Lonely Planet Review
Dwarika's Hotel is an outstanding and unusual hotel, built in traditional style and incorporating superb examples of antique woodwork rescued from around the valley. It's an admirable example of how tourism can encourage cultural preservation, and also the most romantic place to stay in town - perfect for that proposal or honeymoon.
Dwarika's consists of a cluster of Newari-style buildings (including a lovely library, bar and pool), separated by brick-paved courtyards, and all incorporating carved pillars and Newari-style windows. The rooms are spacious, comfortable and all unique; some have sexy open-plan slate bathrooms and all incorporate hand-made local cloth and the odd antique. Huge festival cooking pots are filled with floating flowers and the whole hotel is infused with a hint of lemon balm. The end result is a beautiful hybrid, somewhere between a museum and a boutique hotel, with a lush, romantic feel. The Krishnarpan Restaurant serves up blowout 22 course Newari feasts and there's a great Friday barbeque with Newari dancers. Its only disadvantage is its location - on a busy street and a bit of a distance to the restaurants of Thamel and Durbar Marg - but finding a taxi is never a problem.
Review by author
Bradley Mayhew