Nepalese Handmade Paper

The art of making handmade paper has been of the great importance attached to the Himalayan culture and Nepali craftspeople have been producing handmade paper for over a thousand years. This ancient art of making paper by hand was initially brought to Nepal by the Chinese and was first picked up by Gurungs and Magars in western Nepal, and by Raisand Limbu in the eastern region.

Made from the bark of the "lokta", Nepalese handmade paper is renowned for its exceptional durability and wonderful texture. Nepalese handmade lotka paper enjoys a wide market base all across the globe,as it is 100% eco-friendly, recyclable, acid-free, insect free, rodent-free and lasts between two to three hundred years. Because of the extreme long fiber of the lotka bush tree and the way in which the paper was made, the uncrushed fibers make this textured fragile-looking paper very tough and elastic. The collective name lokta represents various plants like Susu, Baruwa, Kagate paat, Sikraand Locati that grow in the northern Himalayas region at an high altitude of some 17,000m above sea level.

The Past and Present of the Industry
A tradition in all Himalayan countries, papermaking has always been an important activity in rural Nepal. The art of paper-making art developed in Nepal around 7th century. The people of Nepal continue to use it in their daily life and, until the Chinese occupation in 1959, traded it with Tibet where it was used in the monasteries for sacred texts.

In the present times also, papermaking which is spread throughout the high hill region, represents a great source of revenue for the hill tribes. If cut 8 inches from its base, the lokta bush grows back, and can be harvested again 4 years later. The lokta fiber is very long and textured, making the paper extremely resistant and durable, hence popular and widely in demand. The plant also has the advantage of being a natural insect repellent. Due to these extraordinary characteristics, today Nepalese handmade paper has become a common term in the paper world.

The Fabric Used
Nepalese handmade paper is fabricated from a bush named 'Lotka', which is a bast fiber, and is cultivated at high altitudes in the Himalayas. The fibers are long, strong, and lend a natural sheen to the sheets. The plant possesses insect repellent properties which make it pristine (uncorrupted by civilization). This material is also available in unique and natural earth dyes.

In the ancient times Nepalese handmade paper was used for writing the 'Mantra , 'Sutra' and Buddhist epics but in the present days the paper is also used for making standard gift Items and is suitable for calligraphic applications, relief printing, book arts, and a range of decorative projects. Because of its exceptional features this handmade paper is praised and appreciated by all the users of these products.