Deshbandhu brings first int’l hotel chain ‘Ramada’ to eastern Nepal

KATHMANDU: Itahari, a major commercial hub in eastern Nepal, is set to welcome the international hotel brand Ramada by Wyndham.

The hotel, part of the popular mid-scale American chain Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, will be the first of its kind in eastern Nepal.

The initiative is led by Deshbandhu Basnet (Ajit), who had launched Mercure Kathmandu in the capital last year.

The hotel, scheduled to be fully operational within a month, features 81 rooms, including 57 deluxe singles, 14 deluxe doubles, 2 executive rooms, 6 junior suites, and 2 suites.

Modern Facilities for Business and Leisure

Ramada by Wyndham Itahari will offer a wide range of modern amenities, including a terrace bar, all-day dining restaurant, coffee shop, two banquet halls, meeting rooms, outdoor lounge, pool bar, swimming pool, gym, steam, and sauna facilities.

The hotel is designed to host everything from business meetings to weddings and social events, while providing direct employment to over 80 locals.

Boosting Eastern Nepal’s International Profile

Basnet, who also serves as Chairperson of the Tourism and Aviation Committee of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), said the hotel aims to promote tourism and business in eastern Nepal.

With its proximity to Biratnagar, the capital of Koshi Province, and its easy access to neighboring India, Itahari is becoming a key destination for business and social activities.

The hotel is expected to attract guests not only from Nepal but also from India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, making it a prime destination for conferences, weddings, and tourism. Basnet emphasized that the hotel will connect eastern Nepal to global markets and enhance the region’s tourism potential.

“We envision Ramada in eastern Nepal will increase both domestic and international visitors. This project also aims to develop Itahari as a transit hub for Joghbani and Kimanthang border crossings,” Basnet said. He added that the hotel will help promote eastern Nepal’s tourist and religious sites, including Bhedetar, Shreeantu, Koshi Tappu, Ilam, Ramdhuni, Barahkshetra, Pindeshwari, and Chataradham.

Active in the tourism sector for nearly a decade, Basnet had launched the five-star Mercure by Accor in Kathmandu’s Sukedhara on Jan 15, 2025.

Within a year, he has brought another international hotel brand to Nepal, this time expanding into eastern regions.