A serenity in the heart of the city, Hotel Kaze Darbar gives you a taste of both Japan and Kathmandu in a short period of time.
Amidst the busy street of Kamalpokhari, there lies an 80-year-old building standing majestically through the passage of time. Restored to its former glory, this building is now known as Hotel Kaze Darbar. Wrapped in red, this is a place where visitors from all over the world sip tea from Nepal’s most exclusive organic gardens. A peace paradise, Hotel Kaze Darbar portrays the true essence of Kathmandu in a short period of time.
Established in 2013, Kaze Darbar is unique for its historic building that was renovated preserving the neoclassical architecture of the Rana regime. The terracotta tiled roofs and the red building catches your attention as you enter the compound. When you enter the hotel, you will be greeted by a warm and welcoming staff that is always ready to help you. The souvenir shelf at the corner of the lobby grabs your attention as it displays different local Nepali products which are perfect for souvenirs. The architectural attraction of this hotel is its two courtyards. Commonly known as Chautara(resting place found in villages of Nepal), these courtyards are an asset of the Hotel because of the intricate wood carvings and the peaceful environment they create. The interesting thing about this building is that it was built using mud, bricks and woods. With walls 60 cm thick and roof terracotta tiled, this type of building was used in medieval Nepal to adjust to the varying temperature; in summer the rooms tend to be cooler and in winter the rooms tend to be warmer. The straw seats below the peepal tree seem like a perfect place to meditate Spending a day in the hotel, I couldn’t help but wonder why a peaceful paradise like this was hidden for so long.
Kaze darbar gets its name from a fusion of a Nepali and a Japanese word. Kaze in Japanese means, wind and Darbar in Nepal means palace which combined means Wind Palace. Suiting its name, the hotel has a restaurant named Darbar Restaurant and Bar that serves both typical Nepali and authentic Japanese food.While at the restaurant, we tried few of their dishes exclusive dishes which blew our taste buds. The prawn sushi was an absolute delight and the chicken lunch set was delicious. Served with wasabi and soy sauce, the prawn sushi tasted fresh and was considerably sweet. Don’t forget to try their homemade Nepali flag shaped cookie, it's a fan favourite. Apart from this, they have different flavoured jams prepared locally which you can take back with you as a souvenir.
All in all, Kaze Darbar is a hotel that guarantees a comfortable and peaceful stay.
Ayusha Pradhananga