The Dwarika’s Hotel is a beautiful hybrid of a museum and a boutique hotel in Kathmandu, Nepal. When we arrived at the Dwarika’s Hotel, it all appeared a bit strange in the beginning; handmade brick walls and wooden carvings. But, those wooden carvings, we were told were rescued by its owner, Dwarika Das Shrestha over 40 years. And then it all fell into place; this isn’t just a unique hotel, it’s a unique heritage hotel built with a dream.
Dwarika’s Resort Dhulikhel is a luxury mountain retreat, set on a hillside village of Dhulikhel, about an hour's drive, east from Kathmandu in Nepal. The concept here is to maintain harmony between body, mind, spirit and earth, in order to enjoy a peaceful, healthy and balanced life. The resort has been built using natural materials; stone, wood, earth, and its interior spaces designed with natural fibres and colours, in the hope that guests staying here would enjoy a greater sense of peace.
The Inn Patan is a Newari town-house, set near the Patan Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal. Owned by architect Rohit Ranjitkar, the 100-year-old building has been carefully restored, retaining the beautiful old architecture and blending it with necessary amenities, to create a modern boutique hotel. The historic brick and timber building showcases like a museum, many of the original wood carved windows, doors and artefacts, in Newari art that dates back to 12th century AD.
The Gokarna Forest in Kathmandu was the former private Royal hunting grounds of the Kings of Nepal. Within this forest was a lodge used by the those accompanying the royal family members during their hunting trips. Over the years the forest has shrunk but the century old lodge still stands, now meticulously renovated into a modern and luxurious hotel. The hotel is still surrounded by ancient towering trees, and there is an 18-hole golf course, one of the best in the region.
Hotel Tibet International in the heart Kathmandu’s Buddhist district, is a blend of contemporary art and traditional Tibetan décor. It’s located within walking distance of a number of shrines and monasteries, including the Boudanath Stupa, a World Heritage site. Just a block or two away, we spent our mornings walking with the monks around the Stupa.
Arriving at the Himalayan capital of Kathmandu is a cultural surprise. An explosion of colours, sounds and smells suddenly begin to envelop you. Even if you are arriving after a long tour in India, you cannot escape the pungent hospitality that strikes your emotions and blinds your mind. It is a fairyland we only dream about.
Hyatt Regency in Kathmandu is located about half an hour’s drive from the centre of town. Designed in keeping with the traditional Nepali style of Newari architecture, with its many courtyards, complete with stone carvings and huge timber pillars. A beautiful driveway leads up to a courtyard, through well-manicured and spacious, 37-acre gardens to a well decorated lobby.
The Radisson Hotel is one of the better 5-star hotels offerings in Kathmandu, a city which has surprisingly few very good hotels at the high end of the market. Conveniently located in the heart of the city, it is a short distance from Durbur Marg city centre and the historic trekker’s ghetto, Thamel. Although not exotic or sophisticated, it tries to maintain the Radisson standards.
Shangri-La Hotel, is not part of the International Shangri-La group but it’s one of the comfortable properties in Kathmandu. The hotel is located a short distance from Thamel, the soul of Kathmandu. Set amongst spacious gardens, it has an old world classic feel to it and is luxurious by Nepalese standards. The entrance area is large with a touch of old British colonialism; on arrival, a uniformed doorman comes to attention, salutes and holds the door open for you.
