Designed around the lives of the Tharu people who have made this region their home since the 10th century, Sanctuary Resort aims to give a Tharu village experience through the architecture and landscape. Using traditional craftsmanship, sourcing sustainable materials locally, and using rich textural language to create links with the community, the resort buildings have been built to blend in and belong to the place. The buildings were scaled down visually by using linear structures and lighter materials; the layout emulates a traditional family compound, with the buildings designed as a cluster that focuses on a central courtyard. It gives one the experience of living outdoors and being closer to nature.

There are no televisions offered in the rooms to enable guests to have an immersive nature experience, while Wi-Fi is available. There are two categories of rooms to choose from at Sanctuary Resort.

Deluxe rooms are spacious and stylishly decorated with the same earth tones and natural aesthetic found throughout the hotel. Each of the 18 rooms comes with a set of twin beds, an ensuite bathroom, and a private outdoor area that overlooks the grounds and the jungle. An additional room in this category serves as a junior suite.

The eight villas are free-standing cottages with a verandah, king-sized beds and spacious ensuite bathrooms and are ideal for a couple or a family where extra beds can be accommodated. The rooms have a Tharu-style smeared wall that is practised by a few of the elder population. A complicated task, it is done by hand by the Tharu women with soil sourced from a particular area.

For nannies and local and international guides, there is provision for special accommodation and meals.

Dining

A wide variety of cuisines are served here, including Nepali, Tharu, Indian, Continental, Chinese, and fusion. Special requests are catered to and the large dining hall can accommodate 60-80 people at a time.

There are plenty of experiences and activities to choose from at Sanctuary Resort.

Jungle Safari: Experienced drivers and naturalists accompany guests in open top vehicles that can seat six or ten people. Chitwan has been awarded the status of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its diverse wildlife and flora. Home to the largest population of one-horned Asiatic rhinoceros, Royal Bengal tiger, clouded leopard, Asian wild elephant, sloth bear, gaur, and many other species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects. Located in the Inner Terai, the flora is subtropical broadleaf and includes sal, rosewood, chir pine, and axlewood.

Birdwatching: Nepal’s unique topography makes it home to over 800 species of birds, of which over 500 are found in Chitwan. The naturalists from Sanctuary come with park knowledge, an understanding of migratory patterns, and recent spotting and nesting areas of the birds. There are viewing towers inside the jungle that overlook wetlands, grasslands, waterways, and dense jungle, thus allowing one to find birds that prefer each type of landscape.

Nature Walk: One of the best ways to explore any destination, especially jungles, is on foot and get up close and personal with all that nature has to offer. A perfect way to get to know the flora as well as the smaller creatures of the forest.

Tharu Community: Sanctuary Resort is nestled in the heart of Tharu community land, and the local village is a short walk away. The Tharu tribe were the only inhabitants of the Chitwan region until the middle of the last century, and their culture, domestic habits, and rituals are still strongly represented. On this culturally rich and fascinating exploration of local village life, one can see the traditional architecture and get a sense of village life. Besides this, a Tharu cultural show for larger groups can be organised on request. Dancers and musicians from the local community perform traditional dance routines, including the popular Tharu stick dance and folk songs. For those wanting to know more about the community, a visit to the Tharu museum can be organised.

Canoe Ride: The Narayani river is a short walk away. Take a canoe ride on a traditionally carved wooden canoe to get a glimpse of the jungle from its waterways. The hand rowed canoes glide slowly, and one can spot birds, monkeys, the occasional rhino, and crocodiles basking in the sun.

Besides this, one can spend time in the pool, avail of the spa, enjoy sundowners by the river, visit nearby sights, feed elephants, and fish with local fishermen.

Sanctuary Resort has been recently renovated and is looking into adopting more sustainability practices.

Safe Garbage Disposal: Wet and dry garbage is segregated and safely disposed. Clean up drives are regularly conducted.

Energy Efficiency: The resort has been built keeping in mind the local architecture of the Tharu community. Energy efficient lighting is in place, and shutdown procedures are maintained for heating and cooling systems and lighting when not in use. Although the resort is connected to the grid, they are looking at alternative energy sources such as solar.

Nature and Biological Diversity Conservation: Rewilding efforts are in place. Sanctuary Resort teams up with other resorts in the area to clean the area, water canals, and follow the instructions provided by the government on maintaining biodiversity. Although elephant rides are available in Chitwan, Sanctuary Resort does not offer them as part of their offering, keeping in tune with the ethical beliefs in the treatment of trained elephants.

Low Footprint Tourism: Sanctuary has been modelled on the homes and lifestyle of the Tharu community. Sri Lankan architect Palinda Kannangara, who has been influenced by Geoffrey Bawa’s design aesthetic, has been involved in the construction. This ensured the sourcing of local materials as well as the use of local manpower to build. Further, the resort is set on six acres of land with just 27 rooms.

Sensitive Destination Discovery: Located in a less frequented area of Chitwan, there are fewer hotels in the area. The focus is on the jungle, with trained naturalists and sensitive interaction with the local Tharu community.

Human Touch: All staff are treated equally and there is no pay parity. The Tharu community is promoted and supported through employment.

The RARE Sustainability Quotient is a self-audit tool that is used by our hotel partners to measure, document, and assess their planet and people friendly practices and is based on the RARE Touchstones.