Newar Thangka and Paubha paintings that belong to the
time when these cultures were at their peak. Visitors buy Newari
woodcrafts of picture frames, windows, statues and carvings. Carpets
that represent the age-old folk art of the Tibetans are also very
popular. Shops have rugs on display, however, carpets can be custom
made by contacting the manufacturer. Traditional Nepali paper is
popular as writing pads and bound journals, calendars and
lampshades.
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 the country. Hence inspection by the Department of
Archeology is required for export of antiques. To be on the safe
side, visitors should have all material examined by the Department
of Archeology and obtain a certificate from the office before
leaving Nepal.
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