Kantipur Temple House

Kantipur Temple House is a boutique hotel in Jyatha, on a lane called Chhusya Galli in central Kathmandu. It was conceived by Bharat Basnet, managing director of the Explore Nepal Group, who is described as the hotel's visionary and architect. The building follows the native Newari architecture of Kathmandu, with intricately carved windows and eaves, and stone and wood carvings were made specifically for it.

The hotel is known above all for its environmental policies. It operates a zero plastic bag policy and does not sell mineral water in plastic bottles; instead, free water refilling stations are placed throughout the building. Biodegradable waste is composted on site, and other waste is handled by Doko Recyclers, a local recycling initiative. Showers use solar-heated water, and solar power replaces diesel generators for backup. Most of the interior decor uses locally sourced materials.

The restaurant serves Nepali, Indian, Chinese, Thai and continental dishes, home-made and freshly prepared by experienced chefs and using mostly organic ingredients from selected farms around Nepal. There is also a small shop in the Hiti cafe. The rooms share the heritage-inspired design of the rest of the building. Guests receive a complimentary welcome drink, and the hotel offers free yoga classes, a 24-hour front desk, a business centre and laundry service.

The Explore Nepal Group runs several other sustainable tourism ventures, including Bhojan Griha, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Camp, Gaun Ghar in Bandipur, Kheti Bazaar and Khali Khutta, so the hotel can be a starting point for a wider trip with the same ethos. Its stated aim, under what it calls a socially responsible philosophy, is to protect the environment and preserve the cultural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley, and booking is handled directly through the hotel's own rooms and reservations pages.

Kantipur Temple House suits travellers who want traditional architecture and a lighter environmental footprint at a moderate price. The free yoga is a useful extra, and the policy of refilling bottles rather than selling them makes it easy to cut plastic during your stay. Jyatha sits on the edge of Thamel, so the hotel makes a convenient base for exploring the district and the old city on foot.