INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
using local supplies and food that are needed by the hotel. The
kitchen garden on the steep slopes behind the hotel is used to
experiment with exotic vegetables that the local villagers are
then encouraged to grow themselves to sell back to the hotel
to meet the high culinary standards of their kitchen. The kitchen
garden grows most of the herbs used in the kitchen too.
Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge:
‘Retreat from reality’
Nature walks with staff from the hotel are often a highlight
of guests’ stay here. My nature guide Hari Pariyar took me for
an early morning stroll for some bird watching. A tree near to
the enchanting infinity pool that is perched at the edge of the
hillside was alive with several species of birds, flitting between
the branches and to my inexperienced eyes, impossible to
distinguish. However over 300 species of birds have been sighted
at Tiger Mountain and over 270 varieties of butterflies. Regular
butterfly counts made from the hotel that provides a valuable
indicator on the quality of the environment in the area.
by Marianne Heredge
Room Interior. Photo: TMPL.
Tastefully decorated, the ethos of this luxurious but environmentallyfriendly hotel focuses on making a minimum impact. The rooms
are in bungalows that are built in a stylish blend of modern and
traditional, discretely hidden in the trees below the skyline. The
accommodation is a few minutes’ walk from the main buildings
and offers incredible views of the mountains from the veranda at
the front of the rooms. Décor is simple but chic. Everywhere is that
wonderful attention to detail with those little things that give sense
of pampered comfort. And for those who just cannot get away from
being connected, wifi is provided in all the rooms!
View from Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge. Photo: TMPL.
When I opened my
eyes, all I could see
was Machhapuchhre.
I had to pinch myself
to be sure I wasn’t
dreaming.
The night before I’d left my curtains
open on purpose. Staying at Tiger
Mountain Pokhara Lodge, my room
nestled on the hillside overlooking
the Fish Tail Mountain and Annapurna
range. If I was lucky, I’d be in for a
beautiful view of the sun rising over the
Himalayas without even having to get
out of bed! I was not disappointed.
Describing itself as a ‘responsible
conservation tourism lodge’, Tiger
Mountain is a delightful hotel in the
hills just outside Pokhara. It faces
straight out across the valley onto the
Himalayas. Carefully designed to blend
into the surroundings, the rooms are in
little bungalows tucked unobtrusively
on the hillside.
Former CEO of the Tiger Mountain
group in Nepal, Marcus Cotton
owns and runs the place, placing his
wonderful quintessentially British mark
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www.insidehimalayas.com | By Royal Mountain Travel | 2016
on it. First arriving in Nepal in 1987 to
work as a volunteer for the then King
Mahendra Trust in its formative years,
he soon moved to join Tiger Mountain
Nepal in 1990. Managing Tiger Tops
Jungle Lodge from 1999, he drove
reforms in the management of the
jungle lodge and camp to improve
environmental and social activities,
conservation ethos, and re-define
their responsible conservation tourism
concept. He moved to Tiger Mountain
Pokhara Lodge in 2001 and has been
based there ever since.
As well as running the lodge in as
environmentally
responsible
way
possible, Marcus works closely with the
local community. Bringing experienced
teachers from the UK as volunteers,
they have been able to help mentor
teachers at the local school. There
is a strong emphasis on employing
local villagers and where possible,
In the main dining area, old photographs adorn the walls,
taken in the 1950s by Jimmy Roberts, the pioneer of trekking
in Nepal. Outside there is a magnificent terrace where you can
dine overlooking the valley across to the Annapurna range
and Machhapuchhre. Nearly everything is home-made. For
breakfast: home-made muesli accompanied by yoghurt, banana
and honey; home-made pork sausages (real ‘British bangers’
that can’t be found anywhere else in Nepal); and the thickest
cut homemade marmalade made by the lodge’s wonderful
Head Cook, Lalu. Lunch is typically a buffet of Nepali dishes
with alternating vegetarian and meat curries. Dinner is usually
continental (unless requested otherwise). A delicious Tuscan
bean soup was served followed by baked local Tilapia fish with
steamed vegetables, washed down with some nice French wine.
When Dol Raj isn’t managing the rooms and supervising the
dining, he also makes a terrific barman.
Infinity Pool. Photo: TMPL.
The place is perfect for anyone wanting a few days of peace and
quiet, relaxing in the most beautiful surroundings.
Village Walk. Photo: TMPL.
Golfing in Nepal
There are in fact seven golf courses listed in Nepal! In particular, there are courses at
Gokarna, just outside Kathmandu and at the Fulbari Hotel in Pokhara that have five star
hotels close by.
Kathmandu
Gokarna Forest Golf Resort, Rajnikunj Gokarna, Thali, Kathhmandu, Nepal
Royal Nepal Golf Club, Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal
Army Golf Club, Gujeshwori, Kathmandu
Pokhara
Fulbari Resort & Spa - Yeti’s Golf Course, Pokhara, Nepal
Himalayan Golf Course, Majeri Patan, Pokhara, Nepal
Other
Nirvana Country Club, Dharan, Sunsari, Nepal
Chaudhary Group Golf Club, Ganga Devi Choudhary Udyog Gram, Dibyapuri,
Nawalparasi, Nepal
www.insidehimalayas.com | By Royal Mountain Travel | 2016
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