Leisure at its best
Pratyush Mishra visits Club Himalaya, Nagarkot to bask in the morning sunshine and relax in the dusky wilderness
Club Himalaya, a beautiful 72 room hotel run by Ace hotels, sits perfectly on the Windy Hill in Nagarkot at 2175 metres and blends right into the surrounding and the lush forest.
As we made our way into the lobby, I could immediately see the attention to detail that was put in the interiors. The tikijhya, thangka and warm and hospitable smiles welcomed us to the hotel. After welcome drinks and a delicious lunch, we were ushered to our rooms.
The air-conditioned rooms with parqueted floors and the Aastamangal on the walls were beautiful but worth a mention and the highlight of the room was the private balcony that each room had. The balcony proffers guests with a spectacular view of the Langtang-Jugal Himalayan range and assures that all guests get to see the sunrise.
We only had a day to ourselves so we quickly left the comfort of our rooms and took a walk up to the Nagarkot tower, which again, treated us with beautiful views and cool breeze. After the hike we returned to the hotel and took a walk to the gift shop. The souvenir shops displayed beautiful items to take home as memories.
Fun resides here
After a long and tiring day, we sat down on the terrace to take in a soothing sunset sipping a beverage of our choice. The dusk fell and to rejuvenate ourselves we made our way to Health Club, Kavre where the Resident Manager suggested that we pamper ourselves in the indoor pool, Jacuzzi and massage.
After a reinvigorating time at the health club, we headed to Kantipur Restaurant for a delectable dinner. Bar Indrawati was our next stop after dinner. The food that we had in both outlets were authentic in taste and offered a variety to choose from. Like all the other restaurants and rooms in Club Himalaya, the ambience distinguishes Bar Indrawati from the others. From portraits of Lennon to Elvis, from western vinyl to eastern labas and madal, this bar has it all. With fusion and jazz music playing in the background, this is the perfect place to unwind. The bar has a terrace if you like the outdoors better and have a drink or two. If you prefer the cozy indoors then huddle around the ornate fire place with reclining leather seats.
So much to do so little time
After a good night’s rest and a stunning view of the sunrise, from the private terrace to start our day with, we decided to take a walk into the woods. The birds singing and chirping in the woods only accentuated the beauty of the place and can easily make one forget the busy life back in the city.
A tight schedule meant that we could not try out all the activities that were recommended. The hotel offers excursions to UNESCO world heritage sites like Changu Narayan and Bhaktapur if you fancy a walk. The hotel also offers mountain bikes on hire every morning in case you decide to explore the villages and nearby places on a bike.
The hospitality here is great. The staff go to great extents to make guests feel special and at home. For instance, if you’re on your honeymoon you’re in for a treat with special decorations and delights.
Club Himalaya is truly a retreat. It is an ideal destination for a weekend, honeymoon or a business meeting. With so much to do and such nice sights to see, rest assured your visit will be a memorable one. With the breathtaking Himalayan range to enjoy, great authentic food, warm hospitality and all the modern amenities you will simply fall in love with this place.
Nagarkot is the perfect escape away from the city on a weekend. Just 32 km away from Kathmandu, one cannot imagine the tranquility that resides in a place so close by.
