Shinta Mani Mustang – A Bensley Collection property in Nepal set to open on 1 March, 2023.
The 29-suite Shinta Mani Mustang – A Bensley Collection property is set to open in Nepal by Shinta Mani Hotels, owned and operated by HMD Asia, in partnership with Kathmandu based Sherpa Hospitality Group.
This will be Shinta Mani Hotels’ first international property outside of Cambodia, where it operates Shinta Mani Wild and Shinta Mani Angkor.
Guests staying at Shinta Mani Mustang – A Bensley Collection will have an all-inclusive experience, with the guests’ journey curated to provide an immersive, luxury experience in the Himalayas in one of the most untouched and preserved regions in the world. The region is known as The Forbidden Kingdom, the gateway to Tibet.
‘Mustang; in Tibetan, translates to ‘Plain of Aspiration’ and is bordered by the Tibetan plateau with an elevation that rises from 1,372 to 8,167 meters above sea level.
The dramatic landscapes are dotted with many Buddhist monasteries, framed by some of the highest snow-capped peaks in the world, including Mount Nilgiri.
Each of the 29 suites is designed in the style of a traditional Tibetan home with an open-plan bedroom combined with a living area and a separate bathroom. Floor to ceiling windows offer majestic views of the Nilgiri mountain.
When the new Shinta Mani Mustang – A Bensley Collection opens in March, it will include a 60-seat Nilgiri Restaurant serving modern Nepalese cuisine as well as western cuisine made from locally sourced and foraged produce. The Aara Bar is named after an exotic local Tibetan/Sherpa liquor.
A Wellness Centre with a hot plunge poos, a steam room and sauna room will feature floor-to-ceiling windows facing the mountains. The Tibetan wellness program will be developed by a local 11th generation Tibetan Amchi Doctor, using traditional herbal medicine.
Authentic experiences
Highly personalised, guided guest experiences led by Bensley Adventure Guides will continue the traditions of local Sherpa hospitality. Guests will be able to take unique daily exercusions including trekking, horse riding, rock climbing, cycling, archery, hiking, helicopter tours, wellness and more.
Design
Bill Bensley intends to incorporate his signature style to the lodge, infusing warm coloured fabrics and materials to reflect the rich tones of the surrounding landscape.
Interiors will be adorned by the artwork of the late artist Robert Powell, a friend of Bill’s who sketched the region in rich detail. Bensley has used recycled materials that he has repurposed into unique new furniture.
“This is perhaps one of the most exciting projects we have ever had,” says Bill Bensley.
“I have never seen such wildly dramatic landscapes as the mountains and valleys of Mustang, and am thrilled that Shinta Mani can be the first to introduce this Forbidden Kingdom to international adventurers, and all the more so under the special wing of Bensley Collection,” said Bill Bensley.
Sustainability
Consistent with Shinta Mani’s philosophy of giving back to the communities in which they operate, the Lodge will work closely with the non-profit, non-political and NGO Psang Lhamu Foundation which was founded by the owning family after their mother became the first Nepalese woman to blaze a trail to the summit of Mt Everest in 1993.
Rates at the all-inclusive Shinta Mani Mustang – A Bensley Collection will start from USD1,700 per couple per night for a minimum 5-night stay, plus applicable service charge and government taxes.