Which Types of Prayer Flags Does DharmaShop Sell?

Updated

DharmaShop sells three prayer flag categories: English Prayer Flags, Indoor Prayer Flags, and Vertical Prayer Flags. All are listed as hand-printed in Nepal, and the site groups them under a single "Prayer Flags – Handmade in Nepal" collection. If you want flags you can read, choose English; if they will hang inside, choose Indoor; if you need a narrow vertical drop, choose Vertical. The store does not publish a single comparison chart, so the distinctions below come from the collection names and the site's overall positioning as a market for Himalayan artisan goods.

The three types at a glance

Type Best for What distinguishes it
English Prayer Flags Readers who want the text in English English-language printing rather than traditional Tibetan script
Indoor Prayer Flags Bedrooms, studios, altars, small apartments Made for interior display rather than wind exposure
Vertical Prayer Flags Doorways, poles, narrow walls, balconies Hang as a vertical strip instead of a horizontal line

English Prayer Flags

These are the pick when the meaning matters to you or to the people who will see them. Traditional flags carry Tibetan script, which many buyers cannot read; the English line makes the prayers and mantras legible to a Western audience. They suit gifts for people new to the practice, classroom or studio settings, and anyone who wants the flag to function as a readable object rather than purely a traditional one.

Indoor Prayer Flags

The site separates these from the general flag collection, which signals a design choice aimed at interiors. Indoor use means less concern about wind, rain, and sun fading, and more about how the colors sit against a wall or above a small altar. Choose these if the flags will hang in a room, over a desk, or in a meditation corner. If you plan to string them across a garden or porch, the general outdoor-oriented flags are the more natural fit.

Vertical Prayer Flags

Vertical flags hang as a single column rather than a horizontal garland. That shape works where horizontal space is limited: beside a door frame, from a balcony rail, on a pole, or in a narrow hallway. They are also the format people associate with traditional pole-mounted displays. Pick vertical if your hanging point is tall and narrow rather than wide and open.

How to decide

  1. Decide where they will hang. Outdoors and exposed → standard outdoor flags. Indoors → Indoor Prayer Flags. Tight vertical space → Vertical Prayer Flags.
  2. Decide whether the text must be readable. If yes, English Prayer Flags. If traditional script is what you want, the other collections are the better match.
  3. Check the hanging hardware you already have. Horizontal strings need two anchor points; vertical flags need one top attachment. This often settles the choice before anything else.
  4. Confirm shipping and currency before ordering. The site lists many currencies and states free shipping on U.S. orders over $100; the cart total reflects your selected currency.

Practical notes before you buy

  • Handmade means variation. Because the flags are hand-printed in Nepal, expect slight differences in ink coverage and color between sets. That is a feature of the product, not a defect.
  • Indoor flags still fade. Even inside, direct sun will dull the fabric over time; rotate or move them if color matters.
  • English flags are the least traditional option. If the flags are for a traditional altar or a gift to a practitioner, Tibetan-script flags may be more appropriate.
  • Check the collection page for current stock. The site rotates "Just in from Nepal" items, and specific designs within each category change.

If you are still unsure, the simplest rule: outdoors and traditional → standard flags; indoors → Indoor; readable text → English; narrow hanging space → Vertical.