- Feb 22, 2019
- 9022
Hotel dusitD2 Yarkay Thimphu: A Cosmopolitan Oasis In Bhutan’s Capital
With its modern five-star lodgings, gourmet offerings and pampering sessions, dusitD2 Yarkay is a home away from home, with the creature comforts most cherished by guests from large cities.
By Kinley Yangden | Daily Bhutan
Comfortable, clean and modern rooms, spa treatments, and international cuisine. These are some of the few offerings of international chain Dusit’s latest and only hotel in Bhutan.
dusitD2 Yarkay opened its doors to guests in December last year in the country’s capital Thimphu. Located right in the heart of the city, dusitD2 Yarkay is the latest five-star addition to a slew of other luxury resorts that are opening in the Kingdom lately. It boasts 83 guest rooms and suites, and is designed to fit the cosmopolitan traveller.
dusitD2 Yarkay Thimphu is the first hotel in Bhutan from international chain Dusit. (Photo: Daily Bhutan)
We visited the hotel to check out what it offers to guests and this is what we found:
The hotel is designed based on a traditional Bhutanese folktale
As soon as you walk through the hotel’s main doors, you’ll be greeted by a large copper artwork of The Four Harmonious Friends, where four animals - an elephant, a monkey, a rabbit and a bird - are perched on top of one another and working together to harvest fruit from a magical tree. This popular Bhutanese folktale that can be seen throughout the country, and symbolises respect, cooperation, and inter-dependence.
A copper artwork of The Four Harmonious Friends at the hotel's lobby. (Photo: Daily Bhutan)
dusitD2 Yarkay has incorporated this folktale into the layout and design of its hotel. Each guest floor represents one animal from the tale: The colour theme of the guest rooms and suites all feature contemporary designs and motifs to represent the animal.
This room is themed after one of the animals in the Bhutanese folktale The Four Harmonious Friends. (Photo: Daily Bhutan)
The hotel was jointly designed between Thai and Bhutanese architects, giving it an overall modern design with a touch of Bhutanese culture.
The hotel works with non-profit groups to give back to society
Each room has a toy made by local non-profit organisation Draktsho that matches the theme of the room. The toy is available for guests to purchase at US$20 each, and the money goes to helping children and youth with disabilities.
A toy is placed in each room for guests to purchase at US$20 each. Proceeds will go to non-profit organisation Draktsho. (Photo: Daily Bhutan)
Every room also has a water bottle carry bag and luggage tag created by Lifechangers Bhutan, another non-profit organisation that helps poor, umemployed and needy women and students learn how to make kira tote bags and earn an income.
International cuisine to tantalise your tastebuds
dusitD2 Yarkay has placed a lot of emphasis on its dining offerings. With four chefs on board at its restaurant, Soi 8 Dining, the kitchen doles out a range of cuisine: Thai, Bhutanese, Italian and Indian.
Thai cuisine at Soi 8 Dining is the closest you can get to what you might encounter in Thailand, as the hotel has brought over resident chef Madam Nok, who brings with her over six years of experience from Dusit Dubai.
Pad thai dish from Soi 8 Dining. The restaurant offers authentic Thai cuisine. (Photo: Daily Bhutan)
Breakfast at Soi 8 Dining includes a mix of continental and Thai food. (Photo: Daily Bhutan)
Pastries and cakes from Soi 8 Dining - which seats 120 people - are plentiful. Ranging from croissants to sugar donuts, bombolonis, cupcakes, and whole cakes, the restaurant is certainly one of the go-to places in Thimphu for baked goods.
Pastries and baked goods from Soi 8 Dining. (Photo: Daily Bhutan)
The bar next to Soi 8 Dining is a vibrant showcase of alcoholic beverages for guests to hang out and have a nice conversation with the bartender while he whips up your drink. The bar offers creative cocktails, either monthly signature drinks or their daily signature drink.
The hotel offers traditional Thai massages and more
Namm Spa at dusitD2 Yarkay is one of the few places in Bhutan where you can get a traditional Thai massage, and by a resident Thai therapist, no less.
Namm Spa at dusitD2 Yarkay. (Photo: Daily Bhutan)
The spa offers a two-hour signature Thai Heritage Therapy (Nu 6,500++) that incorporates the use of Thai herbal medicines. Other massage therapies that Namm Spa offers include an anti-back stress massage, Swedish massage, Bhutanese massage, and traditional Thai. Prices for the a massage ranges from Nu 3,000 to Nu 6,500.
Besides massages, facials are also available at Namm Spa, including a Skin Fitness for Men Facial (Nu 2,750++) session.
Other facilities that guests can make use of during their stay here include a well-equipped gym, and steam and sauna. The hotel is also currently working on building a club called Skydancer, which is located at the basement of the hotel and will be accessible by the general public as well.
With its modern five-star lodgings, gourmet offerings and pampering sessions, dusitD2 Yarkay is a home away from home, with the creature comforts most cherished by guests from large cities.
dusitD2 Yarkay Thimphu is offering a 40% discount on their Best Available rate on the Dusit website until Feb 28, 2019.