The Dwarika's

In the 1950s, seeing carpenters cut down an intricately engraved wooden pillar to be incinerated, Dwarika Das Shrestha made it his life’s mission to preserve Nepal’s dying art of Newari woodcarving. He spent 20 years collecting artefacts such as window frames, doors, eaves and pillars rescued from fallen palaces and temples - some dating back to the 13th century - working with local craftsmen to restore them. In 1972, he opened his namesake hotel on the site of an old cattle shed, assembling the pieces he had collected over the years like an architectural jigsaw puzzle.

Though the hotel has grown to 76 rooms and suites, each designed to blend modern comforts with local crafts and textiles, standing in the courtyard still feels like stepping back in time. 

The hotel is still owned by the family, who are passionate about keeping Dwarika’s legacy alive. For guests who are curious about Newari architecture, the hotel can arrange visits to its workshop next door, where  team of 12 specialised artisans work tirelessly to restore the hotel and its sacred relics.