Hotel Shanker
{{Short description|Hotel in Kathmandu, Nepal}}
{{Infobox hotel
| hotel_name = Hotel Shanker, Kathmandu
| logo = Mobilesitehotelshanker.png
| logo_caption = Official Logo of Hotel Shanker, Kathmandu
| image = Shanker.jpg
| caption =
| pushpin_map = Nepal
| coordinates = {{coord|27|43|08.1|N|85|19|10.1|E|display=inline}}
| opening_date = 1964
| diamonds =
| closing_date =
| developer = Ram Shanker Shrestha
| architect = Kumar Narsingh Rana (Nepal's first Civil Engineer)
| operator = Hotel Shanker Pvt. Ltd.
| owner =
| number_of_restaurants = 2
| number_of_rooms = 94
| number_of_suites = 12
| floor_area =
| floors = 4
| parking = Outdoor, more than 200 Cars
| website = {{url|shankerhotel.com.np}}
| footnotes =
}}
Hotel Shanker in Kathmandu is a historic luxury heritage hotel opened in 1964 in a building dating to 1894. It is located in Lazimpat, next to the historic Narayanhity Palace Museum. The architectural style of the building is neoclassical. This palace was [http://www.explorehimalaya.com/blog/shanker-hotel/ Explore Himalaya Travel News][http://ecs.com.np/features/history-at-every-footstep History at every footstop - ECS Nepal] made for General Jit Shumsher Rana, (Southern Commanding General of the Army). The hotel is characterised by objets d'art. For example, the carved windows displayed in the lobby bar are over 200 years old.
Online booking at the official site was started for tourists since 2004.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nepal-uncovered.com/class/nepal/shanker.php |title=Nepal Uncovered |access-date=2010-02-17 |archive-date=2012-11-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128132636/http://www.nepal-uncovered.com/class/nepal/shanker.php |url-status=dead }} The hotel won the Trip Advisor Travelers' choice awards for the years 2013 and 2014 in the top hotels category.[http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Hotels-cTop-g293889#8 Trip Advisor Travelers' Choice Awards Winner - Hotel Shanker at Rank 8 (Top Hotels) ]
Background and history
At the turn of the 19th century, Gen. Jit Shumsher Rana, brother of HH Sri Tin Maharaja Bhir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, hired architect Kumar Narsingh Rana to build this palace. The exteriors were fashioned in neoclassical style and the interiors were done as per European tastes of the time. The construction was completed in 1894 A.D.
Gen. Jit Shumsher, who suffered from an acute illness, died prematurely July 29, 1913,[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~royalty/nepal/i323.html#I323 Gen. Jit Shumsher on ancestry.com] and this palace eventually came into the possession of Gen. Maharajkumar Agni Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana - the son of HH Sri Tin Maharaja Juddha Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, one of the most distinguished of the powerful Rana Maharajas. Agni Shumsher's granddaughters Queen Aishwarya, Queen Komal, and Princess Prekshya were born in the palace.[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~royalty/nepal/i354.html#I354 Gen. Maharajkumar Agni Shumsher J. B. Rana on ancestry.com]
In 1964 Ram Shanker Shrestha took the palace, which was then known as Agni Bhawan, on lease, converting into a hotel while maintaining the exterior.
Gallery
File:Agni Bhawan (Hotel Shanker, Kathmandu after 1964).jpg|File photo of Agni Bhawan from the 1920s (now known as Hotel Shanker, Kathmandu)
File:Late Mr. Ram Shanker Shrestha, Founder of Hotel Shanker.jpg|Founder of Hotel Shanker, Mr. Ram Shanker Shrestha
File:Hotel Shanker in the 1970, post refurbishment.jpg|Reverse angle of the building of Hotel Shanker
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.shankerhotel.com.np Official Web Site]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shanker Hotel}}
Category:Hotels established in 1964
Category:Hotel buildings completed in 1894
Category:Former palaces in Nepal