Dwarika's Sanctuary - A Himalayan Wellness Retreat

Breakfast was good and healthy.

Dinner one evening with Dal Makhani and other creamy veggies etc was not appropriate for a health resort.

The resort is spread out on a hill, with various activity rooms spread across the natural lush landscape. The atmosphere is serene and is ideal for a wellness retreat and you can completely disconnect from the outside world. They have excellent activities, including Yoga, Meditation, sound healing, painting, pottery etc. But most importantly it was the best service i have experienced, they were able to accommodate all my requests and were were warm and helpfull.

As it is spread out on a hill you are often dependant on the the resort cart to take you to places. But it was always readily available so it was not really an issue.

People, Location, Facilities and Food

The site is in a beautiful location with INCREDIBLE views of the valley and Himalaya. The food was very good with a decent amount of international / Nepali / vegetarian choices. The team was very warm and friendly and clearly wanted to make guests happy. At a lower price point, I would have been delighted with the place.....however, I ended up transferring to Dwarika's in Kathmandu after the first night. For the record, the Kathmandu hotel is absolute perfection and I'd highly recommend it - no matter the price tag!

It felt like a hotel is past its prime. On the surface, all appears well but the general upkeep of the property has fallen short over time and things are scruffy. The staff are willing, but don't have oversight from someone who understands the expectations of international travelers paying $1000+ per night. I didn't leave because one thing was wrong. On the surface things were taken care of - paths swept, fruit on the room, daily treatment schedules agreed, warm smiles everywhere. Unfortunately many, many small details were below par and there were small disappointments at every turn. Examples below: - Communication with hotel very casual, even before I arrived. Had to chase down my driver because he wasn't at the pickup point as agreed. - what looks like local people and mopeds hanging around at the gatehouse on arrival - barbed wire, plastic sheeting, half-empty pond with slurry of mud at the bottom, decking patched with mismatched planks of wood, rooftops with clusters of tiles missing, plastic bottles, water tanks, pots held up by old tyres, frayed signs or signs in rotting frames visible around the property - lots of dead flies in light fittings, grubby light switches, dust on high surfaces, picture hooks and dust-shadows where pictures once hung and have been removed, grubby sauce lids in restaurant, tired books stuck back together with sellotape, half-used mismatched pencils in the room - plug sockets that didn't work in the room, lights that switched themselves off at the slightest touch - restaurant is being extended and you can see building materials on full show. JCB (allegedly belonging to a neighbour) obscuring the 360 panoramic view that is one of the selling points of the bar area I was directed to speak with a "team leader" when I complained. No general manager in sight. He became quite defensive, explaining that the property is about nature not luxury and wanted me to tell him how to fix it.