Shopping · Pokhara · Nepal
Shopping in Pokhara
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kamalbeloved, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Pokhara's shops cater to trekkers and souvenir hunters: trekking gear, pashmina, Tibetan crafts and singing bowls along Lakeside, with carpets and handicrafts from the Tibetan settlements and local goods in the old bazaar. Best souvenirs: Pashmina and yak-wool shawls, Tibetan carpets and Singing bowls.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 1
- Top souvenir
- Pashmina and yak-wool shawls
Where to shop
Lakeside road
Trekking gear, both genuine and imitation, pashmina shawls, Tibetan jewellery, singing bowls and books.
Old Pokhara bazaar
Local shops for copper and brassware, textiles, spices and everyday goods at local prices.
Mahendrapul
The commercial hub of town, with clothing stores, supermarkets and street stalls.
Markets
Tibetan settlement handicraft stalls
Stalls and cooperatives at Tashi Palkhel and Tashiling sell carpets, jewellery and prayer flags.
What to buy
Pashmina and yak-wool shawls
Shawls and scarves in every colour; check labels and feel for genuine pashmina.
Tibetan carpets
Hand-knotted carpets from the refugee settlements, often shipped home by the sellers.
Singing bowls
Metal bowls used in meditation, sold in all sizes; play them before buying.
Nepali tea and coffee
Tea from Ilam and coffee from the hills, packed in Lakeside shops.
Dhaka textiles
Woven Dhaka cloth and topi caps, a symbol of Nepali identity.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Historic site · Hyangja and Tashiling
Tibetan refugee settlements
Tibetan refugees settled around Pokhara from the 1960s.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Shopping
- Free
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Sel roti, Masala chiya and Lakeside bakeries. Street stalls and sweet shops, especially at festival time. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Lakeside | $$ | Guesthouses, cafés, trekking shops and bars along Phewa Lake's eastern shore |
| North Lakeside | $ | Quieter, greener stretch of guesthouses and yoga retreats beyond the main strip |
| Damside | $ | Older, quieter tourist area by the Phewa dam with views of Machhapuchhre |
| Old Pokhara | $ | Original bazaar town of Newar houses and temples north of Lakeside |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in NPR. Restaurants usually add a 10% service charge. Trekking guides and porters are customarily tipped at the end of a trek, often around 10–15% of the trek cost shared among the crew.
- Withdraw cash in Pokhara before treks; ATMs are scarce or absent in the hills.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in July–August; the busiest months are October–November.
- March: Holi — festival of colours (usually March)
- August: Teej — women's festival with fasting and dancing (August or September)
- September: Dashain — Nepal's biggest festival, many businesses close for several days (September or October)
- October: Tihar — festival of lights with oil lamps and garlands (October or November)
- December: Pokhara Street Festival — food, music and stalls along Lakeside (usually late December to 1 January)
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Pokhara?
Pashmina and yak-wool shawls, Tibetan carpets, Singing bowls and Nepali tea and coffee.
+Where is the best shopping in Pokhara?
Lakeside road: Trekking gear, both genuine and imitation, pashmina shawls, Tibetan jewellery, singing bowls and books.
+What are the best markets in Pokhara?
Tibetan settlement handicraft stalls.