The Best Bookstores in Nepal (2024)
LOOKING FOR THE BEST BOOKSTORES IN NEPAL?
You’ve come to the right place! As someone who majored in English Literature, I always used to love hanging out at bookshops. So if you are looking for bookstores in Nepal, here are the ones you should check out.
If you are looking for English language books, you will have the best luck finding them in big cities in Nepal, such as Kathmandu or Pokhara.
One of the best bookstores in Nepal is Books Mandala. They have a wide range of books and has branches both in Kathmandu and Pokhara. They also have an online store which has been a quick and reliable service.
Apart from Books Mandala, there are some other bookstores in Nepal that have a good selection of both English and Nepali books.
Check out the best bookshops in Kathmandu and Pokhara!
Best Bookstores in Nepal
One of the best bookstores in Nepal is Books Mandala. They have 2 branches, one in Kathmandu and one in Pokhara. They have simply the best and biggest collection of books in Nepal.
If you don’t have time to read the rest of this post, just check out Books Mandala, they also do online delivery across Nepal. I have ordered a couple of times from them and the delivery is quick and reliable.
Best Bookstores in Kathmandu
1. Books Mandala Kathmandu
- Location: Baluwatar
Books Mandala is not just the best bookstore in Kathmandu, it is the best bookstore in Nepal. It also has another branch in Pokhara which is just as great. If you are in Kathmandu or Pokhara, the best place for shopping for books is in Books Mandala.
They have a great selection of various books and you can find here any book you are looking for. The best part if that they even have a cafe, so you can chill there with a good book.
Books Mandala also have online store and the delivery service is quick and reliable. I have ordered with them before and usually they deliver within 1-2 days. You can also select cash on delivery and just pay once your book arrives.
2. Pilgrims Book House
- Location: Thamel
Pilgrims Book House is the largest bookstore in Thamel and it is one of the best bookshops in Kathmandu following Books Mandala.
The shop is spread over 3 floors and they sell a wide range of books, stationary, souvenirs and painting supplies. They have a good selection of English language books, including modern literature, classics, poetry, business and mindfulness.
They also have a children’s book section where you can buy kids books both in English and in Nepali languages.
3. EKTA Books
- Location: Thapathali
EKTA Books is another one of the best and biggest bookshops in Kathmandu. It is spread over 3 floors and you can find so many different type of books here, including kids books and stationaries.
EKTA Books has a great selection of educational books, so if you are looking for books for children for school or free-time, there are many options here to choose from.
4. Tibet Book Store
- Location: Thamel (near Garden of Dreams)
The Tibet Book Store is near the Garden of Dreams in Thamel and has a good selection of English language books. It is a great place if you are looking for books about Nepal or Buddhism and meditation.
5. Vajra Books
- Location: Thamel
Vajra Books is another great bookstore in Thamel. It is not that big like EKTA or Pilgrims Book House but they have a nice selection of books. It is a great place if you are looking for books about Nepal, Tibet and Buddhism.
6. Bookverse
- Location: Civil Mall (Ratna Park)
Bookverse is located in the Civil Mall near Ratna Park. The best thing about Bookverse is that it has such a nice atmosphere. Once you step inside, it’s like you are not even in in a shopping mall anymore.
The book shop itself is not so big but they have a nice selection of books and if you want to go to a bookshop in Kathmandu with a unique atmosphere, make sure to check out Bookverse.
7. Patan Book Shop
- Location: Patan
The Patan Book Shop is in Lalitpur near the Patan Dhoka. So, if you live in Patan, the Patan Book Shop is the best place for great books.
It is not so big but it has a good selection of English and Nepali books. They also have kids books and stationaries. It’s right next to the Dhokaima Cafe, so what’s better than getting some books and then chilling at the cafe next door?
Best Bookstores in Pokhara
8. Books Mandala Pokhara
Books Mandala is simply the best bookstore in Pokhara. It also has a branch in Kathmandu and both branches have the biggest selection of books in Nepal.
The branch in Pokhara is spread out over 2 floors and has books including English and Nepali language books, classics, kids’ books, biographies, business, self-help, classics and poetry.
Books Mandala also has an online store and they deliver books all across Nepal. The delivery is very reliable and you can choose to pay online or cash on delivery.
After you submit the online order, the staff will call you to confirm the order and give an estimate of when your item will be delivered. It is fairly quick and usually delivers within 2 days.
9. Fishtail Bookshop
Best for: foreign language books (e.g. Dutch, Swedish, French)
The Fishtail Bookshop is similar to other bookstores in Pokhara. However, what I like about it is that they also sell foreign language books such as Dutch, Swedish and French. If you are looking for foreign language books, this is a good place to look.
10. Everest Bookshop
The Everest Bookshop has a good range of popular English language books as well as a selection of souvenirs and stationaries.
11. Fewa Books
The Fewa Books store is a bit smaller than other bookshops in Pokhara but has a good selection of popular English language books.
12. Perfect Books
The Perfect Books in Pokhara, similarly to other bookstores, also sells a good range of English language books as well as souvenirs and stationaries.
Online Bookstores in Nepal
If you want to buy books online in Nepal, Books Mandala has a wide selection of books and their delivery for online orders is very quick and reliable.
I have ordered a few times from Books Mandala and I can personally recommend their service.
FAQs: Best Bookstores in Nepal
Where can I buy books in Kathmandu?
There are many bookstores in Kathmandu where you can buy books in English or Nepali languages.
Some of the best places to buy books in Kathmandu are Books Mandala, Pilgrims Book House and EKTA Books.
Are there any online bookstores in Nepal?
If you want to buy books online in Nepal, Books Mandala has a wide selection of books and their delivery for online orders is very quick and reliable.
What is the opening times of Books Mandala in Kathmandu?
The opening times of Books Mandala in Kathmandu is every day from 10 am – 8 pm.
Where can I buy books in Pokhara?
The best bookstore in Pokhara is the Books Mandala. It is the biggest bookstore in Pokhara and has a wide range of books available. They also have a branch in Kathmandu and they also have an online shop.
Apart from Books Mandala in Pokhara, you can also find a couple of smaller bookshops in Pokhara that sell a good selection of English language books.
Where can I buy second hand books in Nepal?
Many book stores in Thamel also sell second hand books. If you are looking for second hand books in English, the Pilgrims Book House has a good selection of used books for sale.
Where can I borrow books in Nepal?
There are a couple of libraries in Kathmandu from where you can borrow books. Libraries in Kathmandu include the Nepal National Library and Kathmandu Valley Public Library.
Which is the largest library in Nepal?
The largest library in Nepal is the Tribhuvan University Central Library. It was established in 1959 and has a collection of over 410,000 books, manuscripts, periodicals, audio books and other documents. It is located in the premises of Trubhuvan University in Kirtipur.
The membership to the Tribhuvan University Central Library costs Rs. 1,500 for Nepali nationals and Rs. 3,000 for foreigners. If you just want a short membership, it is also possible to just get a temporary membership for Rs. 100 for 15 days.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you are looking to buy books, Nepal has the best bookstores in bigger cities such as Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Some of the best bookstores in Nepal are Books Mandala, Pilgrims Book House and EKTA Books.
Books Mandala has branches both in Kathmandu and Pokhara, while Pilgrims Book House and EKTA Books are only in Kathmandu.
You can find many English language books in Nepal, including kids books, classics, modern literature, poetry and books on business or mindfulness.
If you are looking an online bookstore in Nepal, check out Books Mandala. They have a wide selection of books and their online delivery is very quick and reliable.
