Silver
Note that jewellers from bangkok come to kathmandu to buy wholesale silver with indian-processed semiprecious gemstones. the wholesale price of silver is published on the front page of the "himalayan" newspaper 1 tola= 11.6 gm so buyers can get an idea of the metal cost of the piece, apart from the labor cost. silver is almost invariably near the stamped "92.5%" sterling, as claimed.
Pashmina
the south asian word for cashmere scarves and shawls can be purchased for a fraction of the price of those in europe or north america. look for those produced by the tibetan refugee camp just outside of patan or other charitable organizations.
Clothing
Kathmandu is a great place to shop for clothes. flowing hippie gauzes, monk's robes in saffrons and maroons, funky neon trance-wear, hemp clothing, dozens of elegant silks and 'suiting and shirting' are available in all qualities and prices. tailors can be hired at reasonable fees and quality is high. handwoven nepali fabrics are $1-3/m and available in endless patterns and colours. anything, from bags to mountaineering equipment to cocktail dresses can be made to order and tailored to perfection. the alleys around indra chowk, between thamel and durbar square, have dozens of fabric shops and tailors, much more dedicated to customer satisfaction than the hurried and expensive shops in thamel. bishal bazaar near the corner of new road and durbar square is a mall-like experience which also boasts several fabric shops and tailors. it is acceptable to buy fabric from one place and get it stitched in another! expect to pay around 250 npr to stitch a western-style mens/ladies shirt. feel free to take an existing item of clothing with you for the tailor to copy. warning: if having clothes made to wear later at home, get measured before trekking, if you want them to fit when you return to your normal size!
Cultural artifacts
Be advised that there are a lot of counterfeits, sly salesmen, and plastics presented as wood. most real antiques are illegal to export. genuine antiquities may have been looted from temples. patan, sister city of kathmandu, is known for the quality of her bronzes. read "shopping for buddhas" available in book stores, if you are.
Electronics
A lot of people find kathmandu a good place to buy a camera or other electronic device due to the lack of sales tax and import duty on electronics. there are shops in thamel, and around new road.
Carpets and Rugs
Thamel has a number of carpet shops that have good quality silk and wool carpets. royal collectionshop 13, l.p. jyoti line had a nice selection and good prices after some aggressive price negotiations. some places will charge a service fee on a purchase with a credit card, so make sure you get that clear during the pricing process.
Books
Pilgrims
In thamel next to the kathmandu guest house is the largest and most well established english language bookshop in kathmandu. they have great sections on buddhism a whole room devoted to vajrayana, as well as an encyclopedic selection on books devoted to subjects on nepal.
Second Hand
The alleys of thamel are full of second hand book shops. check around for a good price, as they do vary immensely. return read books for 50% buyback or store credit.
Mandala Book Point
Kantipath, tel: 4227711 (http://www.mandalabookpoi...). probably the best for all types of reference,academic texts, tourist books and maps. mandala also publishes books on sociology, anthropology, culture, politics and history of nepal. it also a centre for most scholars visiting nepal and patrons are encouraged to take part in the lively and informative discussions that frequently occur within the shop every evening. the most reliable shop for the economist and international herald tribune. located on the east side of kantipath just south of the mountain hotel and nabil bank building
Quixote's Cove: the bookshop
Jawalakhel, tel: 553-6974 (http://www.qcbookshop.com). located next to new orleans cafe in jawalakhel, this bookshop is housed in an old 1930s building and combines a great collection of fiction with a marvelously cosy environment.
Vajra Books
Jyatha, thamel very near to chikusa cafã© - huge selection of books on buddhism, nepal and tibet studies.
Ekta Books
Huge collection of almost all types of books is found in ekta books which is in thapathali near norvic hospital.
Kathmandu is a great place to stock up or trade in reading material. Used bookstores cover everything from backpacker favorites, to classics, to local history and culture.
Tibet Book Store
Thamel on the road leading in from the palace - good selection of books on vajrayana and tibet studies.