Stores, Malls or Markets in Nepal

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For hiring or buying any trekking gear that you may need in Nepal I used to recommend a shop called “Yak Mountain” – Sadly I discovered on 2012 trip that this shop has really gone downhill and they no longer hire things out and the quality of the sleeping bags that they now stock is Abysmal !!

However – I have now discovered a new trekking g gear shop that I can recommend both for hiring and buying trekking gear – This is “Sportswear International” – Located on the same road as Nirmal’s office but a couple of hundred meters to the north.

Bam, the owner has his own factory and own label “Hi-Himal” – His sleeping bags are excellent and represent great value for money both for hire or to buy
Prices to hire start from as little as 60NPR per day and to buy from 9.000NPR (Just over $100)
Down jackets are also available to hire with prices to hire start from as little as 50NPR per day and to buy from 4.000NPR (Less than $50)
On top of these already good daily hire prices, Bam will also give a small discount for longer treks (Usually a month or more)

Normally there is no need for either a deposit or is there a cleaning charge (Unless excessive soiling has occurred)

If you have any problem finding this shop than pop into HMA and one of the office staff there will happily take you to the shop.
I am Sure you will be more than happy with anything you decide to buy or hire from “Sportswear International”

There are literally 1.000’s of internet outlets in Thamel, some of them have good connections and some of them have Slow connections, some of them have good computers and keyboards and some of them not so good !!
Prices also vary Greatly !!
So the trick is finding a good one with good computers and keyboards, a good connection and air Price.
I have used the same place for the last 8 years and haven’t found better, Prices are 20NPR per hour, Good computers and keyboards and a good connection.
Located on the cross street that heads away from Hot Breads / Le Bistro (Same street as The Kathmandu Guesthouse) in the direction of Thamel Chowk and The Royal Palace. On the right hand side towards the end of the street.

They also offer a great laundry service which I use when in Kathmandu, a lot cheaper than hotels, reliable too !!

I'd like to recommend Fishtail Book Shop in Pokhara. If you are looking for second hand guides (Lonely Planes, Footprint etc) that;s the best place to go - as they have the most reasonable prices (have checked prices in 3 or 4 other book shops) .

What to buy: Second hand guides.

What to buy: Dhaka cloth is very popular among Nepalis and is traditionally used in folksy women's blouses and shawls and men's caps (topi). The weave is rather intricate and detailed and appears quite on the geometrical side at close range. Color focus is on red, white,green, all in rather subdued colors.
Buy by the metre and take home for your own design/fit at the home tailor's or get a garment made in Nepal. Topis are everywhere to be found, but you might find the best selection in Kathmandu's Asan road and it side alleys.

What to pay: A range of prices depending on quality, all affordable. Solicit local assistance when choosing pattern, quality and finding the cost. Normally sol per metre. If asked more than 500 Rs per metre you are being seriously cheated in a regular tailor's shop, but in artsy shops you may be finding something special at that price and above.

Holy Land produces its own brand sporting goods, sells and buys old and new goods.
In addition, they do repairs, and they do it well and inspired.
Their business is rooted in a sister trekking company, so thier equipment is tested (on Everest, to, if that is a good enough measure).
The quality sign for such shops are seams and zippers. These two things are the first to go. Good thread is apparently the most difficult item to buy cheaply for production in Nepal. This shop's ones are strong enough, thanks to good quality choise of materials and a good workshop with excellent employees. They have never disappointed me.
The proprietor is Baden Thulunge Rai.

What to buy: I have bought helmet, Swiss army knives, Leki hiking staffs, bags, fixed my backpacks here and a host of other things.
I also brought a sketch of a tent I wanted to have made, and it has been great.
They produce according to order, in a very professional manner, everything from down jackets, shell jackets of any quality you want (fabrics is imported), sleeping bags to backpacks and toiletries bags etc.
You will probably find larger shops with better selections in Kathmandu, but try this one also for good service and quality.

What to pay: It's quite cheap, most of it, except what comes directly imported from Europe or the US. Second hand expedition gear is ok, locally produced goods, repairs and made-by order is according to the fabrics chosen, by and large very cheap.

My Newari friend(My nepal homestay host family !) is one of the member of the cooperation(Shop).
If you say about this homepage and my nickname(Hideki,Japani Phyakha),you will buy goods with 'Nepali Price'.
I made up the Map of the shop on my website.
URL http://ea.uuhp.com/~kamayan/NepalUseful.htm

What to buy: +++Handicraft Goods+++
Silver Jewelry and Accessories.
Horn / Bone / Wood / Metal Buttons and Accessories.
Recycled / Lokta / Mitsumata (Argelo)Paper and Paper Products.
Mithila Painting and Products.
Wood Crafts.
Silk Screening and Block Printing
Silk Pashmina / Cashmere Scarves, Stoles, Shawls, Throws etc.
Clay Garden Items, Incense Holders. Candle Holders, Decoratives etc.
Natural Handloom Fabric Products, Cotton / Woollen Knitwear etc.
Metal Photo Frames, Votive Candle Holders etc.
Thangka / Scroll Paintings etc.

What to pay: You can buy your favorites with friend price!
Not likely Thamel Area shop for foreigners.

Nepal is maturing as a coffee grower and it's organic production based on small home plantations has really taken off. The most important places are the hills in the central parts of the country from a bit west of Pokhara to the hills east of Kathmandu. The quality and taste is really good, and you will enjoy good memories of Nepal along with a refreshing good cup of coffee. I do bring coffee home on every trip.

Note that when you get coffee served in private homes of roadside stalls it is very weak and taken nearly the same way as tea. You find better coffees at speciality shops in the cities.

What to buy: What to buy is up to the individual buyer's taste and preference, of course, so little is to be said in a general recommendation about this. I prefer medium and dark roast, the common bean is the Arabica, and I prefer to bring the whole beanns, vacuum packed back home. Brands that I have tested are Everest Coffee, Machhapuchhare Flying Bird, and I generally fin coffee from Palpa district tasty.

What to pay: The well packed ones meant for the upmarket and tourist market segments is expensive in Nepali terms, my last filter coffee purchase was NPR 280 for 200g dark roast. Definitely cheaper than my home price.

Upon landing in Nepal, exchange sufficient money at TIA to get you a taxi into town, a room deposit and a beer, say 50 USD or so. The TIA exchange counter's rate is bad. Once settled in a hotel, go to the nearest exchange counter (not hotel, they add an extra fee as well) and do the main exchange. It is also a good idea to use visa cards at ATMs - that's the absolutely best way to handle money. ATMs are comeing up everywhere in small towns and urban centres. Personally, I always carry a stack of EUR or USD for hard-currency payments (local flights etc), and pay other bills in rupees withdrawn on a visa card. I use one visa bank card and one visa bank card, using mostly the credit card when shopping for safety's sake (you et your money back if things go awry on credit cards, but with a bank card you lay your account open for theft). If you pay services and goods by card, the credit card fee slapped on is quite high - I have been asked charges up to 20% "because I have to use the machine of a friend". Master card, Diners, Amex is less used for money transactions in Nepal than Visa. For large amounts, 50.000 Rs upwards, take your card to a bank counter and withdraw. In this way you minimize the exchange fees and trouble and time it takes to deal with banking. If you handle big amounts you may end up taking too much hard currency into into Nepal, and that's not good either - for you, as it might happen.