Thangka is a Tibetan word signifying and illuminated Buddhist scroll mounted on silk. Every multitudinous detail in such paintings is symbolic a Bodhisattva might be pictured seated in the center of a geometric mandala, concentration on which is used as a meditation aid.
When judging prices, take a close look at the quality of execution of the detail and at the quantity of gold leaf, which is used as a highlight in the good quality thangka. You will see them for sale in shops all over Kathmandu, and in areas with a large number of Tibetans.
At one time the metalwork of Nepalese artisans was among the best in the world. Figurines and statues depicting Hindu and Buddhist details were – and still are – created by the lost-wax method. Whereby an image is modeled in wax, coated in clay and then baked to melt away the wax leaving a clay mold into which molten metal may be poured. You can see this process and shop for metalwork at the Patan Industrial Estate in Patan.
No place in Asia sports a more tempting profusion of traditional souvenirs than Nepal. Nepal is so steeped in history, that many visitors do not realize that a new breed of young artists is at work, looking for ways to express the modern Nepali experience. The indigo Gallery 01-424303, Naxal, is in the same building as Mike’s Breakfast, providing a good opportunity to enjoy a splendid meal in soothing surroundings while taking a look at the latest exhibition. The October Gallery 01- 271545, Swayambhu, is another space that exhibits the work of contemporary Nepali artists.
It’s difficult to resist Nepal’s silk-embroidered T-Shirts. Designs range from unique and fetching to plain off-the-wall, but there is something for nearly everyone. You can have your clothes custom embroidered if you like –at bargain prices. Elsewhere, clothes in Nepal are a mixed bag. Much of the clothing on sale in Thamel is poor quality and likely to be considered eccentric outside Nepal: conservative dressers are unlikely to find much they like. Items such as the inexpensive cotton drawstring trousers and skirts are fine for in and around Kathmandu. But you are unlikely to wear them out when you get home.
The sweaters widely on sale around Thamel look great, but they rarely make it through a winter without starting to fall apart. The claims by shopkeepers that the sweaters are made of yak wool are simply a sales pitch. Local clothing can make good souvenirs. Saris and lungi are widely available. Look, too, for topi, the jaunty caps that are as essential an adjunct to Nepalese formal wear as the tie is to ours.
Traditionally the women of Nepal and Tibet display their wealth in their jewelry. Family savings in many poor villages may go into women’s jewelry, which becomes an heirloom passed down through the generations. Modern Art in Nepal, Such jewelry – differing in design from village to village. It is almost impossible to buy, but the importance of such traditions has bestowed Nepal with fine gold and silversmiths. Who produces some superb ready-made jewelry and who can also produce high-quality work according to your own design. For Tibetan jewelry, Bodhnath is the best area to look, though you will see the characteristic silver and turquoise colors of Tibetan jewelry all through the Kathmandu and Pokhara valleys. Patan is commonly agreed to have the best gold and silversmiths.
