Handicrafts, it is the best thing that anyone can offer as a gift. A beautiful gift. The mixed-up output of local raw materials and one’s carving can be seen in the face of these handicrafts. Normally, they represent the local hasty and busty culture.
That’s why the handicraft shops remain in the same place for so many centuries. Holding the same quality and the way of selling it. Here, some of the handicrafts are mentioned that exclusively represent Bhaktapur city.
Bhadgaule topi
Bhadgaule topi is a black cap. Originally, this Topi belongs to Bhaktapur. You can see the name of the topi. It’s bhadgaule. That means the topi of bhadgaon. And bhadgaon is the old name of Bhaktapur. Therefore, this is the traditional wear of newars i.e bhadgaule topi.
The speciality of this topi is that it is black and has the sign of two khukuris crossing over each other. It looks more classy. Moreover, it’s quite expensive than other topi like Dhaka topi. Despite that, people wear it to suit it with their daura suruwal. But occasionally.
Wistfully, today with the trend of western culture. More people are avoiding wearing bhadgaule topi. On the other hand, this topis is getting fame in souvenir shops. It is a handmade product. That’s why it has more value. Like in the haku patasi, the other handmade newari wear.
Well, if you want to try this, you can have it in many souvenir shops in Bhaktapur.
Handmade Lokta papers
Handmade papers, most often called Nepali papers are one of the best local products of Nepal. Luckily, Bhaktapur also prepares those kinds of handmade papers.
With that, it is modified into various other products like the notebook, lanterns, sometimes bags, traditional calendars, and many more.
Generally, those papers cost a little more than any normal paper. But, it has a good quality and softness that anyone, who touches it, can hardly deny buying it.
In the streets of Bhaktapur, especially, near the durbar square and Dattatreya square, you can find that kind of handmade paper and its variables.
Haku patasi
Haku patasi is a traditional newari attire. It is the black sari with a red border, that specifically, the female newa people wear. This sari is a handmade product. People, till today in Bhaktapur, made it with their hands and wear it. This cotton-made black sari has its importance being in such mixing colours.
The red colour in devotion always reminds the energy and power of the goddess Mahalaxmi. That’s why the border of the sari meant red. But you can see the green border in hakupatasi of Kathmandu, for some other reasons.
Clay masks
Bhaktapur impactfully is blessed with masked dances like the navadurga dance ceremonies. However, with that, there are other varieties of masks too. That chitrakars of Bhaktapur do make them. They made the masks and then recreate the life in them by painting the characters.
Those kinds of stuff are also a piece of handicrafts, made in Nepal. By some means, Bhaktapur can offer you those lively characters.
Wooden handicrafts
Bhaktapur square warmly welcomes you with its wooden handicrafts on your way to the streets of Bhaktapur. You can take notice of different kinds of structures and sculptures in any souvenir shop in Bhaktapur.
The small statues of animals, peacock windows, wooden puppets, wooden ties, and many other pieces of stuff, look so cute. While the shopkeepers display them in their non-glasses’ showcase.
Since they all are handmade and made with local ingredients you can also find the details and perfect finishing on them.
Clay crafts
The pottery square of Bhaktapur is an amazing place to sneak around. You can call it a shopping hub too. The clay crafts, made over there somehow seem cute as well as beautiful. Similarly, madhyapur thimi also arises it’s business with pottery jobs.
Thanka paintings
Another beautiful handicraft that Bhaktapur offers is the thanka paintings. There are several schools in Bhaktapur that teach Thanka paintings. Moreover, there are many shops with this kind of armour.
A Thanka painting is more worthy to be a souvenir to someone. It looks so passionate that anyone can go for it.
It is made out of a deep concentration as well as a sense of patience. Drastically, they are quite expensive, but they are amazing. The shopkeepers would also get excited when it comes to explaining the characters of the paintings. There are so many elements in a Thanka painting.
Like the postures of the god and goddess, nature behind it, central attraction, tantric illusions, and many more.
Felt products
Bhaktapur surely is a hub for wooden handicrafts to the woollen kinds of stuff. The local women, gather in a pati (A place made for resting) and spend their whole day making these kinds of woollen things. Hairbands, gloves, socks, caps, and many more.
For surely, it is the best way of earning them. And for the handicraft shopkeepers too.
Stone ornaments
Stone ornaments are such a beautiful thing. Even though you might not buy it at the shop, you will halt by the shop. Of course, cause it utterly grabs the attention and widens the eyes for sure, with its pristine nature.
Even if it is simply a ring or earrings or a necklace, it has a unique style. For that, it is good enough to call a handicraft souvenir.