Top of the world

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The lobby of The Hyatt Regency opens out to display impressive model shrines.

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One of the many temples for which Kathmandu is famous.

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Seeing the Himalayas rise up through the clouds is an awe-inspiring experience.

Tim Coombs travelled to Kathmandu in Nepal to discover the sights and sounds of the city that sits proudly in the shadow of the world's tallest mountain.

Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, has long been a popular tourist destination for backpackers and climbers who use it as a base before readying an assault on the mighty Everest.

But the city is proving increasingly popular with Middle East travellers, thanks to a plethora of airlines establishing routes to Kathmandu, including Air Arabia, its sister carrier Yeti.com and Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways.

In addition, a number of high-end hotels are opening their doors in Kathmandu making it more attractive to the top-end traveller.

The city is best known for its proximity to the spectacular Himalayan mountain ranges and its dearth of cultural offerings, but is still very much a third-world country with bumpy roads, shanty houses and locals existing on relative poverty.

Despite this, the region holds an attraction that is difficult to resist once encountered and the Middle Eastern market should brace itself in preparation to be wooed by a charm offensive from the top properties in the region.

"You can see large skyscrapers in major cities all around the world, but here you can see something totally different," says Hyatt Regency Kathmandu director of marketing Prasanna Adhikary.

"Hyatt is initiating more drives to reach out to the clients from the Middle East.

"We plan to go and promote in Dubai to show the wealth of possibilities this destination has to offer."

I was treated to a four-day trip by Hyatt and Etihad Airways in a bid to explore how the destination was managing in its attempt to combine a third-world infrastructure with a high-end luxury experience.

Day 1: Abu Dhabi - Kathmandu

I checked in at Etihad's Dubai office on Sheikh Zayed road then caught the complimentary coach service to Abu Dhabi International Airport, which took just short of 90 minutes. I departed on EY 292 at 14.10 and arrived at Tribhuven Airport in Nepal at 20.15.

Etihad's Pearl Class (business class) service was excellent. The crew were very attentive and accommodating and the seats were also comfy enough to help me doze off almost immediately.

A 10-minute ride from the airport took me to the visually stunning lobby of the Hyatt Regency Kathmandu, with a large area of replica shrines to take in while a folk band played traditional music to welcome me. This was followed by a simple but tasty meal at the property's Rox Restaurant.

Day 2: City sights

After breakfast I headed to the Patan Durbar Square, built to honour an incarnation of Vishnu. There are many famous sites and unique feats of architecture. Traditional artists and street sellers litter the street and will pursue you forever if you show the slightest sign of interest, but those keen on picking up bargain bits of jewellery and local souvenirs will be in heaven.

I had lunch at the Patan Museum Café, located inside the centuries-old Malla Palace, which now is restored and developed into a museum and worth a visit even without the prospect of food.

Next up was Kathmandu Durbar Square with its old temples and palaces. Sare Taleju temple with a gigantic figure of Kalbhairav (the god of destruction) and the Temple of Kumari (living goddess) were particularly impressive sites. The evening was spent in the Hyatt's Hyjazz Jazz club.

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