Nepal’s Siddhartha Riverside Resort has secured the silver award in the Leading Riverfront Hotel/Resort category at the 10th South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026, while Sri Lanka’s Amaya Lake Resort in Dambulla won the gold prize. The winners were announced on October 8, 2026, on the 10th SATA 2026 Grand Gala Dinner, held at Barcelo Nasandhura Male, Maldives, with winners being celebrated for their excellence in the hospitality sector, while other categories focused on travel and tourism were also given recognition.
The Leading Riverfront Hotel/Resort category further saw Vivanta Ekta Nagar in India and Le Méridien Paro, Riverfront in Bhutan winning silver awards. The winners from Sri Lanka, Nepal, India and Bhutan reflect the diverse riverfront and nature-based hotel and resort options available in South Asia. With the silver win for Siddhartha Riverside Resort, Nepal’s turn at the SATA 2026 awards serves to recognise the country’s contributions to the tourism and hospitality sector.
Amaya Lake Recognised for Nature-Based Lakeside Experience in Dambulla, Sri Lanka
Amaya Lake resort in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, has been acknowledged as one of the best hotels and resorts in the South Asian region, having won the gold prize in the Leading Riverfront Hotel/Resort at the SATA 2026. The resort sits in Kandalama Lake, surrounded by nature and wildlife, offering a lakeside getaway for guests in the Dambulla district. Amaya Lake joins other winners in the ‘Leading Riverfront Hotel/Resort’ category in being acknowledged for its contribution to the tourism and hospitality sector. With its scenic location by Kandalama Lake, the resort offers nature and wilderness to guests interacting with Dambulla’s local culture while enjoying comfort in its accommodation, dining, wellness, and other facilities.
The win is an indication of the significance of the scenic location and the environment in which the resort is located to its services. Other riverfront and lakeside hotels and resorts offer similar experiences and can benefit from the kind of recognition that Amaya Lake has garnered. Having a resort by a river, lake, or any scenic location enables the establishment to provide a unique experience to its guests beyond the traditional hotel or resort setup. It is a good way to market and sell the uniqueness of the location and environment as part of the tourism experience.
Nepal’s Siddhartha Riverside Resort Wins Silver at SATA 2026 Awards
Siddhartha Riverside Resort in Chumlingtar, Nepal, is among the silver winners of the Leading Riverfront Hotel/Resort category at the SATA 2026 awards. The resort is located along the banks of the Trishuli River and provides guests with a riverside view while offering comfort in its excellent accommodation and dining options.
Surrounded by green hills and valleys, Siddhartha Riverside Resort is strategically located along the Prithvi Highway connecting Kathmandu and Pokhara, offering a good road-side getaway for families and hikers. The resort also overlooks the Manakamana Cable Car, providing the guests with a unique view of the world-renowned Manakamana Temple. Siddhartha Riverside’s silver win at the SATA 2026 indicates the potential for other Nepal-based travel and tourism enterprises to gain international recognition.
Its proximity to the Manakamana Temple and roadside location along the Prithvi Highway provide it with an opportunity to serve as the perfect short-break destination for hikers and road-side recreational activity lovers. With this win, other Nepal-based hospitality businesses can market themselves more as the country offers diverse tourism experiences, including mountain, cultural, and river-based activities.
While Nepal is known for its mountainous landscapes and associated activities such as trekking and hiking, its valleys and plains also provide a good opportunity for nature-based tourism and hospitality developments. The SATA 2026 win will give recognition to Nepal’s contribution to the South Asian tourism and hospitality sector and encourage it to market its diverse tourism products.
SATA 2026 Winners Acknowledged for Excellence in South Asia’s Tourism and Hospitality Sector
The 10th SATA 2026 is an annual event acknowledging excellence in the South Asian region in the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors. According to a report on the event, SATA 2026 saw the presentation of 178 awards in 54 categories, with winners being acknowledged across the South Asian region. The awards are based on a combination of onsite assessments and online voting. In June 2026, SATA announced the start of its 2026 evaluation program, with awards being given out in Colombo, Bengaluru, and New Delhi, with Bhutan as the next destination to host the awards.
Organisers described the final scores for each candidate as a combination of technical assessment (60 percent) and online voting (40 percent). SATA 2026 also had the support of travel, tourism, and hospitality partners, including Barcelo Nasandhura Male as the Host Partner and the Visit Maldives Corporation as the Destination Partner. Other partners include airlines, insurance companies, marine tourism operators, beverage companies, digital communication companies, and other relevant business entities operating in the region.
SATA Encouraging Regional Recognition and Exchange in South Asia’s Tourism and Hospitality Sectors
South Asian travel and tourism entities can benefit from participating in SATA, given its recognition at the regional level. The awards will enable businesses to gain exposure at the regional level, enabling them to sell their products and services beyond their local markets. In addition, SATA encourages regional exchange of tourism-related services, which will further benefit businesses as they compete on a larger scale.
This year’s winners in Amaya Lake, Siddhartha Riverside Resort, Vivanta Ekta Nagar, and Le Meridien Paro, Riverfront demonstrate that the South Asian region has diverse tourism and hospitality offerings for its domestic and international guests. With the exception of Nepal’s Siddhartha Riverside Resort, other winners from Sri Lanka, India, and Bhutan have won silver awards. While Amaya Lake and Le Meridian Paro, Riverfront highlight the mountain and valley scenery of their respective countries, Siddhartha Riverside Resort offers a riverside view in the rolling hills of Chumlingtar.
