The five-star Royal Tulip Resort in Sauraha is set to open in time for the upcoming English New Year. The resort, being developed by KTM Hospitality, began construction in 2020. The company’s chairman, Rameshwor Shah, confirmed that the resort will be operational from January, with final touches currently underway. “Construction was delayed for various reasons, but we are now in the final phase,” Shah stated.
The Royal Tulip, built with an investment of NPR 1.5 billion, will be Sauraha’s first five-star luxury resort. Shah believes the resort will not only enhance tourism in Sauraha but also contribute to the country’s broader tourism promotion efforts.
For the resort’s operation, Shah has signed a management agreement with the renowned European brand ‘Louvre Hotels’ two years ago. This will be the first time the brand is managing a hotel in Nepal. Shah emphasized that the resort’s facilities and services will align with the standards set by Louvre Hotels.
“Our target customers are both domestic and international tourists. Nepalese spending power has increased, and many are traveling abroad. Domestic tourists help boost the economy, while foreign tourists bring in foreign currency,” he added.
Royal Tulip is Shah’s ‘dream project,’ and he has put extensive thought into its design. The resort aims to provide an immersive wildlife tourism experience for visitors to Sauraha. “There is a lack of such quality resorts for wildlife tourism in Sauraha, which is why we’ve developed the Royal Tulip,” Shah explained.
The resort features 65 rooms, including three water villas, one treehouse, four executive suites, 27 deluxe rooms, eight super deluxe rooms, and 18 standard rooms. Each villa offers unique amenities, with executive villas having private swimming pools, and water villas being built over water. Guests can enjoy activities such as boating, fishing, and elephant bathing right around their villas.
Additionally, the resort includes a three-story treehouse where tourists can ride elephants. “In the past, treehouses were built in the jungle. We’ve recreated that experience at the resort to attract tourists,” Shah said. The resort boasts four restaurants: All-Day Dining, Grill Bar, Tanavi Bar, and Bonfire. The Bonfire area can accommodate up to 30 people, offering an outdoor dining experience. There are also three swimming pools, each for different age groups: one for children under five, one for children under ten, and one for adults.
Designed in a boutique style, the resort includes extensive facilities such as large conference halls, a banquet hall for 500 people, seminar rooms, a spa and health club, a children’s park, an MP theater, tennis courts, and walking paths. Plastic bottles are strictly prohibited within the resort, and the design focuses on environmental sustainability with extensive greenery.
“Earlier, there were good resorts inside the national park where wildlife enthusiasts could enjoy quality services. However, after those resorts closed, tourists started changing destinations. This shows the need for proper infrastructure to attract tourists,” Shah said. Upon its opening, the resort will provide employment for over 120 people. The exact cost of staying at the Royal Tulip will be decided by the management.
Shah, who is known for running outsourcing companies and serves as the president of the Outsourcing Association of Nepal, had spent almost two decades in the outsourcing business, traveling to numerous countries. During his visits, he found himself enjoying stays at hotels and resorts. When in Kathmandu, he frequently visited Sauraha, which he considered his “refreshment destination.”
Shah had initially planned to establish a small farm-house in Sauraha and purchased 10 kathas of land. In 2020, he discussed the farm-house concept with a designer, intending to invest around NPR 22 million. Work began on the farm-house with plans for 26 rooms, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic halted progress. This gave Shah the opportunity to rethink his plans, and he shifted focus towards creating a luxury resort instead.
“I realized that if we could build a luxury resort here, it would attract quality tourists interested in wildlife,” Shah noted. He purchased additional land and began constructing the resort. In July 2022, Shah signed a management agreement with Louvre Hotels, the second largest hotel brand in Europe. “98% of the resort’s construction is complete,” Shah said, adding that they are also planning to issue an IPO (Initial Public Offering) once the resort opens.
Source: Setopati
