Thamel is a lively and buzzing district of Kathmandu, the go-to place for trekkers, travellers and culture seekers. Right in the heart of Thamel you will find a haven of quiet in the Kathmandu Guest House where I stayed before my Nargakot Dhulikhel trek.
Oldest Guest House in Kathmandu
Kathmandu Guest House, a converted Rana dynasty mansion, are celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and is called a guest house as that is how it started but in fact it has grown to a stunning hotel which surrounds beautiful gardens. It is part of KGH Group of Hotels and Resorts which was established in 1968 and is now one of Nepal’s leading chain of hotels with 8 eco-friendly hotels under its flagship. KGH was unfortunately affected by the 2015 earthquake but a huge effort was put into restoration and expansion to present the legendary guest house you see today.
Writers, anthropologists, philanthropists, mountaineers, artists and volunteers choose Kathmandu Guest House to congregate and share their adventures. It is said that most of the books written about Nepal in the 70’s and 80’s were done so from the gardens of KGH. Reinhold Messner, Marco Confortola, Doug Scott, George Harrison from The Beatles, Ricky Martin, Joel Edgerton and Peter Matthiessen are just a few known names that have stayed there.
Breakfast in the KGH Dream Gardens
Breakfast was a pleasure in the beautifully well-kept Dream Gardens dedicated to the famous guests and is reminiscent of the Hollywood Hall of Fame. There was a lovely selection of food including an omelette station, I’m a sucker for an omelette in the morning! And if you haven’t tried Malpuwa, then this is the place, these Nepalese deep-fried pancakes are amazing. There are sun loungers where you can chill in the sun by the Buddha statues, perfect after a hearty breakfast.
Accommodation at Kathmandu Guest House
I fancied one night of upgrade so I opted for the Deluxe room and I was super pleased. It was large, bright and well-decorated. The balcony over-looking the gardens was fantastic to relax to the faint music from the Dream Garden Café below and the slight noise of the hustle and bustle of Thamel life. The bathroom was modern, complimentary shampoo, shower gel and soap and, most of all, the shower was hot and powerful. If you really want to stay at Kathmandu Guest House but are on a more restricted budget, don’t worry, they have cheaper rooms too.
Stay at Kathmandu Guest House
The staff were so friendly and couldn’t do enough to help, you were greeted with a smile at all times of the day. There was transport to collect me from the airport which was a welcome start to the trip. This was my favourite hotel in Kathmandu and will be my go-to from now on!
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