How This Boutique Hotel In Kathmandu Is Keeping Nepal's Heritage Alive

Forbes

22-04-2025

Nepal is a country shrouded in mystery. Home to Mount Everest and the mighty Himalayan Mountain range, it has long attracted mountaineers and trekkers aiming to conquer the world's highest peak and soak in its dramatic landscapes.
Kathmandu's Durbar Square, Nepal
But every country is multifaceted, and Nepal's location — landlocked between India and Tibetan China — has shaped a distinct cultural identity, one that blends Hinduism with Tibetan mysticism and a refined craftsmanship that continues to this day.
Whether you're looking for a jumping-off point for a trek or hoping to spend time exploring Kathmandu's many temples, there's one hotel that offers an exclusive window into Nepal's living history: The Dwarika's.
A veritable temple to Nepalese woodworking, The Dwarika's is a luxury boutique hotel filled with original carved masterpieces that reflect the country's Newari heritage, an architectural tradition rooted in the Kathmandu Valley and known for its elaborate woodwork and brick façades.
The hotel's central courtyard
The hotel is named after its founder, Dwarika Das Shrestha, who opened The Dwarika's in 1972 with a vision to showcase, and safeguard, Nepal's artisanship. His entry into tourism, however, was somewhat accidental.
It began two decades earlier, when he stumbled upon a family stripping intricately carved wooden columns from an old home to use as firewood. Kathmandu was modernizing rapidly, and Western-style architecture was the look of the moment — easier to maintain, and seen as a symbol of progress. But those old materials represented something more: the city's roots, its stories, its identity.
Saddened by the idea that future generations might grow up disconnected from this heritage, Mr. Dwarika began collecting carved wooden elements from buildings slated for demolition — window frames, doorways, columns — piece by piece, year after year.
Carpenters
Many of these salvaged pieces required restoration, so Mr. Dwarika established a workshop and hired master carvers to both restore the artifacts and teach a new generation of apprentices — helping to keep a disappearing art form alive.
But preservation alone wasn't enough. The project needed to be self-sustaining. And so, he opened a small guesthouse with just 10 rooms to help fund his growing vision.
Today, The Dwarika's spans 2.5 acres and features 80 rooms and suites, each one adorned with original woodwork, handcrafted furnishings and thoughtful Nepalese details. In 2026, the hotel will open a new wing with an additional 40 rooms. There is also a sister property in Dhulikhel, a countryside retreat about an hour outside Kathmandu, designed as a space focused on nature, wellness and slow living.
The Dwarika's Kathmandu
The Dwarika's remains a family-run enterprise and is now in its third generation. The founder's daughter, Sangita Shrestha, oversees business development and sustainability initiatives, while her son — and Mr. Dwarika's grandson — René Shrestha, leads the hotel's day-to-day operations.
'My father had so much respect for these old pieces — he believed they should live,' Sangita explains. 'He didn't want them gathering dust in a museum. But because modern needs are different, we've had to adapt them without losing their character.'
The secret to maintaining heritage, she says, is about balance. 'You have to keep its authenticity while updating its utility,' she says.
The Dwarika's Kathmandu
The hotel itself feels like a microcosm of Nepal. Its architecture — red brick walls accented with carved timber — evokes the grandeur of traditional Newari palaces. At its heart lies a sun-drenched courtyard where guests can linger over coffee or lunch under shady umbrellas. Nearby, stone waterspouts (locally known as 'hiti') pay homage to Kathmandu Valley's ancient water systems.
It's a rare experience — not just to admire this kind of architecture, but to live within it. As René points out, 'You'll only see this style of carved timber and brick architecture at UNESCO World Heritage Sites. But to stay surrounded by it — to sleep within it — that's something unique to The Dwarika's.'
The Dwarika's Kathmandu
The property also has a large swimming pool inspired by 12th-century royal baths and plenty of quiet nooks where you can unwind, whether you opt to pick up a book at Ambica's Library, a drink at Fusion Bar or enjoy an ayurvedic massage at Pancha Kosha Himalayan Spa.
Food is central to The Dwarika's philosophy, with ingredients sourced from the hotel's six organic farms dotted across Nepal. The result is a hyper-local, farm-to-table dining experience that changes with the seasons.
Krishnarpan, the hotel's signature restaurant, offers a slow-dining tasting menu that introduces guests to regional Nepali dishes, many of which are rarely found in restaurants. Other dining options include Toran, an all-day restaurant serving Nepalese and Indian classics alongside Asian and Western dishes, and Mako's, a Japanese restaurant specializing in kaiseki-inspired menus.
The Dwarika's Kathmandu
True to Mr. Dwarika's original passion for travel and culture, the hotel organizes curated experiences both in Kathmandu and around the country. Highlights include the city's three UNESCO-listed Durbar Squares — in Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur — each showcasing remarkable examples of Newari architecture and palace complexes.
Nearby Pashupatinath Temple, one of Hinduism's most important pilgrimage sites, offers a powerful glimpse into Nepal's spiritual life, while the magnificent Boudhanath Stupa is among the world's largest and most revered for Tibetan Buddhists.
Hotel guests can also join an evening aarti (a ritual of light, music, and prayer) at the nearby Ram Mandir for an insight into Kathmandu's devotional culture. And don't miss peeking into the hotel's wood carving studio to see talented artisans in action.
The Dwarika's Kathmandu
The best hotels offer more than just a place to stay — they provide a sense of place and a connection to the city and country beyond its walls.
It's a philosophy that Sangita continues to champion, both through the hotel and in her hopes for Nepal more broadly. In a world where so many destinations are grappling with the effects of overtourism, she remains optimistic about Nepal's future.
While many young Nepalese still leave to pursue opportunities abroad, Sangita believes the country offers something increasingly rare — a slower pace of life, a deeply rooted spirituality, and an enduring human warmth that can't be replicated by technology.
'I truly believe this region can offer what every human being needs: consciousness,' she tells me. 'Here, that energy is still very much alive — in the shrines, the stupas, the consecrated spaces that fill this valley.'