Thamel is a perfect place for everyone ranging from carpet collectors to party animals. For voracious readers, there’s something there too. Thrift bookstores are the added thrills of Thamel for book lovers. The Week’s Reya Shreya Rai and Joshna Karki take a trip around the nooks and crannies of Thamel and list the five must visit bookstores that you can get lost in.
Thamel Book Shop (Thamel entrance)
With the highest number of Japanese Manga comics in Nepal, Thamel Book Store is located right opposite to Fire and Ice Pizzeria and provides a variety of books over nine languages. This bookshop is even older than most of us, running over for 43 years already. Nicknamed Paki by his favorite customers, Anjani Agrawal plans on opening a library later in Sanepa with all his collections. Along with the humongous collection of Manga comics, Paki deals in both old and new books. The prices for old books are negotiable while new trending books can be bought at regular price. This cozy and intimate shop is a must go for any bookworm and manga fanatic.
The benefits of reading
New United Books (Jyatha, Thamel)
In business for 14 years already, New United Book is a great go-to for books related to politics and history thrift books. Offering a wide variety of books, this place has second hands books at the cheapest prices ranging from 350-550 rupees. Sadly, the owner claims that the thrifting business has seen a lull in the recent years with the development of online book hubs and gadgets. Regardless, nothing beats the original we presume. During our hunt, we came across a foreigner who had been frequenting the shop for two years now. He was completely bowled over by the store’s selection of books as well as the staff’s helpfulness. So, head over to United Books for some good non-fiction works and equally good company.
Sagun Book Shop (Thamel)
Offering a variety of hand-made soaps, wild honey and of course, books, Sagun Book Shop is the perfect place to go on a mini shopping spree. Established over seven years ago, the shop offers academic books, trending books, and the owner’s personally collected books, most of it thrift-worthy. Mostly frequented by foreigners for buying and selling purposes, the popularly sold book consists of writers like Paolo Coelho and Sidney Sheldon. Joseph Tache and Yogi Naraharinath occupy the top most shelves as these are the owner’s most prized possessions. The shop offers books preserved in a good condition and at a negotiable rate.
Grand Book Shop (Thamel)
Offering a variety of books on Himalayas, Tantric, Religion, Kama Sutra and dictionaries and translations of works in various languages ranging from Urdu to German, Grand Book Shop is a necessary stop for foreigners to Nepalis alike. The lull in book business is the general complaint due to the virtual bloom. Regardless, the owner, Titung keeps the bookshop alive with his collection of organic soaps, Nepali papers, pink and black salts that can be used for bath and consumption and other interesting souvenirs to remember Nepal by. Thrift books can be bought at a price ranging from 300-350 rupees and the variety includes everything from novels to mountaineering guidebooks.
OM Pilgrims Book House (J.P. Road, Thamel)
With the upper-storey dedicated mostly to thrift books, OM Pilgrims Book House boasts of a wide variety of books like spiritual books, massage books, dictionaries, fiction, Tibetan books and so on. The price ranges from 50-300 rupees making this floor an absolute haven for book hunters and spiritually aware readers. OPB also provides palmistry books, religious works, books based on self-healing and so on for the spiritually aware and the curious folks. Not only is it an absolute utopia for the voracious reader, but it also offers personal customization of necklaces and accessories with a collection of bright and beautiful beads at affordable prices and many other artistic attractions.
