Carpets
Nepalese carpets are very fine and beautiful
as well as elegant. Carpets made in Tibetan pattern
are very popular all over the world because of fine,
beautiful design, warmth and durability, etc. Such carpets
of the best quality are hand-knotted, woven exclusively
from highland Sheep wool from Tibet and some are mixed
with other New Zealand long stable wool. They have immense
export potentialities.
Carpets locally made are with Nepali and
Tibetan motifs. Types of wool, dye, density of knots
and production time reflect quality and price of carpet.
Colors also very brilliant reds and blues to dusty roses
and lavenders. Vegetable and plant dyes are mote costly,
as chemical colors in considered unhealthy.
Pashmina:
Is made of fur from Himalayan goat. It
is soft, downy, warm and lightweight but made from the
underfoot is of excellent quality and more expensive
than the synthetic mixed of artificially colored ones.
It is widely used for making sweater, blanket, shawl,
and muffler. It is a major export item, which can compete
in the international market.
Pashmina shawls are for the connoisseurs and woven at
handloom. A Pashmina shawl excels in beauty, color,
texture and design.
Brass and silver Wares
Nepalese use brass and silver wares in
various ceremonial occasions. They are elegant curios.
They are made in form of hollow vase by response method
some of them are studded with cheap type of stones.
Silver and brass, I different shape of animals viz.
lions, elephants, sheep, birds or other grotesque animals
like dragons, definitely draw attention.
Thangkas:
Thangkas are traditional painting depicting
curious religious deities portrayed on cotton scrolls
and canvas. In Tibetan paintings, various facets of
Buddhism of Tantric sect are depicted. Silver and gold
dusts are important ingredients. They are excellent
souvenirs. The old Thangkas or those made with nature
base are more valuable. They are used as wall decoration
and are very popular among the tourists visiting Nepal.
Varieties of Buddhist and Hindu deities, esoteric philosophers
and illustrative scenes are painted by traditional methods.
Some such paintings contain horror-provoking images,
the wheel of life. Images-of different gods and goddess,
illustration of stories, various Shaktis (erotic figures)
and imaginary representation of great thinkers, etc.
Thangkas or scroll paintings originated to represent
spirituality of Tibetan Buddhism. It use spread throughout
Tibet where being portable it was used by the lamas
of nomadic tribes in religious ceremonies.
Historically, mediators used Things as.
Figures portrayed were supposed to make a vivid and
lasting impression on the viewer.
Khukuri:
The curved metal knife is synonymous with
the legendary Gurkha soldiers and their valor in many
international wars. Blacksmiths manufacture it. It is
an ideal souvenir as well as memento for people visiting
this part of the world.
Khukri is a medium-length knife a formidable weapon
and a cutting tool also. It is all-purpose knife. It
symbolizes bravery and velour. It is an exquisite piece
of Nepalese craftsmanship. It is a unique memento for
a visitor to take back home from Nepal. Best Khukuries
are those, which have no frills and are in untainted
form, powerful and elegant.
Handloomed Dhaka
It is one of the indigenous products of Nepal, a major
export item. It is used for making Shawl, Scarf, tablecloth,
bed-sheet, etc.
Hand-loomed Dhaka cloth is also used for making dresses
of different styles.
Hand-made Garments:
These produces include shawls, woolen
sweaters, socks, jackets, trousers, caps and colorful
souveniour items also made from these products. Nepalese
trailers are adept at creating garments out of hand-loomed
cotton. Silk, wool and leather. These products also
include cotton T-Shirt, baggy trousers, and colorful
shirts. Sporty scarves in Nepalese and Indian design.
Tibetan wool jacket and hand night sheep wool sweaters
for trekking are available at shops very where.
Felt:
Today felt or felt based items are gaining
popularity. Felt items are made of high quality wool
from New Zealand and Australia. Felt hats and bags are
very popular. They are seam free and completely washable.
Woolen Garments:
Different types of Nepalese woolen garments are really
good and attractive to wear. They are available in various
modern designs. Jackets and sweaters are popular items.
Gloves made of wool are also available. Both ladies
and gentlemen like them. These garments are made of
wool, hand-woven on looms and tailored by hand.
Caps:
A typical Nepalese also wear a cap, which is either
black, or have various patterns. Printed caps are made
of cloth such as covered with an overlap of fine muslin.
Caps are cheap and popular gifts and are typically Nepalese.
Blocks:
Blocks of Nepalese themes are also popular.
They are used for printing on paper and cloth. Now-a-
days, Tibetan blacks ate also made for printing with
Tibetan religious themes.
Tibetan Handicrafts:
The most popular of Tibetan curios is
the prayer wheel, which makes a good souvenir for a
gift. Tibetan dorse or thunderbolt, mandals, cups of
human skuul, bells, puper etc. are good specimens of
Tibetan art. These objects are ornamented with silver
overlaysor encrusted with cheap types of stones.
Nepalese Tea:
Good variety of tea is grown I eastern
districts of Nepal. Small packets of teas are good objects
as gifts.
Beads:
Married Nepalese women wear a Necklace.
These necklaces are called potey and or metallic pendant
is called Tilehary. Younger generation of tourists like
colours and designs of potey. They are beautiful presents
and easy to take home.
Tibetan corals and turquoise are also very attractive.
Nepalese women Buddhist community wears them. These
items are also excellent souvenir, if they are not family
heirlooms.
Oil paintings:
These are quite appealing owing to soft
lines used. Postures and stances of figures are also
very graceful. Subject matter is either on religion
or on landscapes. Nepal's miniatures are also popular.
Nepalese oil paintings also depict social and cultural
life of Nepal.
Dolls:
Dolls of different sizes and design are
made with traditional skills these items depicts Nepalese
men and women in traditional customs.
Bamboo Cane and Straw
Products:
Some articles of daily are produced out of Nepal. Such
articles are furniture matting, basket, boxes, trays,
curtains, flower vases, etc. Commercial production of
such items has developed mainly in kathamandu and the
southern Terai regions of the country. Small dalo, baskets
and trays made from bamboo hand painted leaf cards with
scenery of mountains & rivers are also popular for
tourists.
The Pottery:
The potters of kathamandu valley are famous for their
delicate work. The artistry comes in all shapes and
sizes both in terracotta and glazed clay. They can be
considered as utility and decorative earthenware. The
potters' square in Bhaktapur is suitable place to buy
these souvenirs as well as see potters working. Bhaktapur
and Thimi are centers of traditional pottery industry
where wide range of useful items of pottery is available.
Cotton Slipper:
The cotton slippers of Nepal of unique
designs are very comparable to wear and attractive to
look at. The velvet topped and rubber or cotton made
slippers is very soft and light to the feet. The embroidered
slippers have great market potential. Kathamandu is
the main production center of these products.
Rope Incenses and Sticks:
Rope incenses are native special to Nepal.
Made of twisted rice paper filled with sweet smelling
powder (herbs), it burns slowly. Incense sticks are
also being locally produced. Incenses are also made
up of junipers.
Batik:
Batik are different sizes depict different
natural scenes and activities of ethnic groups.
Metal Ware:
Decorative as well as everyday household
utensils are made of copper, brass and bronze. Karuwa
(water jar), anti (liquor jar) and hangings oil lamps
are some the very popular ands useful souvenirs which
are made of copper, brass and bronze, elaborately engraved.
Wood Carving:
The art of woodcarving is one of the highly acclaimed
artistic skills, which we find in manifold art- forms
in and around kathamandu valley. All beautiful masterpieces
in wood, which are seen now in the temples and ancient
monuments, have remained living examples of excellent
Nepalese craftsmanship. The wood based art found in
several decorative items, pictures frames, penholders,
masks and ashtrays, etc. are beautifully carved and
made of widely available at very competitive price in
the workshops of Patan and Bhaktapur. Patan Industrial
estate is one such handicraft industry center in kathamandu
valley where over hundred factories with showrooms are
established. The art of woodcarving has received an
impetus from all over the world, especially from developed
countries where people have shown keen interest in these
items.
Gems and Jewell eries:
Gold and silver necklace traditional items
such as necklaces, rings, brackets, earrings, pendants,
tiepins, hand pins, brooches are all available in attractive
designs. The traditional beads are some of the especial
products of Patan & kathamandu. The variety of stones
like ruby, Aquarian, black and green tourmaline, quartz,
rare humbuggeries and healing stone that are mined in
the hills and mountains of Nepal are available at competitive
price.
Papers Products:
Several items made of paper are also available.
Colorful paper mach masks depicting various gods and
goodness as well as mythical are made from Nepalese
paper in various sizes. Note books, post cards and writing
pads, etc. Are all made from these materials representing
religious and traditional Nepalese and Tibetan patterns.
In Nepal, paper is made from various barks of plants
and grain husks. Among these paper eyes of imaginative
creators of paper products.
Lokta (Daphne) bark does not get completely pulped.
Therefore, every sheet appears different because the
fragments are not different filtered during production.
As a result of unorthodox practice collage of silk threads
from particularly pulped bark and tiny regular pieces
of brown bark thread spread across a creamy film.
To cope with low supply of raw material, for thicker,
variety of lokta cardboard, fifty percent of ordinary
recycled paper pulp is blended with lokta bulk. As a
result more strong paper without any degradation of
quality can be produced. In Bhaktapur there is UNICEF.
Assisted program, which is helpful for developing Nepalese
paper craft.
In general, handicraft products are among the major
examples items that can fetch up a huge amount of foreign
exchange of sound environment is created. The industry
can be sustained in a long-term perspective due to several
reasons. Firstly, it is labor intensive and skill oriented
bur does not require sophisticated technology. Secondly,
it is relatively pollution free industry, which can
play a leading role in the growth of national economy
for the least developed countries like Nepal. Thirdly.
It is friendly and completely child labor free. Lastly,
it has expert potentialities and can constitute one
of the major exports of Nepal thereby maintaining national
identity in the international markets. Nepal has indeed
been able to export a wide range of handmade articles
all over the world. Some of the out standing items of
handicraft products have great prospects of getting
prospects of getting increased global market. The export
of Nepalese handicrafts to overseas countries has a
trend of export.
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