Dwarika's Resort - Dhulikhel Wellbeing Escape in the Himalayas

I stayed at this hotel for four nights on a vacation in Nepal, booking their City-Country Package, which included stays here and at the Dwarika Hotel in Kathmandu. The experience was nothing short of wonderful, filled with delightful surprises, lasting impressions, and complete satisfaction. Initially, I wasn’t particularly drawn to meditation or yoga. My only goal was to unwind in a peaceful resort setting with a view of the Himalayas. Since I’d heard about the frequent cancellations of domestic flights in Nepal, I decided not to risk traveling too far from Kathmandu. This hotel, just an hour's drive away, turned out to be the perfect choice. The hospitality of the staff, the thoughtfully provided amenities, the stable internet, and, of course, the stunning Himalayan views were all beyond my expectations. But the highlight of my stay was definitely the food. Each evening offered a fantastic spread of Nepali and Indian dishes, along with continental options. We loved the Nepali cuisine so much that we didn’t make it to the Japanese restaurant, and yet, every meal brought something new and delicious over our four nights. The tranquility of the hotel is also remarkable. Early November is peak season in Nepal, with ideal weather—clear skies, mild temperatures, and little rain. Still, the hotel never felt crowded. Every view, from the hilltop lookout to the serene pool area, felt like it was reserved just for us. Based on other reviews, it seems that guests often find they have the view to themselves. Thanks to everyone at Dwarika’s Resort, I enjoyed a relaxing, fulfilling vacation that was absolutely perfect.

A really special place! The resort is located in a huge forest that brings a peace that feels like we are in a world apart in Nepal. The rustic and luxurious decor at the same time, the welcoming environments, the smell, the experiences, the care of the staff. In this place I had the opportunity to paint, make clay vases, swim in an infinity pool or relax in a jacuzzi, all with an unbelievable view of the ice mountains. The view is breathtaking! I remember the days I was there with great affection.

The Dwarika Resort is located, on a normal days traffic, around 50 minutes from Kathmandu. The resort is set high up in the hills above Dhulikhel and offers the opportunity to enjoy views of the Himalayas and enjoy traditional therapeutic treatments. I will say at the outset that our experience was soured by the weather and the local conditions. There had been rain over a few days prior to our arrival and this had turned the roads to the resort into a quagmire. Coupled with the major road works taking place, this turned our drive into a 100 minute experience. On arrival we found that the weather precluded the use of golf buggies to transport guests up to the resort so it was necessary to try to avoid the muddy conditions and walk up the steep path. This was in itself not a major issue, but I’m not sure how those less able would manage. The weather while we were there was inclement and there was no sighting of the Himalayas. It was impossible to walk out of the hotel due to the muddy conditions. However, the resort offers the opportunity for massage and other therapies, has a lovely lounge perched on the upper reaches of the property and provides good choices in its dining room. Unfortunately, if we had known beforehand what the conditions would be like, we wouldn’t have made the effort to stay at the resort. It is a pity that nature and local conditions conspired to prevent us seeing Dwarika Resort at its best.

The resort is about one hour’s drive from Kathmandu airport and is an amazing oasis from the hustle and bustle of the town. We arrived about 9:30am, but our room was ready for us. Having gone through a briefing about the resort and been placed in a WhatsApp group to enable the hotel and ourselves to contact each other easily, we were shown to our room by golf cart. The resort was fairly quiet as we were at the beginning of the season, and we were given room 223 an upgrade on our original room. There was a KSB plus an additional daybed in the room, which looked out over the hillside. There was a TV, radio and CD player, tea and real coffee was provided, there was also a fruit bowl and cookies provided as well. There were 3 separate aircon units and a safe. The bathroom had a separate toilet, bath and shower and two wash basins and a hairdryer, there were also lovely toiletries provided as well as slippers and bathrobes. The flooring in the bathroom was slated wooden strips and pebbles on which you had to be careful walking. There was also a roof terrace with chairs and loungers. The resort is built on a steep hillside so for main meals we had to go down and for the swimming pool, salt and crystal rooms, spas, art studios, lunchtime restaurant and bar we had to travel up the hillside. There are golf carts available for the less able to walk. Our package included breakfast and evening meal as there is not really anywhere nearby where you can walk out to for food. Breakfast was a buffet with eggs of your choice. You had to notify reception by 5pm of your choice for evening meal. The food was all amazing, well presented, served hot and was very tasty. Each day of our stay we were provided with a different coloured scarf which they encouraged you to wear, they were yours to keep. The staff we came across from the room cleaners right up to the hotel management were all really friendly and helpful and nothing was too much bother. If you want a little pampering and luxury, I would certainly recommend this resort.

quite a long drive from the airport through towns/villages that are not particularly attractive. The resort itself took a bit of getting used to since it has quite a few levels you can either conquer by foot or a golf carter driver will take you to the various places of interest within the resort - or shuttle you to/from you room when you make a phone request. Our room, while very large, had a pretty weird bathroom (2 sinks) with wooden slats on the floor (rocks underneath); not really comfortable on your feet and if something falls down it would probably be impossible to retrieve it. Toilet room is a step down. Not all rooms seem to be like that we found out. Outside is a sitting area that's very private. Were told that you can see the Himalayas on a clear day but that wasn't to be. Lovely restaurants; good food choices. One has a huge terrace where you could have your breakfast. Lovely gardens and paths to the Salt and Crystal palace (rather intriguing experience), an infinity swimming pool with hot tub. Much to explore. Gift shops offer a lovely selection of everything from hand made soaps, some clothing, jewelry, note books, art work, on and on.

the best staff ever , very polite and attentive waiter Anmol, the best educated and mannered of all those I have met,I’m highly recommend this hotel because of the service of the people and the location