A resort on the edge of Nepal's lake city has picked up a major regional gong less than a year after opening its doors. Himalayan Hideaway Resort Pokhara, part of The Centara Collection, was named Best New Hotel/Resort 2026 at the South Asian Travel Awards, held in the Maldives.
The property opened in February 2026, so this is a fast rise. New hotels usually take a season or two to find their feet, let alone win over juries that see hundreds of entrants from across South Asia. The award suggests the resort has landed well with both guests and industry judges.
For travellers, the interesting part is what this says about Pokhara. The city has long been Nepal's second stop after Kathmandu — the base for treks into the Annapurna range and a laid-back lakeside scene in its own right. Luxury-branded resorts are a relatively fresh addition here, and Centara, a Thai hospitality group better known for beach properties in Thailand and the Maldives, putting a collection flag in Pokhara signals confidence that high-end visitors want more than trekking lodges.
If you're planning a trip, the award gives you a concrete answer to the "where should I stay in Pokhara" question that used to have mostly mid-range and boutique options. The timing also matters: the main trekking seasons run October-November and March-April, and new, well-reviewed properties tend to fill up fastest in those windows.
Anyone combining a lake break with a Himalayan trek — or skipping the trail altogether for mountain views, boating and cafés — is the obvious audience. Book early for autumn, keep an eye on how the resort beds in over its first full year, and treat the award as a useful signal rather than a guarantee. Source: Nepali Times.
