Kathmandu: The Postcard Hotel is set to enter Nepal with the opening of The Postcard on the Rapti River, Chitwan, in November 2026. Located along a scenic bend of the Rapti River, the 22-room-and-suite luxury retreat overlooks the forests and hills surrounding Chitwan National Park.
The opening marks the hospitality brand’s expansion into its fourth country, following its presence in India, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
Situated adjacent to the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park, the property offers access to one of South Asia’s most significant wildlife destinations. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, the park is home to the greater one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear and endangered gharial. Nepal’s 2021 national rhino census recorded 694 rhinoceroses in Chitwan and surrounding areas. The park also has more than 525 recorded bird species.
Designed to bring the surrounding wilderness into the guest experience, the hotel features 22 rooms and suites, each starting at 1,300 square feet and equipped with private sit-outs overlooking the river or forest. Guests may occasionally spot rhinoceroses and crocodiles along the riverbanks, while sightings of Bengal tigers and sloth bears are also possible.
The two-bedroom Presidential Suite spans 5,000 square feet and includes a private pool. Guests enter through a Temple Court built around a stupa, reflecting the property’s connection to its surroundings.
The hotel’s dining and leisure facilities include Tree Tops, an indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar on an elevated deck overlooking the forest. It offers the brand’s signature anytime breakfast, allowing guests to dine at their convenience. In the evening, Tribal Circle hosts open-air barbecues around a bonfire, featuring culinary influences from the Tharu community of the Terai.
Other facilities include a swimming pool, spa treatment rooms, a steam room and a sauna. An elevated viewing deck beside the pool provides panoramic views of the surrounding wilderness and opportunities for wildlife sightings.
Guests can explore the region through naturalist-led jeep safaris, guided forest walks, canoe excursions along the Rapti River and birdwatching activities. Visits to nearby Tharu villages will also offer insights into the cultural heritage of communities that have lived alongside the region’s forests and rivers for generations.
The property is accessible via Bharatpur Airport, approximately 25 minutes by air from Kathmandu, followed by a 40-minute drive.
“Some of the world’s most remarkable destinations are those that remain beyond the usual travel map. Our ambition is to bring these places to life through hotels that are deeply rooted in their surroundings, while allowing the destination itself to take centre stage,” said Kapil Chopra, Founder and CEO of The Postcard Hotel.
Chopra said the vision of Savanna Vaidya Basnyat and her father, Suraj, to showcase Nepal beyond its mountains and develop a property that respects the landscape, wildlife and local communities resonated with the brand’s philosophy.
Savanna Vaidya Basnyat, owner of The Postcard on the Rapti River, said the project aims to introduce international visitors to the natural and cultural heritage of Nepal’s Terai.
“For me, this project is about more than hospitality. It is about conservation tourism and finding a way for tourism and nature to coexist in harmony,” she said, adding that the property was developed with the intention of belonging to its natural surroundings rather than simply occupying the landscape.
The Nepal opening follows a successful year for The Postcard Hotel. In September 2026, the brand received 12 honours at the World Travel Awards Asia, Oceania and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony in the Maldives, more than any other hotel brand in Asia that year. The honours included the title of Asia’s Leading Boutique Hotel Brand for another consecutive year.
The new property will join The Postcard Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in the brand’s collection of wildlife destinations. The company also has plans for future hotels in Jawai, Kanha and Pench.
Prices at The Postcard on the Rapti River start at NPR 136,000 per suite, inclusive of the brand’s signature anytime breakfast and anytime check-in and check-out.
About The Postcard Hotel
Founded in December 2018 by Kapil Chopra, alongside luxury hospitality professionals Akanksha Lamba, Anirudh Kandpal and Raman Bansal, The Postcard Hotel was established to challenge conventional luxury hospitality through greater freedom, discovery and a stronger sense of place.
The brand currently operates 13 luxury hotels across India, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Its approach combines spacious accommodation, personalised service, regional cuisine and immersive local experiences, supported by offerings such as anytime check-in and check-out and anytime breakfast.
Its portfolio includes Himalayan retreats, wildlife sanctuaries, secluded beaches, riverfront properties, tea estates and restored heritage buildings. With five new hotels scheduled to open over the next six months, the brand plans to expand its presence across the Indian subcontinent and other international destinations.
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