HMD Asia brand Shinta Mani Hotels is to head outside Cambodia for the first time with a new site in Nepal.
The 29-suite Shinta Mani Mustang – A Bensley Collection luxury lodge will open on 1 March 2023 in partnership with Kathmandu-based Sherpa Hospitality Group.
Natural heights
The all-inclusive luxury hotel will be situated in the Himalayas within Nepal’s Mustang district, and is bordered by the Tibetan plateau with an elevation that rises from 1,372 to 8,167 metres above sea level.
Located in an area known as The Forbidden Kingdom – the gateway to Tibet – the site has a dramatic backdrop, with floor to ceiling windows offering sweeping views of Nilgiri mountain.
Traditional style
Each of the 29 suites measuring 45 square metres (2,484 sq ft), are designed in the style of a traditional Tibetan home with an open-plan bedroom combined with a living area and a separate bathroom.
Culinary options at Shinta Mani Mustang will include the 60-seat Nilgiri Restaurant, named after the mountain it looks out onto, and a large outdoor dining patio where modern Nepal cuisine and western cuisine will be served, using locally sourced and foraged produce. The onsite Aara Bar is named after an exotic local Tibetan/Sherpa liquor.
Recreation facilities
The lodge features a mixed use activity room which can be used for meetings, presentations or yoga and exercise classes.
A wellness centre has two treatment suites with floor to ceiling windows facing the mountains; each with a hot plunge pool, steam room, sauna, shower and two massage beds.
Surroundings inspiration
Design studio Bensley’s Bill Bensley will be creating the interiors of this mountain lodge, incorporating warm coloured fabrics and materials to reflect the rich tones of the surrounding landscape. He is using recycled materials to repurpose into new furniture.
Every area will be complemented by the artwork of the late artist Robert Powell, a friend of Bensley’s who drew the region’s vernacular architecture in detail. Outside, fire pits on the terrace will allow guests to admire the night sky in warmth as the temperatures dip.
Pushing boundaries
Sokoun Chanpreda, MD of HMD Asia, said: “We are delighted to be entering into this agreement with the Sherpa Hospitality Group and highly value our partnership with them. We have incredible synergies between our brands and look forward to a fruitful and successful alliance in this unique and very special destination.”
Namgyal Sherpa, owner of Sherpa Hospitality Group, commented: “It was our dream to create world class, luxury hotel experiences in the Himalayas and we couldn’t find a better partner than Shinta Mani Hotels to collaborate with on this vision as we share similar values. We are very excited to be pushing the boundaries and creating a new and exciting project that will position Nepal as a quality, luxury destination and not just for budget travellers.”
Designer Bill Bensley added: “This is perhaps one of the most exciting projects we have ever had. I have never seen such wildly dramatic landscapes as the mountains and valleys of Mustang, and am thrilled that Shinta Mani can be the first to introduce this Forbidden Kingdom to international adventurers – and all the more so under the special wing of Bensley Collection.”
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Shinta Mani Hotels are designed by co-owner Bill Bensley. Each of its small properties reflects its natural and cultural environment, providing heartfelt hospitality.
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