Fodor's Expert Review Shanker

Close to the city center, this large white mansion dating from 1894 was once a royal palace—several former Nepalese queens were born here before it was bought and converted into a hotel in the 1960s. With such a pedigree, you would expect a certain degree of elegance and historic charm, and you won't be disappointed. The interior public areas are verging on the spectacular, and many of the guest rooms are barley less impressive. Some are huge and all are luxurious, with wooden floors and stylish period décor. The building is set in extensive gardens that also contain a large outdoor pool. The most surprising aspect of all however, is that if you book well in advance, all this opulence can be yours for remarkably few of your hard-earned dollars.