Dwarika's Hotel
Location: kathmandu, Nepal
Mission Statement
The Dwarika’s Hotel aims to preserve the heritage and culture of the Kathmandu Valley through the revival of traditional architecture and preservation of local artwork in a sustainable hotel setting.
Background Information
The Dwarika’s Hotel was founded by Dwarika Das Shrestha after his experiences running Kathmandu Travel and Tours in the 1970s, which proved to him the ability of tourism to provide employment to the Nepali people. A small guest house was started on the family premises with the idea of using rental income to finance a local art collection. The idea eventually came to use the artworks for the purposes which they were originally created - as doors, windows, pillars etc. The artworks, however, had to be used as part of a traditionally-built building.
Activities of Organisation
The Dwarika’s Hotel attempts to revive quickly-disappearing traditional architecture while adapting it to the needs of the modern world without losing its original character. The collected woodworks are set in a living hotel environment rather than a sterile museum-like setting. The running of the hotel creates jobs for local Nepali people.
The hotel has recently co-ordinated a project to restore the nearby Ramachandra Mandir temple. Its team of engineers and craftsmen worked on the restoration of pilgrims’ rest houses.A woodcarving school has been established within the hotel premises. There are thirty woodcarvers and carpenters employed in the school's workshop. Some have been there for twenty years while others move on to different lucrative jobs after their training and apprenticeship.The hotel has also hosted a workshop organised by Friends of the Bagmati, an organisation committed to the preservation of the Bagmati River in Nepal.
Consensus Community Perspective
The Dwarika’s Hotel is self-sufficient as a commercial hotel. Its commitment to the use of local 15th century artworks and traditional architecture help to preserve local culture and traditions. Its woodcarving school provides important skill training to Nepali people and the hotel itself provides employment for the community.
Contact Information
Address:
Address: The Dwarika's HotelP.O.Box-459, BattisputaliKathmandu
NepalPhone: (977-1) 4479488/4470770
Fax: (977-1) 4471379/4478378
Email: info@dwarikas.com
Website: Visit this community's website