Lonely Planet Review
Anyone who likes playing golf, pampering themselves in a spa, or watching monkeys play in the surrounding forest - let's face it, anyone with a pulse - will love this modern-day palace surrounded by the Gokarna Forest Reserve. It's just perfect if you need some pampering after a trek.
Surrounded by one of Kathmandu's last remaining forests, a 470-acre former royal hunting reserve, you'd never guess that you were only a 30-minute drive from central Kathmandu. The Newari-style dark woods and terracottas complement the wicker furniture and add a rich colonial feel. In fact, the secluded old block rooms are housed in a former Rana hunting lodge. Attached to the hotel is the Gleneagles-designed Gokarna Forest Golf Resort, the best in the country and one of the finest in South Asia. Alternatively, feel your insides melt during an Ayurvedic massage or a tamarind and oatmeal polish at the Harmony Spa. Or join a hotel guide on a forest walk and check out the steps built into the hillside to help the king's pet elephants up the slopes. For only a fraction more go for a deluxe 'Gokarna' room, which comes with a private balcony.
Review by author
Bradley Mayhew