The Luxe List 2014: Dwarika’s Resort Dhulikhel, Nepal

An hour’s drive from Kathmandu, where Dwarika Das Shrestha opened Nepal’s first hotel in 1952, Dwarika’s daughter has cut the ribbon on the country’s first spa resort and wellness retreat. Set on the outskirts of the temple-filled town of Dhulikhel, it focuses on complete wellbeing of the mind and body, which begins with immersion in the remote surroundings—an easy thing to do here, where jaw-dropping views of the Lantang range of the Himalayas await at every turn. Nearly everything is sourced locally, from the materials fashioning the 40 suites (starting at a spacious 120 square meters) with unbleached cotton for the linens, copper fittings, wooden exposed beams and furnishings, and rough-cut stone, to the food served in the trio of organic restaurants, which employ ingredients grown at a farm nearby. But the real draw is the extent of the services. To fill your personalized program, there’s a Himalayan salt room, chakra sound chamber, and full menu of spa treatments; astrologists, therapists, and a resident sage. Take their recommendation and start days with sunrise strolls through the meditation maze, and come night, head up to the rooftop terrace for stargazing.

977-11/ 490-612; Dwarika’s Resort Dhulikhel; doubles from US$360