Universal Hotel & Lodge

The coffee was a nice way to start the morning, and the whole place had a relaxed feel. Staff were genuinely kind and ready to help, which made me feel welcome throughout my pleasant stay. It’s good value for the price, with warm hospitality that I appreciated.

The bedding covers were stained and smelled bad, and communication was difficult: only one staff member spoke basic English, while the others spoke none. I spent the second evening waiting more than an hour for a soup that never came back. I’d asked for no chili or masala, but what they served was extremely spicy with black pepper and other spices. They took it away, and I got no replacement or explanation. By then the nearby restaurants had closed, so after waiting so long I went to bed hungry. It felt very disrespectful. The first night, staff cleaning the restaurant below my room woke me at 5 AM. They were shifting tables and chairs and making so much noise that I couldn’t get back to sleep. I moved upstairs the next day, hoping for a quieter night, but the other problems followed.

The en suite rooms are at the rear, so they’re quiet and have great views. The hotel sits at the top of the main town, and the local bus stopped at the turning circle just before it. There aren’t many budget places to stay in Ghorka, and there’s little choice for meals around town, though the family running the hotel can provide food. They’re friendly, and have lived in Singapore before coming home. There’s a coffee machine, though I can’t comment on the coffee since we don’t drink it. The place could use more cleaning and painting, and the shower was a cold bucket shower.

The staff were excellent and the service was very good. It’s well placed in Gorkha Bazaar, close to the museum and Darbar palace, and it’s easy to find a bus or micro for the next destination. I’d fully recommend this hotel.