Corporate

Words cannot exactly describe the splendor of Godavari Village Resort. One has to be there and see oneself to believe one's eyes. Such is the grandeur of Godavari Village Resort which offers one of the best services, facilities and surroundings which is all unique both for foreign visitors and Nepalese alike.

Set on the banks of a lazy meandering stream, amidst a lush green terraced valley, with the magnificent backdrop of the mighty Himalayan snow clad peaks, the Godavari Village Resort offers the finest traditions of Nepalese hospitality combined with international standards of luxury and personalized service.

The resort is an ideal choice for the most prestigious of receptions, business meetings and conferences. The conference hall is well equipped and uniquely situated to offer amazing views of the surrounding mountain vista. Full secretarial back-up services are available for corporate presentations.

Within this marvelous setting are 68 well appointed spacious rooms, including 4 suites for the ultimate in luxurious comfort. Standard features in all rooms include colour TV, IDD telephone and a well-stocked minibar. Business services include fax machines, computer ready telephone jacks, Internet/e-mail and photocopy services.

If barbecue is your choice, join the party with the birds and the bees in the Resort’s perfect valley-view setting. Or simply stretch out on the lush sprawling lawns, and take in the crisp mountain air, and the panoramic view in front of you. When it comes to dining in style, the Vaijayanta restaurant and Sumeru Coffee shop give the guest a lavish variety of cuisine to choose from. The Urvashi bar with a heart warming fire place offers exotic drinks with an array of tantalizing snacks.

Escape the maddening city and chill out at this superb natural resort any day you want to. The Resort’s recreational facilities include a swimming pool, clay tennis courts, billiards room, skittle alley, fitness centre, jacuzzi, sauna and massage, as well as mountain biking and arranged walking tours for the more adventurous.

For those who love trekking, a day’s trek to Phulchowki, the highest point in the valley, will be a memorable experience that is second to none.

Godavari Village Resort can also arrange for sight-seeing tours around the area. The main attractions include:

A haven of peace and tranquility, Godavari Village Resort is the perfect retreat for you and your family. The packages offered are carefully tailored to the needs of the guest and so are their services.

Since the Resort is far away from the hustle and bustle of the city half an hour drive from airport, transportation facilities include a special Shuttle Service every 2 hours (10.00 am to 7.00 pm) every day.

A Journey from Rags to Riches

He used to collect advertisement for businessmen and get Rs 6 as monthly pay. He was ‘promoted’ as a Hawker to distribute Nepali vernacular newspaper called Samaj and get Rs 10 per month. He then got a position of peon in the government secretariat at Singh Durbar and get Rs 12 monthly salary. Still undecided, he switched job and got himself into the military service and earned Rs 35 monthly. Yet not content he left the army and joined the Soaltee Hotel as typist with a salary of Rs 80 per month. This was the turning point in his life and since then he never had to look back. His progress multiplied in geometric proportions taking him to very responsible executive positions in Gorkha Travels, Holiday Nepal Travels, Everest Express Travels, Gokarna Safari Park, Kakani Mountain Resort, Nook Hotel, Casino Nepal among other travel trade sectors.

Today, he is the Managing Director of Greenwich Group of Hotel & Resort. The owner of nothing less than Godavari Village Resort built at a initial cost of Rs 50 crores.

This man is Mr. Shridhar Prasad Acharya, a 60 year old gentleman who looks much younger than his age. He humbly shows his suit coat and grins, "It’s my ‘compulsion’ to wear this". But what is most incredible is that he worked hand in hand with construction workers to build the 68-room resort which no words can do justice to describe the grandeur of this magnificent resort. And believe it or not, he did not hire any consultants but put behind his own ideas and creation which spurred from his brain.

Business Age had a very touchy and thought-provoking interaction with this man with a history of rag to riches. Following is the excerpt.

Mr Shridhar Acharya rightly described the uniqueness of the resort by saying that no other resort or hotel in Kathmandu valley has the landscape that Godavari Village Resort offers and the diverse panoramic view that it provides, "Although this is my baby, I think this is a national property" adding that if one calculates the tax, VAT and other tariffs in terms of electricity, water and other bills, a very large and substantial amount goes in the nation’s coffer. "But in return what do we get?" questions Mr Acharya and hurries to give the answer himself. "They call me a Sahuji. The bureaucrats demand undue benefits (free rooms, free food, free drinks etc.) Even if the government shows some degree of sympathy, the bureaucracy has a hawkish tendency."

The veteran tourism entrepreneur makes a sombre face while recalling the attitude of the concerned policy implementors. "Person like me is a National Economic Administrator I have set up such a complex for the nation, given employment to a sizeable number of Nepalese people and have made visible contribution to Nepalese tourism."

He adds, "Tomorrow I will not live but my property will serve the nation. Hence it is the nation’s property and the government should be a partner to it."

"But this is not happening" says Mr Acharya. "The government has a "master – servant" attitude towards us. We are harassed by taxmen. The CIP (Commercially Important Person) concept flouted by the Finance Minister is a farce. CIP concept has to be visible from the actual treatment and behaviour of the government towards us and not by a separate room at the Tribhuwan International Airport. We don’t want it. We are the donors for the country. We demand a minimum respect from the government. Yes, the nation needs tax. But it must first know the right attitude to collect it." Giving the classic father and son example Mr Acharya says, "If a drunk and irresponsible father scolds his son and asks for money, the son will think twice."

"Even at this hour of national crisis we have no support at all from the government or any concerned tourism authorities. We at Godavari Village Resort were confident of reaching breakeven by 2003 but because of unprecedented events both at home and abroad and the non-cooperation from any concerned authorities we are pushed back 2 years behind."

In sum total Mr Acharya squarely puts the blame for the entire mess on the "work culture" of the nation.

A Pride of Nepal

A Journey from Rags to Riches