About this hotel
General information
Dwarika’s Sanctuary is a mountain retreat on a ridge in the Himalayan foothills at Dhulikhel. Terraced fields fall away towards the Indrawati valley, pine forest closes in around the grounds and snow peaks line the horizon. The suites and pavilions are built of timber and stone, with terracotta floors and handwoven fabrics; the furniture and carved woodwork come from the retreat’s own workshops, and the kitchens are supplied by its own farms and gardens.
Stays are all-inclusive and shaped around Pancha Kosha, a model of wellbeing in five layers: body, energy, mind, intuition and bliss. Included are all meals and non-alcoholic drinks, one consultation with an Ayurveda specialist, a daily programme of yoga, pranayama and meditation, a massage at the Pancha Kosha spa, creative workshops, use of every space on the grounds and one outing beyond them — to a monastery or to a farm lunch. Signature therapies, private sessions, excursions and alcohol are charged separately. The core format is the three-night Curated Himalayan Stay, with longer retreats of six to eight nights.
Location
The retreat sits on a ridge in the Himalayan foothills at Dhulikhel, above terraced slopes running down to the Indrawati River. The Dwarika’s Hotel in Kathmandu is about an hour away.
Spa
The Pancha Kosha spa village draws on Ayurveda and Himalayan bodywork, working with herb-infused oils and blends; programmes follow a consultation with a resident Ayurveda specialist, who assesses each guest’s dosha and advises on diet and daily rhythm. Signature rituals include the Pancha Kosha Newari Massage Therapy (75 or 90 minutes) with oils of ajwain, fenugreek and camphor, and the three-hour Kwon Jyajo: an oil massage, a herbal powder scrub, steam and a cooling face pack. The menu also covers classic Ayurvedic treatments — Shirodhara, Shiro-Abhyanga, Udvartana and Kati-Vasti — a hot river-stone massage, the Himalayan Trekkers Massage, reflexology, aromatherapy massage and the Pancha Kosha Signature Facial. Tanbe is a double treatment suite, and the organic bath products are made by the spa itself.
Sports & leisure
The daily programme and its practice spaces are spread across the grounds:
- yoga in the open-air space, among the pines and in the Yoga Hall, pranayama, group and self-led meditation, and the Pranayam Fitness Hall;
- breathwork in the Himalayan Salt House, walled with more than twenty tonnes of Himalayan salt, meditation in the Himalayan Crystal House among quartz and amethyst, in the seven sound rooms of the Chakra Chamber and in the meditation cave;
- a guided barefoot dawn walk through the meditation maze, and a garden of nine terraces laid out in a spiral;
- sound sessions with hand-struck bronze bowls;
- a hike to the monastery at Namobuddha;
- The Farmer’s Table, an easy walk to a local farm for a meal cooked by the farmers, plus cooking classes with the chef and seasonal planting on the farm terraces;
- pottery with a master potter using clay from nearby fields, painting with the resident artist, and a workshop on home herbal balms and blends made with ginger, turmeric, basil and neem from the garden;
- Zero Hour, sunset with snacks on the Zero Zone deck above the clouds; there is also a birdwatching hut.
Restaurants & bars
The kitchens cook from the retreat’s own farms and gardens — herbs picked at dawn, grain ground in small stone mills — and menus follow Ayurvedic principles of nourishment.
- Nature’s Flavours — the main restaurant beside the terraced fields and the forest edge, with seasonal menus from six regional farms balancing Himalayan produce along Ayurvedic lines; breakfast and dinner;
- Mako’s Zen — an evening tasting sequence of several courses, Japanese technique with a Himalayan accent, built on farm and river produce;
- Ananta Poolside Restaurant — fresh juices and light lunches by the pool, behind glass walls facing the Himalayas;
- Fusion Bar — herbal teas, mocktails, Nepali infusions and small plates from the gardens, in a timber room with a fireplace for cool nights;
- Zero Zone — a ridge-top viewpoint serving drinks and teas, Himalayan herbal blends among them, open through the day;
- Khet Brai Lounge and Deck — a rustic pavilion above the terraces, where guests eat after gathering herbs and vegetables on the retreat’s farm.
Swimming
The Ananta Infinity Pool hangs over the valley with the Himalayas in view. The Brahmanda Indoor Pool lies beneath a vaulted ceiling lit like a night sky, and the Hot Tub Deck has an outdoor hot tub open to the mountain air.
Rooms
Guests stay in four types of suite, from 79 to 312 m², each with its own terrace or garden looking over forest, valley or peaks.
Each suite has a bed dressed in organic linen, handmade furniture from the retreat’s workshops, air conditioning, high-speed internet, a complimentary minibar, French-press coffee, herbal teas, seasonal fruit and cookies baked daily, bathrobes and slippers, organic bath products from the Pancha Kosha spa and in-room dining.
The Suite
A suite for two adults with a king bed, a bathroom with a separate shower and a private terrace with a daybed and seating, facing the sunrise and a long view of the Himalayas.
The Sanctuary Suite
A suite for two adults and two children with a king bed or two twin beds and a bathroom with a separate shower. Its private garden under the pines, with a daybed and lounge seating, looks over the hills and the valley.
The Himalayan Sanctuary Suite
A suite at one of the retreat’s highest points for two adults and two children, with a king bed and a bathroom with a separate shower. The terrace, with a daybed and lounge seating, takes in the Himalayan horizon and the Indrawati valley.
Royal Suite
A suite at the very top of the retreat for two adults and two children, with a king bed, a generous living area and a private kitchen, with a chef on request. The terraces hold a dining deck among the trees and an outdoor hot tub facing the mountains.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.