Papermaking is a seasonal activity for people living in Himalayas for extra income during post harvest season. Crafted in Kathmandu gets its Lokta paper from electricity for cooking Lokta bark unlike in other villages using fuel wood from Barpak village which lies 6300 feet high above sea level.

Ujjwal Shrestha

Kathmandu city has been the major consumer of this 3 century old paper of Himalayas from monks in writing scriptures to government officials keeping records of the country till the early 1950s. After two decades, this ancient paper-making found a new market in the modern world from 32 year old paper craftsman like Ujjwal Shrestha who transformed it to hanging  lantern, stationary goods and  modern lampshades making tourists to visit this world heritage city again.