Best Shopping In Bhutan

What to buy in Bhutan?

Here are the various things to buy in Bhutan when you visit the country and want to bring home some Bhutan souvenirs:

1. Handicraft items

Bhutanese culture has their art and craft divided into thirteen categories called Zorig Chusum. The school for handicrafts is also known by the same name. This is a popular profession in the country and many local artisans and craftsmen have degrees from National Institute of Zorig Chusum. These categories represent history, culture, tradition and the intricate science of art. From the many places for shopping in Paro, Bhutan, you can find wooden crafts, Bhutanese handicrafts bamboo products, paper and paper pulp products, wall hangings, bags and many other trinkets to buy. The wooden bowls or dappas, famous in the Trashiyangtse district as well as the rest of Bhutan, is one of the most popular gifts to buy in Bhutan. The National Handicraft Emporium in Thimphu has the best gallery to choose from.

2. Thangkas

Thangkas are a speciality of Bhutan. They are large drawings on cloth, made of cotton or silk, meant to be hanged like a painting on the wall. Thangkas have Buddhist roots and in many cases the painting is of the many forms of Lord Buddha. Usually they are vividly colourful, with hand-woven work with thread of every colour.  One should most certainly pay a visit to the shop of Zorig Chusum institute to buy one of these iconic indigenous products of Bhutan and grace the walls of their homes with it.

3. Hand-woven textiles

Hand-woven textiles are great for shopping in Bhutan, Thimphu. They are not like the usual clothing pieces one can buy anywhere. Bhutanese villages have their own unique textiles which are different than regular cotton or silk. Adang village in Wangdue Phodrang district is especially known for the three textiles made only there – Adang Rachu, Adang Mathra and Adang Khamar. For warmer clothes, Yethra is a textile made from putting together several strips of wool and dyeing them with natural colours. Sweaters, jackets, blankets, rugs – things made from Yethra are all very soft, warm and comfortable.

4. Himalayan Dzi beads

Himalayan Dzi beads are yet another speciality of Bhutan. They are crystalline rocks made of agate and used as beads in necklace, bracelet or earrings. But more than fashion accessories, they are known for their spiritual properties. People believe the Dzi beads bring luck and fight off the evil forces. They can be bought in different shapes and sizes – ovals, squares, cylinders, spirals. They can be monochromatic or have lines, dots and stripes on them. Dzi beads are one of the most expensive beads on earth and are great Bhutan souvenirs for someone you love and want to keep safe.

5. Bhutanese masks

The colourful masks decked with fabrics, paints and other embellishments are recreations of the masks that the dancers and performers wear during the many cultural festivals. Bhutanese artists recreate them in wood for the tourists to take home as a memory. It is a special thing to buy in Bhutan since it represents the country’s tradition.

6. Traditional Jewelry of Bhutan

One must definitely buy Bhutan jewelry while shopping in Bhutan. Bhutan is famous for its gold and silver jewelry. One can even buy bracelets and necklaces made from Himalayan beads which are quite popular and trendy in Bhutan.

7. Famous Buddhist Paintings

Bhutan is famous for its art, culture, and religion which also depicts in their paintings. Buddhist paintings can be purchased from the local markets at affordable prices. These painting showcases the religion of the country and is made using mineral paints.