Over 40 years the owners of this hotel have rescued thousands of woodcarvings from around the valley and incorporated them into the hotel design. The result is a beautiful hybrid – a cross between a museum and a boutique hotel, with a lush, pampering ambience. The amalgamation of Nepal’s heritage with its longstanding tradition of hospitality makes The Dwarika’s Hotel in Kathmandu an intimate experience of a refined Nepali lifestyle. With 83 meticulously designed rooms and suites, Dwarika’s Hotel Kathmandu offers a regal experience comparable to the royal suites of the 14th century Malla kings of Nepal. All rooms are unique, and some have sensuous open-plan black-slate bathrooms. Highlights include a lovely library lounge, back pool, a spa where they make their own in-house soaps, a good Japanese restaurant and a bar in the hotel’s original building.