Chitwan Relaxing Spot gets a facelift

CHITWAN, Jan 22: As areas surrounding Nepal´s most famous Chitwan National Park become crowded with hotels, operators have started setting-up or strengthening their bases in the outskirts of Sauraha to cater to the influx of tourists who visit the place to experience wildlife in its natural form.



The latest example is that of Hotel Star View in Taandi Bazar of Ratna Nagar, located around 6 km from the national park in Sauraha. [break]



Until recently, this hotel, established more than a decade ago, used to be known as Chitwan Relaxing Spot. It now has a new name, much bigger space and a fancier look, according to Bhesh Raj Dawadi, promoter of the Star View, who spent Rs 60 million to give a facelift to the hotel.



Dawadi had established the hotel around 11 years ago on 80,040 sq ft (22 kattha) of land at an investment of Rs 20 million. But during the time when Maoist insurgency reached its peak, he leased his hotel and moved to Kathmandu to operate Tayoma Hotel. In April 2007, he tried his hand in catering business and started operating Swoyambhu Party Palace.



Now, he´s back in hotel business in Chitwan and plans to establish his hotel as a strong competitor to Gangotri Highway -- the only other tourist-class accommodation in Taandi Bazar -- established two years ago.



Star View Hotel has 20 rooms, all of which include air-conditioners, and rates vary from Rs 1,500 to Rs 4,000 per night. The hotel also has a 10-bed common room and it charges Rs 250 per night for each rented bed.



The hotel also has spacious seminar halls. “These halls can seat 1,000 people at one time,” Dawadi added.



In the second phase of expansion, Dawadi plans to spend up to Rs 100 million to build a party palace, with a seating capacity of 1,000 people, health club with swimming pool and sauna facilities, and 50 more rooms.

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