Exploring extraordinary Bhutan - the landlocked kingdom of majestic landscapes, mythology, and cultural diversity. Once visiting this magical country, how can we miss the opportunity to buy the best Bhutan souvenirs to keep the spirituality of this Buddhist country beside us forever? Although the Government maintains their country untouched, there are myriads of things to buy for travelers when visiting Bhutan.
However, we should notice that Thimphu, Paro, and Jakar (or Bumthang) are major shopping centers in this remote country. At the local market, you will absolutely indulge in various types of traditional souvenirs such as handicrafts, weaving products, red rice, jewelry, textiles, and so on. Head for the list and follow the tips below to find out what is the best thing to buy and where to buy Bhutan traditional souvenirs during your Bhutan vacation.
Top 5 Best Souvenirs to Buy in Bhutan
Bhutan Handicrafts
Handcraft products symbolize the cultural identity of Bhutan. With a wide range of products implying the traditional creation and design of the Bhutanese people through time. Here you can witness the handicraft-men use abundant natural patterns to make the products such as the tree barks, bamboos, silk, and so on. Below are some types of handicrafts that you can consider buying in Bhutan:
Cane & Bamboo Products
Canes and bamboos are widely used to make many items for the daily life of Bhutanese people. Since the Government opened their country to travelers around the world, items made of cane and bamboo are popular gifts to tourists. These items are small and valuable to buy such as baskets, wall-hangings, carpets, mats, and so on. With myriads of shops selling these items, Thimphu is an ideal place to buy cane and bamboo products.
Wooden Products
The ancient art of woodcarving has existed in the Bhutanese society for a long time passing from generation to generation and now plays a vital role in Bhutan culture. Through skillful artisans, different shapes of wood become exquisite products and decorate items such as bowls, cups, plates, and unique shapes and colors.
They are widely used in the daily life of the Bhutanese people and now are one of the most favorable souvenirs for tourists traveling to Bhutan. This type of gift is sold in many shops throughout the country. One more thing is that if you see anything wooden phallus, just remember that it is religious, not porn.
Hand-made Home Decor Items
The perfect combination of rustic wood and creative, skillful artists creates unique wood artworks, luxury home decor, and unique furniture. These wine glass holders surely brighten up the living space and raise the inspiration for their owners. Travelers from the USA & Canada can acquire an amazing item after the trip cause it is recently available on Amazon.
Colorful Masks
Festivals play a vital role in the culture as well as the spirituality of Bhutanese people reflecting the deep inheritance of the Buddhist religion to the country. The dance festival is believed to have significance to people's souls, by watching these dances, is thought to help to purify their minds and bring them good luck. It cannot be ignored that masks hold a crucial part in any festivals taking place throughout the country.
Dating back around the 8th century, Bhutanese masks are generally made of wood, carved with different shapes of the face, and decorated with colorful fabrics mixed with the Bhutan traditional dress of the performers in dance festivals. Thimphu, Paro is an ideal place for visitors to purchase items at an affordable price.
Hand-woven Textiles
Bhutan is incredibly wealthy with abundant vegetation and herbal medicine from that dying materials are extracted to use for dying textiles to make stunning colors and floral patterns by traditional methods using various types of natural ingredients such as leaves, roots, and trees barks, or flowers.
Bhutanese weaving (or textile) is the unique art of the country that features intricate designs made entirely by clever Bhutanese women. After having been processed, the textiles are used to make crafts, bags, wallets, and especially clothing like Gho and Kira. Spending time exploring the textiles hubs in eastern Bhutan like Bumthang, you will be able to buy authentic local products at a low price that is hard to find in other places throughout the country.
Bhutan Red Rice
Like other countries in Asia, agriculture plays a significant role in Bhutan's economy. One of the main crops in Bhutan is rice and especially red rice. It is medium-grain rice, which is grown in the fertile valleys and contains various types of nutrition such as vitamins and minerals. Once visiting the kingdom of the thunder dragon, why don't you take the chance to enjoy and purchase this unique staple food of Bhutan for your acquaintances? It is sold widely in the local market of the country.
Buddhist Paintings
Buddhism has great significance in the spiritual life of Bhutanese people. It is not just a religion, it is the norm of people's behavior. Naturally, it is depicted in the art of painting using mineral paints to decorate temples or houses. A suggestion for art lovers is that Thimphu is an appropriate area to look for this unique item.
Top 5 Recommended Things to Buy in Bhutan
Ornaments and Jewelry
Ornaments and jewelry are essential parts of the traditional costumes of Bhutanese women. With various precious ingredients such as gold, silver, and bronze skillful experts make intricate accessories featuring Bhutan's unique art. These beautiful ornaments are worth buying and using for special events. Thimphu and other major towns are the shopping hubs to buy these items.
Bhutan Postal Stamps
Bhutan is an ideal destination for philatelists around the world. Since the first postage stamps were issued in 1962, so far, Bhutan postal stamps have been made with different shapes with unique designs, bright colors, and lively pictures making them become a great souvenir to buy in Bhutan. The Post Office is considered a favorite area to collect this unique item.
Bhutan Pure Honey
With over 70% area covered by vegetation, Bhutan's pure honey is one of the treasures which is given by nature. It is widely known for its natural benefits as well as for containing antioxidant compounds. Hence, that would be a valuable thing to buy when visiting Bhutan.
The Himalayan Beads
The Himalayan Beads (or Dzi Beads) are used to make necklaces and bracelets for people in Bhutan. It is commonly believed that it brings up a good fortune for people and wards off the evils. The beads are made from agate with different sizes, shapes, and symbols contributing to the abundance of good things to buy in Bhutan.
Bhutanese Handmade Paper
Bhutanese traditional paper plays an important part in the long-lasting culture of the country. The process of making people does not belong to any ethnic group but it is established by the Government to provide the pattern for Buddhist monasteries and the painting industry. With a variety of functions such as gift wrapping, greeting cards, and so on, it has been a favorite present for tourists traveling to the kingdom.
Shopping in Bhutan - Where to Buy Bhutan Souvenirs
Souvenir is something obligatory whenever people pay a visit outside or within their own country. Coming to Bhutan, people will surely have a chance to bump into manifold adeptly authentic handicrafts that, somehow, lead them to become shopaholics without any awareness due to its features of traditional values.
The point is how those travelers can choose some of the best Bhutan shops where converge these wonderful souvenirs? The following “Top 5 places for shopping in Bhutan” will be your answer to this question above.
1. Norzin Lam Street
The main artery of the city’s capital, Thimphu where travelers can literally indulge themselves in the street of traditional handicrafts and artwork. If you do not want to buy things, you can just simply get into the view of the street. This hustle and bustle street starts welcoming tourists from around 8:30 am to 9:00 pm. Handmade souvenirs here are amazing, however, they are expensive, also, textile shops can be found in this market.
2. Authentic Bhutanese Crafts Bazaar
This series of bamboo huts showing a wide range of authentic Bhutanese Arts and Crafts, is just adjacent to the Norzin Lam, right opposite the Nehru Wangchuk Cultural Centre. Many handmade things such as crafts, bags, shoes, and so on, can be found at about 80 stalls stretching nearly half a kilometer with varied designs. These stalls open at 10:00 am and close at 6:00 pm.
3. DSB Books
Coming to the country’s oldest bookstore, situated on the first floor of Jojo’s Shopping Complex in Cham Lam, tourists can immerse in a great collection about the Himalayas, Bhutanese people as well as fiction and non-fiction books, or even religious books like Buddhism and Hinduism. This shop is neatly laid out and the staff is well-trained and really helpful in the cases that you get lost here.
4. Choki Handicrafts
Another place where masks, thangka, paintings, or other traditional stuff can be found. This amazing collection of souvenirs comes from the affiliated Choki Traditional Art School. For one who has a passion for handmade stuff and wants to experience creating one of them, this place is a well-worth destination.
5. Yarkay Shopping Mall
One of the best Shopping complexes in Bhutan that you surely have a great experience during paying a visit here, especially for one who is a shopaholic. Basically, along with traditional stuff like handicrafts, and Bhutanese clothes... people can also find some high-quality products which are imported from Nepal, Thailand, and Dhaka. Everything being sold here is delicate and gorgeous.
Tips for Shopping in Bhutan
When shopping in Bhutan, bargaining is considered very unusual. Sometimes the seller would give a discount when more than one item is bought. You should be careful when selecting the present to buy to ensure it will not be seized by the customs on departure.
Buying bows and arrows
Bhutanese bows and arrows are one of the special gifts on the list of amazing Bhutan souvenirs. Dating back many centuries ago, it has significance to Bhutanese people in the past as well as the present. However, whenever you decide to buy this item in Bhutan, please ensure that it is allowed in checked luggage when you travel to your country.
