It was Prakash Rayamajhi who had come to pick me. Last evening he had whispered into my ear that he would be picking me to a hotel by the Damsite.
As I was just desperate to catch a glimpse of the rising Sun and explode in joy, Rayamajhi preferred Dragon Hotel’s roof top for sun rise. As those gilded snow ranges all around Pokhara valley heralded the rising of the sun, wasting no time, we rode to Dragon Hotel. The serpentine course of road along the lake offered poor visibility as those mist emanating from the lake darkened the sight of every drivers, hence the traffic too, was thin.
Slowly, as the fog marred the light of the bike, we rode to Dragon Hotel which was hardly 5 minutes ride from the hub of Pokhara, the Lakeside. It lay at equal distance from Pokhara airport.
As we entered into the lobby, we approached the man standing behind the artistically carved, wooden framed reception desk. With thangka paintings and tapestries hanging by the walls, wood carvings in perfect age-old Buddhist tradition, Dragon’s lobby looked like the hall of mountain lamasery. The narrow exit leading to the corridor had lush green plants on big clay pots, on either side. We asked the man the at the counter for Ashok Tulachan, the Asst. Manager of Dragon Hotel. The man welcoming us in an indigenous hospitality asked us to comfort ourselves on sofa placed around the lobby while he would inquire for Tulachan. But, for me no comfort would have been as lovely as the lustrous sun peeping out from behind the Fish-tail mountain, and the Fish-tail growing frisky at its reflections on the serene blue water of Fewa lake. We asked the man if the hotel had garden-yard, and he showed us the way. We hurried to the garden. The garden-yard with Lalupates (Red-leaves plants) still held the dew drops, and the roses and lily petals inspired freshness and the juvenile joy. Huge garden with pine trees and tiny flowers garden had white wooden chairs and tables placed around. Wiping out the frost with our hands we rested on the chair. The sun light had still not gained its full luster as the fogs marred them from coming down. However, the warmth of the Sun interspersed with the sweet fragrance of flowers and the chirping of birds made the garden a pleasant place to be in.
As we had just comforted ourselves on those wooden chairs, Ashok Tulachan popped in. Greeting us in a perfect Thakali tradition, (Thakalis from Thaak Khola (river) valley are regarded as pioneers of hotel trade in Nepal), Tulachan asked us if we preferred anything hot.
Ordering for coffee, Tulachan began to dwell on distinctive features of Dragon Hotel. The pagoda style architecture of Dragon manifested the age-old Tibeto-Burman tradition.
Chatting over the cup of coffee, Tulachan said, “We have intertwined our age-old Thakali tradition to the modern day luxury. The services and hospitalities are uniquely Nepalese, yet we are next to none in offering the luxury and comforts that the holiday makers aspire for in Pokhara valley.”
He went on further, “We offer the tradition and charm of Thak Khola(river) valley, the experienced services of people who are pioneers of Nepalese hotel industry.
It has 30 traditional yet comfortable rooms, all with attached modern bathrooms, hot and cold running water and the splendor of the mountain from the windows of the rooms.
About the food that the hotel served. he sac “the Solo restaurant serves a variety of Eurocew Indian and Nepalese cuisine with an accent of course, on the traditional Thak Khola soups curries and deserts in a traditional setting.’
“The cocktail hour means our Chheche Bar and some exotic tippling for
something really out of your world; rakshi-the home-brewed Nepalese liqueur
made form the native cereals and fruits of the valley in a centuries old distillation
process.
How about taking a look around said we, and he took us into the Chheche Bar.
All those age-old traditional kitchen utensils of Thakalis were on display on
the showcase by the bar, followed by Buddhist sculptures and idols placed around
the corners. Upon asked d they served liqueurs in those antique glasses. and
snacks on those copper plates, Tulachan said, “They are there only to
show our guests what culture and tradition we lived with.”
By this time the sun had come in its full luster, and the sky perfectly clear adding glamour to Fish-tail. Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri.
We quickly climbed to the top to what Tulachan called the Sun Deck roof garden.
It was indeed a perfect place to be for mountain watchers and sun lovers. Nothing
marred the sight from the Sun Deck as it was in such a height that both the
Fewa lake dotted with boats and the glittering mountains offered themselves
unhindered and unperturbed. For real holiday makers, beholding the fleeting
landscape, and the glamorous mountains, sipping glass of chilled beer in the
Sun Deck roof garden would turn the moments into real paradise.