Hotel Shanker is a boutique heritage hotel in Kathmandu, Nepal. It is centrally located in Lazimpat, next to the historic Narayanhiti Royal Palace Museum. This was formerly a neo-classical Rana palace made by Agni Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, the then prime minister of Nepal.
It is said that Nepal’s Late Queen Aishwarya was also born in this hotel.
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 the most elegant palace in Kathmandu. Items such as gilt mirrors, velvet, marble and sunburst chandeliers were imported from Europe. The exteriors were fashioned in neo-classical style. The construction was completed in 1894 A.D.
Gen. Jit Shumsher died in 1913, 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 grand-daughters – HM Queen Aishwarya, HM Queen Komal and HH Princess Prekshya, were born in the palace.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SERVICE: OUR FOUNDER’S LEGACY
In 1964 A.D., Late Mr. Ram Shanker Shrestha bought this palace and converted it into the hotel, commencing operations with 23 rooms. His ingenious concept of maintaining the old age beauty and merging it with modern comforts is the existence of Hotel Shanker, Kathmandu.
Today, the hotel maintains and cherishes its position as a grand beauty of unmistakable class. He posthumously received the Order of the Gorkha Dakshina Bahu, an order of knighthood of Nepal. It is one of the highest honours given for the distinguished contribution to the country traditionally by the King and now the President.
By Anil Blon
Anil Blon 