Kullu - Manali Bazaars Trip
There are many places where you can shop for handicrafts and local
curios in Manali. Make a trip to the colourful Tibetan
Bazaar at the extreme south end of Manali sells Kullu shawls,
caps, and other woollen clothes, and a good range of Tibetan souvenirs
that includes thangkas (Buddhist paintings on cloth, see Arts &
Crafts of HP for more), silver and turquoise jewellery, and music
cassettes.
Check out the Tibetan Carpets Centre at the Gadan Thekchokling Gompa
for rugs, carpets and handicrafts. The New Shopping Centre (NAC
Market) behind the bus stand has some stalls that sell souvenirs.
 The
Mall trip offers many options to those interested in the serious
business of shopping. Try the Government owned Charitable Trust
Tibetan Handicrafts, or any of the cooperatives run by local women,
such as Kullu/Kashmir Shawl Emporium. For shawls Bhutico is good too,
and so is Himachal Handicrafts on Circuit House Road.
If you’re looking for postcards to send back home, walk into
Bookworm at the NAC Market, which also has a good collection of
paperbacks. Roadside stalls spring up in the evenings, especially
around Cozy Restaurant and the bus station. Do try some locally made
pickles, jams and juices. Natural oils for massage and shampoos are
available from a shop on the Mall that sells nothing else.
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