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After a 12-year hiatus in Chitwan National Park, seven hotels within its borders, including Siddharth Vilasa Banbas Resort, have been reimagined in Sauraha, aiming to provide an authentic taste of staying inside the park itself. The resort seamlessly integrates with its surroundings, nestled within the jungle and surrounded by diverse flora, giving guests the feeling of being right in the heart of the park. This extraordinary resort, located in Khairhani Municipality-13 Hornari, just a short distance from Sauraha's bustling market area, was initiated by Vasu Dhungana, a dedicated conservationist with over two decades of experience in forest and wildlife preservation.
During its construction, Constituent Assembly member and businessman Umesh Shrestha also joined the project. Siddharth Group, a renowned name in Nepal's hospitality sector, has also been a significant contributor, playing a pivotal role in bringing the resort to life. This initiative was undertaken as a response to the closing of seven hotels, including the iconic Tiger Tops, which had been operational prior to the establishment of Chitwan National Park in 2068. The closure of these hotels resulted in a decline in the number of high-end tourists visiting the region.
Krishna Neupane, Chief Executive Officer of Siddharth Group, introduced Siddharth Vilasa Resort as the second luxury branch under the Siddharth Vilasa brand. The Siddharth Group boasts 30 branches across the hospitality sector, encompassing hotels, restaurants, bakery cafes, and hotel management. He emphasized that this new resort would play a pivotal role in attracting domestic and international tourists. The resort's construction, amounting to NPR 450 million, was funded by Banbas Chitwan Pvt. Ltd., led by Vasu Dhungana.
Sprawled across an area of three bighas and five katthas, the resort is nestled near Kumroz and Jankauli Intermediate Community Forest. The resort offers 34 comfortable rooms, including 24 villas and two suites. According to Vasu Dhangana, Chairman of Banbas Chitwan Pvt. Ltd., "The villas are constructed from wood, coated with mud, and thatched." Each villa bears a distinct name related to its unique charm, aptly reflecting the concept. Additionally, the resort boasts a sizable lake and a swimming pool, where fish are regularly released. Dhungana remarked, "The fish that thrive in the pond are a source of nourishment for birds both in the park and surrounding areas." The resort's premises provide a habitat for a diverse range of bird species, including migratory birds that travel from afar.
Moreover, the trees planted in and around the resort are carefully chosen to attract birds, featuring fruit-bearing trees favored by various avian species. Dhungana explained, "The distinct villas within an open forest do not interfere with one another, which is why we have named it Banbasa."
In addition to its comfortable accommodations, the resort offers two meeting rooms and a restaurant that provides guests with the unique opportunity to observe animals wandering in the nearby community forest. For foreign tourists, the resort offers packages ranging from 250 to 400 dollars for a two-night, three-day stay, inclusive of activities beyond elephant safaris. Chairman Dhungana revealed that a domestic couple can enjoy a one-night stay with breakfast for NPR 10,000.
Umesh Shrestha, another hotel owner, expressed that they united to support Dhungana's mission of wildlife conservation and bolstering tourism. He highlighted the potential within Nepal's tourism industry and underscored their collective commitment to establishing hotel restaurants across the nation through a unified effort. Stressing the need for extensive promotion of Nepal's tourism on a national and international scale, Shrestha emphasized that the government should revise its policies to encourage greater private sector involvement. The hotel was inaugurated on Sunday, marking a significant milestone in Nepal's evolving tourism landscape.
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