Following this spring's inauguration the hotel's fountains by Charles, Prince of Wales, a noted conservationist, King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya of Nepal joined hundreds diplomats and supporters in a dedication ceremony October 15 that followed a full day of Hindu and Buddhist blessings including encircling the entire property with a garland of leaves.

Seeing the exquisite wood carvings on Kathmandu's temples, palaces and homes destroyed in the name of progress, Dwarika Das Shrestha began collecting and restoring intricate windows, pillars and other architectural treasures in the 1950s. In 1964, Dwarika used his collection to detail a Nepali-style brick building which was to form the nucleus of what today is Dwarika's Kathmandu Village Hotel.
 

Restored carved windows reflect revived woodcarving tradition in Kathmandu community as the result of Dwarika's heritage preservation and education efforts.

The workshop that Dwarika created in the 1970s to repair and reconstruct the wood carvings now employs 33 local carpenters. Each of the 39 new rooms, all larger than those of most luxury hotels, feature decor that reflects various Nepali ethnic styles. Bricks used in the buildings' construction are the result of a local development project. Pottery is acquired from local resources, as much of food as possible is purchased from local farmers and gift shop items reflect the varied handicrafts of the region. Comforts, however, are all modern and include Villeroy and Boch fixtures and even computer modem plugs.

Dwarika Das Shrestha did not live to see his dream fully realized. He died in 1992; his work continued by his wife, Ambica and daughter, Sangita. "We believe tourism and local culture must work together to preserve what is special about a country," said Ambica Shrestha, owner of the hotel. "Why should one build a bland steel and glass hotel, when, with some vision and energy, a community can be put to work, redevelop their artisans and a property can be developed that is a tribute to hundreds of years of culture and arts."

With Dwarika's success as a model of heritage preservation, other commercial properties including a major Kathmandu shopping mall, have chosen to revitalize their Nepali-style buildings rather than tear them down. With the completion of the hotel, Ambica and Sangita are turning their attention to providing hotel patrons with an even more intimate experience of Nepali life. Within the next year they will launch a hospitality training program that will prepare selected Kathmandu families to turn their homes into bed and breakfast facilities to receive interested guests of Dwarika's who will spend a day or two living with a local family.