Siddhartha Sunny Resort, the first four-star hotel in Karnali Province, located in Birendranagar, is taking a significant step in promoting local indigenous products. Through its souvenir shop, the resort is actively supporting and selling various locally produced items, giving a platform for the region’s native goods.
The souvenir shop at the hotel features an array of Indigenous products, including items such as simi (a local legume), marshi rice, maize, honey, walnuts, rudraksha beads, and green tea, as shared by the hotel’s Operations Manager, Ramkrishna Timilsena. In addition to agricultural products, the shop also offers handcrafted wooden items made by the Rautes and other communities, including dhakiya, dalo, and doko baskets, made by the Tharu community.
Unlike most hotel souvenir shops, which typically feature jewelry and clothing, Siddhartha Sunny Resort has chosen to showcase these unique and culturally significant local products. According to Timilsena, the initiative aims to provide visitors with the opportunity to take home a piece of Karnali as a memento, while also supporting the promotion and sale of organic and local agricultural products. “Through this initiative, we hope to encourage the marketing of these products and inspire local farmers,” he said.
The promotion of indigenous crops and products aligns with the efforts of Karnali Province’s Ministry of Industry. Under the coordination of the Small-Scale Industrial Village Operator Committee, the committee’s chairperson, Udiram Dangi, mentioned that Siddhartha Hotel was selected to facilitate the distribution and promotion of these local goods.
This initiative reflects the resort’s commitment to supporting the local economy and showcasing the rich cultural heritage and natural products of the Karnali region.