[ Eating Out ]
The Fort Resort,
Nagarkot
- by Susan Fowlds
A chance meeting
with Subodh Bhattarai in a restaurant in Kantipath, meant an introduction
to Netra Bantawa, and a request to stage an Eating Out event at the Fort Resort.
Netra was delighted; had never seen the ECS magazine before, but very open
to trying a new way of promoting his establishment at Nagarkot.
Like
most Nepalese, he immediately wanted to do it yesterday, or as soon as possible,
his excuse being that the flowers wouldn't last. I agreed, so in just a few
days we set up a guest list and managed to invite everyone.
I had wanted to meet Netra for a long time, so this was great for me to be
able to work with him on an Eating Out segment.
The Fort Resort has a huge reputation on the Nagarkot Hills, for its position, its ambience, its beauty. And it truly lives up to its image. One of the first properties built, in by far the best location, a tribute to the fact that he bought the land and established the orchards and gardens over 30 years ago.
Our group of unlikely victims of an eating out segment, turned up at Nagarkot, all eager to meet each other and find common ground. And they certainly did very quickly, with some heated exchanges, and banter too, thank goodness!
Sailendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Binaya Sharma lived up to their reputations of being lively luncheon companions, with Achute Rana sitting between them to fend off the arrows.
Sue and Richard Vokes make lively and intelligent lunch companions at any time, and their input and humour were fully appreciated by the group. Uieve Powell had tried to get out of the lunch by saying she couldn't find a taxi, but Netra arranged one and told him to drive quickly-, but of course Ueve said'drive slowly'.
David Woods Was already spending the weekend in Nagarkot, so wandered up the hill in time for lunch, appreciating every moment spent away from his busy desk.Also present was Pauline David a lawyer from Sydney who had spent the last two months working in Kathmandu on an ADB sponsored project. Her second visit, and hopefully not her last.
Netra, Jan Salter, Rupy Singh and her husband Darshan spent much of the time reminiscing about life in east Nepal many years before, and Netra told them about his childhood in the region.
Occupancy
levels at The Fort Resort were high, and the tables were well occupied for
lunch. Our tables were
beautifully set, occupying the best location on the terrace, looking right
out to the mountains, which were vaguely perceptible peeping over the clouds.
Netra was keen to have us try just about everything on the menu, so our lunch consisted of a medley of dishes from every part of the menu, and every part of Asia. What fun we had,eating our way through!
Decoration and taste has always been the forte of Netra Bantavva's wife Sitar Rai Bantawa,and she certainly gets it perfectly. Each room has just the right amount of furniture, just the perfect colour schemes, the floors are beautiful, either wooden or terracotta tiles.The windows are large,the bathrooms beautifully fitted out. I really find very little to even quibble over. Having spent 30 years in the travel industry, and often having spent days on end in major cities like Hong Kong and Tokyo, visiting endless hotels to choose convention and conference facilities forAustralian incentive groups, I now only need to walk in the door of a room and know whether I like it or not. The Fort Resort I really like!
Being able to rest, to rejuvenate, to even reinvent oneself at The Fort is not difficult. Away from the madding crowds of Kathmandu, away from the busy streets, one could believe one is in another world.
Now with the summer heats arrivingThe Fort is still an ideal place to recover from a busy week's work, just that little bit higher than the valley floor, the intensity of the sun is just a smidgen less. Our visit in March also meant we heard the birdlife at their best, before the heats.
The Fort Resort have their office in Kantipath, where Subodh Bhattarai can be found managing the office, and Netra too.Visit them to talk about your family stay, or your business group conference, or small intimate meeting. Phone 226799, 226977
ECS
wishes to thank Netra Bantawa and his team for facilitating this Eating Out
segment. Your willingness to host the lunch, and your enthusiasm for our wish
to profile your restaurant at the Fort, is fully appreciated.
ECS
| May 2002
Page 19
