The 4 Best Craft Workshops in Kathmandu

1.Knife (Khukuri) Making Workshop- Forge of the Gurkhas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 143 reviews · from $68Our pick

Join guide Swoyam or Namrata for a four-hour visit to Indra’s family workshop near Kathmandu. You’ll hammer heated steel, help shape and polish a small khukuri, watch the host handle the risky grinding, and take home your finished knife.

“This was definitely a special experience and while I've bought a Khukuri from tourist shops on past visits to Kathmandu the ones we made this trip are higher quality AND have nice memories tied to them. Our guide/translator Swoyam picked us up and we went to the house of Khukuri maker Indra which is in a more remote part of Kathmandu and definitely a bit rustic. I went with my wife and 2 kids ages 4 and 6. We really enjoyed the entire process - we hammered the metal and ground it with a wheel. It was cool to learn about the parts and how they are recycling old steel…”

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2.Knife Khukuri Making Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 38 reviews · 4 hours · from $73

From your hotel lobby, an English or Hindi-speaking guide takes you to a family blacksmith workshop. With a maker who has over 40 years of experience, you hammer and help grind a six-inch khukuri, learn its meaning, enjoy tea and snacks, and take home the knife and cover.

“very fun experience, friendly guides, delicious tea, and now I have a good sturdy knife! highly recommend this activity”

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3.Gurkha Knife Making

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $66

Meet Aayam at Garden of Dreams and spend four hours with blacksmith Indra and his apprentice, shaping a Gurkha kukri in a small Kathmandu forge. You will work with Indian rosewood, stamp your initials on the blade, and take home a knife backed by a 100-year guarantee.

“Wonderful company which made for a really amazing experience. The blacksmith is incredibly talented and helped up create stunning knives.”

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4.Handmade Jewellery Workshop with Nepali Women

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $60Best value

At We Handicraft in Paknajol, you’ll spend about three hours learning jewelry making from Nepali women artisans. Design your own pieces with natural stones, enjoy a welcome drink and lunch prepared by the organization, then take home five to seven handmade items.

“Very cozy jewelry workshop. People who work there are absolutely amazing and very welcoming. The shop and the store supports a great social initiative of helping women and children. Really recommend going there and taking part in this special workshop!! :)”

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