Golfing in the jungle within the city

Bernardo Bertolucci discovered two huge hundred-year old trees in 1993 inside Gokarna forest, where he filmed Prince Siddhartha meditating, for his globally acclaimed film "Little Buddha."

Ten years have passed since then. The two majestic trees are still spreading their branches all over, as if they rule the whole jungle. The only difference is, now these trees are available for the Kathmanduites to admire. And yeah, there is a little addition to it.

All the visitors in Gokarna may rejuvenate themselves by passing through these two trees, and entering into a different world of health club and spa. Yes, the Le Meridien hotel in Rajnikunj jungle inside Gokarna has recently completed an international standard health club with health spa, jacuzzi and indoor-heated swimming pool.

"We expect to serve the city dwellers by providing a beautiful escape from the huff and puff of the city life, inside the city itself," says Suman Sachdev, Director of LM Suvir Brothers, the owning company of the property that is run by an international chain of hotel and resorts, Le Meridien.

Le Meridien is a jungle resort in Gokarna with international standard 18-hole golf course. The resort provides truly exceptional experience, much different than others, and probably one of the best among 140 luxury hotels of the chain in 55 countries.

Le Meridien won the contract beating competitors like Taj, Oberoi, ITC and other locals, only because they proposed to develop a golf course in between the hills and the trees. The course that has now become South Asia’s most sought after venue by the global golfers.

The credit for winning the contract goes to Prem Sachdev, father of Suman Sachdev. Prem is a devoted golfer, who possesses the title of Amateur Gold Champion of Singapore. After winning he started working in the project, he played golf for Nepal and broughtthe Famous Grouse International Foursomes Tournament title into the country, in participation with Binod Shrestha.

David Kidd of Gleneagles Golf Developments from Scotland designed the course in Nepal. Gleneagles is the second oldest and renowned gold course developer after St. Andrews.

As elsewhere, Le Meridien is famous for golf coursed flanked by five-star luxury accommodations. Amid the trees of Gokarna the resort is also developed, in Suman Sachdev’s words "with utmost care not to disturb the environment."

The 64-room proposed resort that is built in the medieval Malla architecture is yet to come to life because tourism nose-dived in the last few years. "The Maoist insurgency really hampered our progress, we hope the situation now will change for good,"said Sachdev optimistically.

However, the structures of the main building have been completed, confusing the birds with Patan Durbar Square in aerial view. Among the cluster of Nepali-style buildings, two buildings have been restored to its old glory. "One of these old houses is the place where the late King Mahendra’s second marriage function was held, and the other building is the traditional abode for the lovers belonging to high class families," Sachdev explained.

At present the property provides preferential tea times to its golfers through 16 Vacation Club rooms serviced through the adjacent Hunter’s Lodge and the Golf Club House. The Hunter’s Club is an old house where royalties used to reside during their hunting trips to Gokarna. Now with its erstwhile beauty regained, the Club is a restaurant cum bar, designed with a unique combination of traditional and semi-modern style.

The Golf Club House is a full-fledged restaurant with five-star services and food standards. "Still, we are the cheapest because we consider the restaurant as a service to our valued members," explained Sachdev.

Not only the restaurants, even the Club’s membership is astonishingly economical as compared to the value of the services. "Our membership cost is as much as the cost of bowling for 3-4 hours a week. And here we have complete health club with swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, massage, and, of course, golf," Sachdev explained.

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