Hotel Vajra – Heritage of wooden carved architecture

Hotel Vajra, built in Nepalese architecture of pagoda style, is situated on the foothills of the Swayambhunath Stupa bordering with the Bijeswori Temple complex and its age old pilgrim road for two of the holy places of the Kathmandu Valley. It is ideally located for a quiet stay yet at the same time a short walk will bring you to Thamel and the old city center of the valley.

The hotel known as cultural heritage is surrounded by trees and flower trail gardens, creating a place of serenity and beauty, overlooking the entire Kathmandu Valley up to the snow peaks of the Himalayas. This is the junction of the pilgrims – Nepali, Tibetan, Bhutanese, in-fact, Buddhists from any part of the world on their ascent to the great 2000 years old Swayambhunath Stupa.

According to Hotel Vajra, Phil Hawes, its chief architect was associated with Frank Lloyd Wright and taught graduate architecture with Bruce Goff, the two great promoters of organic architecture. While building the Hotel Vajra, Hawes synergized the traditions of the pagoda style roofing of Nepalese greatest architect Arniko and the use of local materials with the most modern earthquake resistant techniques.

The mastery of Nepal’s highly skilled artisans’ community reflects in its doors and windows. The ceiling frescos of the Great Pagoda Room and pagoda bar are full of Tibetan paintings. Wall frescos in the restaurant are painted by Nepalese painter. A complete menu of Nepali, Indian, Tibetan and Continental dishes are served in pleasant environment.

Among the heritage hotels in Kathmandu Valley, Hotel Vajra is known to be one of the most reasonably priced, offering rooms for all budgets. It has 51 rooms – 3 suites, 18 deluxe rooms, 23 rooms with attached shower and 7 rooms with sink, and conference hall – located in three different buildings surrounded by the inner gardens. The rooftop gardens of the wooden carved hotel give a magnificent morning and sunset panorama looking the Kathmandu Valley including directly on the Pagodas of Durbar Square (center of the medieval Kathmandu) and the 2000 year old Swayambhunath Stupa. Panoramic snow capped peaks can be viewed from the hotel.

The hotel has various offers for the guest who can enjoy an art gallery, a classical dance studio with weekly performances, an East-West library, an Ayurvedic massage room, several roof tops, the Pagoda Bar, the Pagoda Hall for meditation or yoga, the Naga Theater with yearly drama performances by Studio 7 and a cluster of flower trailed gardens and wireless internet connection.

For further details, you can surf www.hotelvajra.com or contact details:  vajra@mos.com.np

Phone: +977-1-4271545. Fax: +977-1-4271695.

[Photo Credit: Nadia Neupokoeva]