Amazing places for shopping in Bhutan |
Posted: July 25, 2018 |
Any place you visit for a vacation, shopping plays an integral part in the same and Bhutan is not an exception. The shopping experience in Bhutan is like any other country, exciting. However, as a beginner, your shopping might be centered in only one place and you might not find everything everywhere, you need to look around and get to know things to have a good shopping. Bhutan is mainly famous for its handicrafts and regional things and they are not at all cheap. They are expensive since it reflects how much hard work goes in making one piece, hence, you need to respect their hard work and do not bargain until it is really necessary. Bhutanese people are also known for their honesty and they would not rip you off just like that. Shopping plays an integral part in Bhutan tourism as well since, for many handicrafts workers and store owners, that is their only livelihood. Hence, you are shopping can contribute something to their earning and their life as well.
The major shopping centers in Bhutan are Phuntseoling, Paro, and Thimpu. Here you would get local handicrafts such as jewelry made from Yak bones, metallic products, handmade paper, Thangkas, masks, Carpets, Bamboo handicrafts, Brassware, Gho and Kira, traditional jewelry, stoles, handwoven bags and many other things. If you are visiting Bhutan for the first time, you need to follow this guide to have a wonderful shopping experience.
Bhutan
Bhutan is a place for tranquility, peace, natural scenic beauty, tradition, and culture. Bhutan is a small country in the southern end part of the great Himalayan range. This country is famously known for its biodiversity, rich heritage, their culture and tradition and Bhutan has been announced as the happiest country in the world. Bhutan has the largest biodiversity space in the world and 70% of the country is covered with lush green forests. You can experience here peace of mind and soul, experience their tradition, spirituality, explore the untouched mountains and places and do some beautiful shopping as well.
Handicrafts in Bhutan
As mentioned before, Bhutan is well-known for its age-old handicrafts and different types of other things which include jewelry made from Yak bones, metallic products, handmade paper, Thangkas, masks, Carpets, Bamboo handicrafts, Brassware, Gho and Kira, traditional jewelry, stoles, handwoven bags and many other things. There are 13 main categories of Bhutan which is known as “ZorigChusum” and it is known to be a representation of Bhutan’s rich culture, tradition, and their historical past. You should include at least one of these handicrafts items in your shopping list as a memento of this tradition.
Best places to buy Bhutan handicrafts:
National Handicraft Emporium Address:Nordzin Lam POB 771, Thimphu, Bhutan Contact Number: +975 2 323 245 Operating Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
Handicrafts Association of Bhutan Address: Cham Lam Rd, Thimphu, Bhutan Contact Number: +975 2 338 089 Operating Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
Lungta Handicrafts Address: Chang Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan Contact Number: NA Operating Hours: 9 am to 8 pm
Hand-woven Textiles
Bhutanese textile is an amalgamation of raw silk, silk cotton, and cotton and then they are whirl round in cloth to make beautiful pieces. Likewise, the handicrafts, their handwoven textiles are also a representation of their rich heritage, culture, and spirituality, they take all their inspiration from these to make those motifs on the cloth. You need to have one Bhutanese handloom in your collection as a remembrance of their heritage. Every village and every house in the suburbs of Bhutan have a loom of their own.
However, you would need a guide while going for textile shopping since they would be the best person to take you to the correct places, tell you the stories behind the bird’s eye motif, the tree of life, swastika, double thunderbolts, eternal knots and many more. There are a few famous places for textile shopping, they are
Address:Thimphu, Bhutan opposite Taj Tashi Hotel. Contact Number: NA Operating Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
Address:Trashigang, Bhutan Contact Number: 04-581140 or +975-581122 Operating Hours: 8 am to 12 pm, 1 pm to 5 pm – Monday-Friday (April-December) 8 am to 12 pm – Saturday (April-December)
Address:Norzin Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan Contact Number: NA Operating Hours: 8 am to 9 pm
Address:Changzamtog, Thimphu, Bhutan Contact Number: +975 77 17 22 66 Operating Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
5. Bhimraj Stores Address: BHIMRAJ STORES, SHOP NO. 9/GF-01, THARPAI LAM, Phuntsheoling Contact Number: +975 17 60 27 79 Ext 252114 Operating Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
Gold and Silver jewelry
Bhutanese women love wearing jewelry and they were this immaculately designed jewelry on a daily basis and on special occasions as well. Their pieces of jewelry are made of Gold, Silver, Bronze, and many precious stones. Bhutanese handicraft artists are specialized in making these pieces of jewelry. You can buy earrings, nose pins, necklaces, arm jewelry and many more. Apart from this, you can also shop for sheaths and swords, lights, unique bowls, vases, cups, mugs and many interesting things made beautifully. Few famous jewelry shops are
Address: Traffic Square, Thimphu, Bhutan Contact Number: +975 2 325 485 Operating Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
Address:Thimphu, Bhutan Contact Number: NA Operating Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
Cane and Bamboo Products
Almost all the household in Bhutan use cane and bamboo made products in their day to day life and you would get a lot of variety in there. Among all the varieties, you would find, tea strainers, cane hats, bags, storage containers, floor mats, wall hanging, wooden baskets, etc.
Wooden products
Apart from the cane and bamboo products, Bhutanese household is decorated with beautiful pieces made of wood. You would get them in bright colours and intricate designs, the monasteries, Dzongs, buildings have wooden interiors like carved pillars, ceilings, and walls. Famous places to buy wooden products are:
Address:TrashiYangste, Bhutan Contact Number: NA Operating Hours: 7 am to 7 pm
Address:Chhogyel Lam, Bhutan Contact Number: NA Operating Hours: 9 am to 5 pm (Unconfirmed)
Postal Stamps
We know many people whose hobby is to collect stamps, postal stamps. Though this is a very age-old tradition or hobby, Bhutan is still going on with it and with a very high number. Bhutan is a philatelist’s paradise since you would get various types of stamps in different patterns, sized, with vibrant colors, images and detailed imagery on them. You can enrich your collection with these stamps and create a Rembrandt of Bhutan. You can send postcards to your near and dear ones using these stamps as well. Philatelic Bureau is the Bhutan Post office headquarters from where you can collect all these stamps.
Address: PO Building| Chang Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan Contact Number: 02- 322281 Operating Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
Buddhist Paintings and Culture
Buddhists are also very skillful in making paintings and sculptures as well. Buddhism being the primary religion for them, their paintings and sculptures also have a lot of impact on the same. Buddhist paintings are made with mineral colour and it depicts many aspects of Buddhism as a religion. You would find many household decorations with these paintings.
Buddhist sculpture is a very intricate and skill method which needs to be trained on and they are actually very good at it. They use clay to make these sculptures and then it is used for religious or decoration purpose. At the same time, these are used for trade and commercial purpose as well, tourists order their own sculpture and buy the same. Best places to get Buddhist paintings and sculptures are:
Address: Chang Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan Contact Number: NA Operating Hours: 9 am to 8 pm
Address:Nordzin Lam POB 771, Thimphu, Bhutan Contact Number: +975 2 323 245 Operating Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
Address: Cham Lam Rd, Thimphu, Bhutan Contact Number: +975 2 338 089 Operating Hours: 9 am to 5 pm (Unconfirmed)
Masks
Masks play another integral part in the life of the Bhutanese people since that represents their inner culture and heritage. These masks are used for their festivals, on different occasions and for commercial use as well. This mask making in Bhutan is as old as starting in the 8th century and the tradition is still alive. These masks are mainly made of wood and then they are decorated with colours, beads, and other stuff which match with the dress of the dancer. You can use these masks as great decorative pieces in your home due to their bright colours and designs. There are few best places where you can get these masks like souvenir shops and handicraft museum in Bhutan. They are lightweight and very reasonably priced as well.
Handmade Paper
This is one unique thing that you would get in Bhutan that is the handmade paper. However, this is a very age-old tradition of Bhutan of making handmade paper and due to its immense demand, it is still there and sometimes the demand supersedes the supply. As 70% of Bhutan is covered with lush green forests, they make these papers recycling woods and they use tree-like Daphne. These handmade papers are mainly used for religious manuscripts, paintings etc. but nowadays people from different countries are using this to gift wrap, notebook, greeting cards and for other decorative ideas.
In a nutshell, Bhutan itself is very charming and it would keep on opening up its wrap one by one giving you many surprises. Bhutan shopping experience is different from any other and you should thoroughly enjoy the same. While you get lost in its scenic beauty, you can buy these stuff from their and create memories of your trip at the same time.
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