By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Jan. 1 : Hotels, restaurants, pubs and clubs across the Kathmandu Valley were busy decorating their venues for the New Year’s Eve celebration on Friday.
With Saturday marking the start of the year 2022, the businesses were expecting a crowd of New Year revellers on Friday night and Saturday.

Several eminent music artistes and bands have also been booked for live performances to mark the end of the year.
In a bid to make the eve special, Thamel-based Purple Haze Rock Bar has called the visitors to come with black goggles as they have prepared a session themed kaalo chasma (black goggles) with All Stars followed by the performance of the hard-rock band Cobweb.

The social media posts by the businesses show that they plan to celebrate the New Year’s Eve throughout the night.
“Celebrators will be there at least until midnight when they wish a new year to all. Many will be here until morning because this day comes once a year and is a good day for celebrating,” said an employee at the VIP Restaurant Lounge Bar who was busy decorating the bar.

Several DJ’s are also booked in a number of clubs in Thamel, Durbarmarg and Jhamsikhel among other places while local venues and restaurants have also called local artists.
Rajan Timsina, owner of King’s Food and Kitchen at Tinkune, has called a two-man band to perform at the restaurant on Friday evening.
“We will not be opening till late 12 am but calling the duo to sing and play guitar made the last day of 2021 somewhat special for those who came here today,” said Timsina.

“Last year, COVID-19 pandemic upended every aspect of the life. This time, however, the scenario is different and there is no prohibition besides maintaining health safety measures. We will abide by the safety measures and celebrate the year’s end and beginning in the best way we can,” said Krishna Karki, Sunset Café owner at Satdobato.

Meanwhile our Kavre correspondent adds: Hotels in Dhulikhel are packed with domestic tourists to welcome New Year 2022 and bid farewell to 2021.
Hotels in Dhulikhel, Balthali, Banepa and other areas of Kavrepalanchok district, which is close to the capital city, are full of domestic tourists. Shyam Kaji Mahat, Managing Director of Himalayan View Resort, said that rooms in his hotel were booked a month in advance.

“We have been receiving calls from people asking rooms while many are visiting the hotel in search of room but since we have all room reserved, we are sending them to other hotels,” he said.
According to him, there are 44 rooms, including two suites and 42 deluxe rooms, in his hotel.
Hoteliers in Dhulikhel are getting excited as the tourism business, which had slowed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, started gaining momentum.

Prem Kantha Makaju, Manager of Dhulikhel Lodge Resort, who is also the President of the Regional Hotel Association Dhulikhel, said that the hotels in the city were full for the New Year.
“We hoteliers are very excited. We are very relieved that the number of domestic tourists coming to celebrate the English New Year has increased,” he said. Makju informed that 60 rooms of the resort had been booked a week in advance.

Hotels that offered discounted services last year are excited after being booked at a fixed price this year. “We have added new programs by improving the quality of our service. But we have not given any discount this time,” said Jotsana Sainju, General Secretary of Dhulikhel Regional Hotel Association. “It makes us excited,” she added.