National museum
Nepal's National Museum contains three separate collections in three buildings. The building on your left as you enter the compound is of the greatest interest to foreign visitors because it houses the country's finest collection of ancient religious art. The works on display are primarily sculptural with different rooms devoted to different materials. The first room on the left is full of stone sculptures dating as far back as the first century, with the most recent carvings dating to the 13th century. The next room contains terra-cottas. It is in the next two rooms, containing metalwork, that the skill of past Nepali artists and craftspeople is truly evident. Just to the right as you enter the first metalwork room is a statue of the god Viwarupa with hundreds of arms. Another room contains wood carvings, mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries. Among the interesting pieces here are several toranas that you can inspect close up. The last room on the first floor exhibits thangkas from the 18th and 19th centuries. Spend a little time examining these paintings so you will know what to look for if you go shopping for a thangka. The second floor has a display on the lost-wax process for casting statues.
Partly housed in the Palace of 55 Windows on Durbar Square, this museum is noted for its large collection of Buddhist thangkas. These colorful and intricately detailed paintings on canvas were traditionally rolled up and carried by wandering monks to assist them with meditations and religious services. Also on display are carved stone figures of various Hindu and Buddhist deities that are even more impressive than the thangkas. The sun god at the foot of the stairs leading to the second floor is particularly beautiful. In a large hall on the second floor are cases displaying old illustrated books that record the histories of the kings who once ruled the Kathmandu Valley. In the section of the museum that is within the Palace of 55 Windows, there are the remains of beautiful wall murals that give an indication of how richly ornamented this palace must have been when it was first built
This is another craft shop that serves as an outlet for various development projects. Proceeds from sales of the shop's pillow covers, bedspreads, leather bags, lamps, baskets, place mats, and other items go directly to the craftspeople themselves. 
Artist H. L. Dangol is famous among bird lovers for the illustrations he created for the book Birds of 
Located upstairs from the Northfield Café, this shop has nice quality casual wear in natural fabrics such as silk and linen. You can also have your clothing custom made. 
Placed downstairs from the Festive Fare restaurant, this is one of the better thangka shops in Kathmandu's Durbar Square area. The quality is high and the prices are surprisingly reasonable. 
