The History
Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana
Maharaja Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, was the 11th Prime Minister of Nepal. He is remembered as a statesman who made important reforms and infrastructure improvements.
Born: December 10, 1852, Kathmandu
Died: March 5, 1901, Kathmandu
Rana Dynasty
The opulent Rana Dynasty began in 1846 and during the following century Kathmandu’s
gorgeous neoclassical architecture bloomed to compliment the decadent life of grandeur of the
Rana's.
Lal Durbar Palace
Forty years later, continuing in the tradition of Rana splendor, Jung Bahadur’s nephew, Bir
Shumsher Rana, built the grand Lal Durbar or the Red Palace as a theatre and residence for his
family. The red marble was shipped in from Italy and carried from Calcutta to Kathmandu on the
backs of porters along with many other precious items. Mirrors and chandeliers were also
imported from Europe – no expense spared in homage to the decadence of the era. The
Maharaja’s bedroom, now the Dynasty room is a classic example of the opulence in design and
execution with gold embossed walls, gilt mirrors and exquisite chandeliers.
Boris Lissanevitch & King Tribhuvan
Nearly a century after the Rana rule began, in 1944, King Tribhuvan met a charismatic Russian by
the name of Boris Lissanevitch in Calcutta at the infamous 300 Club. Boris was a chef, a former
ballet dancer and Russian Army deserter and the king was fascinated by this enigmatic
character. Thus started the beginning of a friendship that could be considered to have changed
the course of Nepal’s history. Soon after the King invited Boris and his young bride Inger, to
Nepal for Prince Mahdendra’s wedding. There was no looking back for Boris – he immediately
fell in love with Nepal and soon took up residence in Kathmandu.
The Royal Hotel
Whether Boris did actually have any involvement in restoring the Shah dynasty to power
remains rife with speculation but there is no doubt, it was his role in opening Nepal to foreign
tourism that changed the country forever. In the early 1950s, Boris opened the Royal Hotel in an
old Rana palace. This was Nepal’s first luxury hotel and a place fit for western dignitaries and
tourists. For many years, the Royal Hotel’s bar and restaurant, the Yak & Yeti, was a popular
destination for the few expats working in development, mountaineering parties that were
staring to gain momentum and the local elite. There wasn’t really any competition and the Royal
Hotel became a famous destination in circles abroad. As tourism in Nepal boomed and other
hotels were established, business at the Royal Hotel declined and in 1969, the famous hotel
closed.
Yak & Yeti Restaurant
The Yak & Yeti restaurant and bar of the Royal Hotel had been a popular destination so Boris
opened another restaurant in the Lal Durbar palace along with his business partner,
Radhe Shyam Saraf. This was still the only fine dining restaurant in Kathmandu and garnered a
good reputation with Boris’ creative international menu. The idea of expanding into a hotel
followed naturally and after four years of building, the Yak & Yeti Hotel opened on 27
September 1977 to celebrate world tourism day. Initially 120 rooms, in the early 90s, an
extension of an additional 150 rooms was added bringing the total to 270 rooms for this 5-star
property. The new wing was designed to compliment the style of Lal Durbar and throughout the
property traditional Nepali features have been preserved to offer an exceptional environment
while providing all the modern facilities and comforts required for 5-star luxury.
The Yak & Yeti Hotel as it stands today is inextricably linked to Nepal’s colourful history, proudly
showcasing the beautifully restored Lal Durbar space as part of Kathmandu’s biggest convention
center. Artefacts and antiques have been lovingly preserved throughout the property
maintaining the Rana splendor of long ago.