Tales of Patan: Bed & Breakfasts in the City of the Arts

Features Issue 203 Oct, 2018
Text by Apeksha Ghimire

It dawned upon me after completing a Patan heritage walk recently that there is so much more to this area than meets the eye; there were so many echoes of stories that haven't yet been widely heard. But this may be set to change, the reason being the rise of bed and breakfasts in Patan, places that are focusing specifically on providing a local, cultural hospitality experience. Since Newa Chen's establishment in 2006, a plethora of bed and breakfasts have opened up in the area. To help you plan your next getaway, we’ve spoken with just some of the bed and breakfasts in Patan, places where the hospitality goes beyond just a comfortable place to spend the night, where the hotel itself is the experience.

 

NewaChén
Kulimha, Lalitpur, 1-5533532

When was this bed and breakfast started, and with what intention?
NewaChén was started on September 26, 2006, with the intention of preserving the 300-year-old house, as well as Newari culture, in a sustainable manner. NewaChén is a private ancestral home; we used to live here before starting this business. All the members of our family knew that we had to preserve this house and our culture. People believe that preservation is costly and unsustainable. Of course it is difficult, it is quite costly. But, we can generate an income out of this; that is why we converted this house into a bed and breakfast. We do have an advantage, as this is our house and we don't have to pay rent. We've also have had help from UNESCO, but overall, our goal itself is different. We are thinking in terms of sustainability. We don't have a commercial motive.

How many rooms and types of rooms are offered?

We have 8 bedrooms, all in the traditional style. We offer a standard room, a deluxe room, and a standard room with shared bathroom. The prices vary according to single occupancy and double occupancy.

What are the services available for guests?

Aside from the main bed and breakfast, we have free wifi, and airport pick up and drop services as per the guests' request, and we also serve lunch and dinner upon a groups' request. Occasionally, we have cultural programs, like during Mha puja.

What sets this bed and breakfast apart from the others?

Firstly, we have not changed this house from its original state. This house dates back to the era of theMalla kings. Structurally, we've kept everything the same when we renovated it. When guests enter through the door, they feel the peace and quietness. The guests feel like they're staying in their own home, they feel a sort of familial attachment. We are always interacting with them, we are always sharing our culture. We involve them in the different things we do, like puja. And in the feedback that they've given us, they tell us that our house is very neat and clean, that we are very hospitable.

Tajaapha Heritage Home
Chhayabahal, 01-5533770

When was this bed and breakfast started, and with what intention?
Tajaapha came in operation three and half years ago with the goal of giving a true home stay environment to all guests. We wanted our guests to feel the local experience, from the morning temple bells tothe evening rituals, while in a warm and smiling local community.

How many rooms and types of rooms are offered?
We have 12 rooms to offer guests, in which 4 are superior deluxe rooms with front view of the beautiful pond, and other 8 rooms are deluxe with back view.

What are the services available for guests?

All rooms have private bathrooms. We have 24-hour hot and cold water, hairdryer, water boiler kettle with tea bags, a fridge, a TV with cable line, fan or heater according to the season, and free wifi. We also have a shared kitchen for people who love to cook, and a terrace with a beautiful view.

What sets this bed and breakfast apart from the others?

Homemade breakfasts prepared with love for the guests. Cooking demo with dinner on request is also provided. Situated in one of the best parts of the valley, it is a calm and peaceful area. It is family-run; every breakfast and meal is prepared by family. We have comfortable twin and king-sized beds. These are the specialties of Tajaapha.

Lumbini Heritage Home
Nagbahal-16, 01-5547257

When was this bed and breakfast started, and with what intention?

We started our bed and breakfast in November 2017. Our goal is to preserve and offer a unique and authentic experience of Newari architecture, culture, and heritage.

How many rooms and types of rooms are offered?

We offer a total of 7 rooms of two types—standard or deluxe.

What services are available for the guests?

We have rooms with attached bathroom andwifi, and we offer complimentary breakfast. We offer a Patan walking tour, as well as Nepali cooking classes and a dinner with local live music. We also serve our guests traditional Nepali food.

What sets this bed and breakfast apart from the others?

Our building is an over 120-year-old Newari house. We renovated it, keeping all the authentic value and charm of this house while adding modern comforts. Also, by choosing to stay at Lumbini Heritage Home, you are contributing to women empowerment projects in Lumbini.

Shakya House
Aluko, Chakupat, 984-1280625

When was this bed and breakfast started, and with what intention?

Shakya House was started in the beginning of 2015 with the slogan, "Come as a Guest, Leave as a Family". As it suggests, our main motive is to make our guests feel at home in a family-like environment and experience a wonderful stay with our warm hospitality and all necessary facilities. It is basically to make our guest feel as if Shakya House is their home-away-from-home. We regard our guests as family, with close interactions and sharing and learning about cultures, traditions, and way of life.

 

How many rooms and types of rooms are offered?

We have total of 10 rooms that are offered to our guests: double room, twin sharing room, single room, deluxe room, and studio apartments. All rooms have a private bathroom, and some rooms have a balcony and terrace, as well.

What services are available for the guests?

Our service amenities includes high speed wifi all around the property, hot water shower, 24/7 electricity back up, flat screen LED TVs, air-conditioning, laundry service, kitchenette, room service, buffet breakfast, à la carte menu for lunch and dinner, baggage storage, daily housekeeping, parking space, airport pick up and drop off, vehicle hire, local SIM card, currency exchange, garden and terrace seating, souvenir and gift shop, city tours, hiking and trekking package, and air and bus tickets.

What sets this bed and breakfast apart from the others?

The property has a home-style nature which the guests experience when they arrive here. Our guests are very impressed by the services and the cleanliness of our property, accompanied by the very friendly nature of our personnel. Every guest is provided with fully focused attention. Shakya House is convenient for short term as well as long term stay, with the options of private room or apartment. The artistic interior and exterior decoration around the property showcases the arts and crafts and cultural history and skills of Patan city, known as the “city of the arts”. We are also located in a peaceful and relaxed open environment, where there is sunlight all day, and we are just few minutes’ walk from the center of the city. Guest can spend time in the garden or on the terrace to enjoy the greenery, and for sunbathing, as well.

Hotel TimilaNewa Comfort Home
Traditional Road, Patan Durbar Square, 01-5532441

When was this bed and breakfast started, and with what intention?

Timila was established at the beginning of the year 2018 in Tumbahal, in the streets off the old Patan Durbar Square. The goal of our hotel is to satisfy each and every guest who comes and stays in our hotel by meeting their expectations and giving them standard and comfort during their stay with us.

 

How many rooms and types of rooms are offered?

We have got six different types of beautiful, comfortable, and spacious rooms with a mix of tradition and comfort, and each has a very warm and cozy ambiance, from the morning sun. We have king rooms, twin rooms, queen rooms, studio rooms, family suites, and bamboo suites.

What services are available for the guests?

We offer breakfast, room service, air conditioning, tea facilities, free wifi in all rooms, sitting room, an open terrace and garden, laundry and dry cleaning, wake-up call, car hire, airport shuttle, and TV. 

What sets this bed and breakfast apart from the others?

The thing which sets our bed and breakfast apart from the others is thatTimila is a fusion between modern and a traditional living, as our beautiful rooms are spacious and comfortable with a traditional touch, which leaves a memory for everyone who stays in our hotel. Also, every detail in the hotel has got a connection to the Newari tradition or the modern.

Lalit Heritage Home
Patan Durbar Square, 01-5530021

When was this bed and breakfast started, and with what intention?

It was started in 2071 B.S. The number of tourists is increasing In Nepal. So, to provide lodging services to guests, we started this bed and breakfast service.

How many rooms and types of rooms are offered?

We have a total of 16 rooms. The different types are deluxe room with AC/heater, premium room, budget double, single room, terrace romantic, terrace queen, and service apartment.

What services are available for the guests?

It is a family-run business and we have only two staff. So, we don’t have many services. In the morning, we provide breakfast, which is cooked by our owner for all the guests staying here, and we don’t provide lunch and dinner, because we don’t have a chef; we prefer for the guest to eat lunch and dinner outside. For guests who stay longer, we clean their rooms every four days and provide laundry service.

What sets this bed and breakfast apart from the others?

It’s a family-run business, so we treat guest as our own family members and try to make them feel as if they are staying in their own home. We are located in the center of Patan Durbar Square, and from our guesthouse terrace we can enjoy a clear view of the whole square. And, most of the guests have given compliments about our breakfast and the view.

Goathchen Heritage Home
18-Swotha, 985-1015696

When was this bed and breakfast started, and with what intention?
We started seven years ago. I was a tour guide; I have been involved in the tourism sector for more than twenty years. I opened this heritage home with the intention of promoting tourism, especially in Patan.

How many rooms and types of rooms are offered?
We offer four rooms of the same size.

What are the services available for guests?
We have wifi, airport transfer upon guests' request, and sightseeing. We also serve traditional Nepali food as per request. The traditional food comprises of traditional Nepali soup, appetizers, Nepali khanaset, homemade aila, and dessert. The traditional food is complimentary for those who stay for more than five nights. We also do cooking demonstrations for those who are interested. Typically, we teach them how to make momos, but we also teach how to make khana sets and yomari. For breakfast, we ask the guest whether they want something different than toast. With their permission, we then serve different Newari food to them every morning.

What sets this bed and breakfast apart from the others?
We are very close to the Patan Durbar Square, surrounded by beautiful temples. At the same time, our bed and breakfast is in a very quiet place. We have an authentic Newari taste. The house is 300 years old, and we have renovated throughout the years preserving that authenticity. I have made the designs myself. 

Traditional Comfort Home
Swotah, 01-5551184

When was this bed and breakfast started, and with what intention?

It was started 7 years ago. As it is very close to Patan Durbar Square, the main goal was to provide best services of bed and breakfast to tourists visiting Patan, keeping in mind those who like to stay in a tranquil environment, and love traditional buildings and polite hospitality.

How many rooms and types of rooms are offered?

Alltogether, we have 9 rooms in our home—7 rooms in the traditional building, and 2 family suites in the new building, which is attached to the traditional building. They have 2 bedrooms, a sitting room, and a large bathroom.

What services are available for the guests?

We offer one-way complimentary airport transfer to the guests who stay for more than three nights in our home. We also have laundry services, high speed wifi, hot and cold water, fan, gas heater, hairdryer, iron, mobile phones, and room service for food, and we offer 10% discount on the cafe bill for the room guests.

What sets this bed and breakfast apart from the others?

Firstly, it is next to a world heritage site. The building layout is well-designed by using an old traditional Newari building. We have a peaceful and clean environment. We also serve fresh and healthy food. Our hospitality is also always praised by our visitors.

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