Keeping customers pouring in for 25 years

23 February 2010

About two hours drive from Gelephu to Samdrup Jongkhar on national highway 31C at Chapaguri in the Indian state of Assam is Hotel Himalaya, an eatery exclusively for Bhutanese travellers.

The 80-seater hotel is packed with travellers, and most of the time customers have to eat standing.

The 25-year-old hotel caters to over 1,000 Bhutanese travellers every day. It was started when Bhutan Post started bus service along the Phuentsholing-Gelephu-Samdrup Jongkhar route. It was moved to the present location seven years ago.

“People’s trust in my service has enabled me to serve Bhutanese passengers better,” said Suresh Brahma, the owner.

Mutton is the most served dish in the hotel. Suresh Brahma said they served unadulterated rice (many hotels add soda in rice) and healthy curry. “We are not doing business for a day or two,” he said. “There are many regular customers, and we have to gain their confidence. If we don’t serve good food, we lose them.”

He tried serving Bhutanese food in the past but he said many drivers told him they preferred to taste different food when they were away from home.

Bhutanese drivers, who stop regularly, are not charged for food while new drivers pay Nu 25 a plate of rice. Suresh said drivers and passengers are provided the same food.

People visit Hotel Himalaya not only for food, but also for security of vehicles.

Six hotel staff are deployed for security of vehicles when drivers and passengers eat inside. “People can be at complete ease as their vehicles are taken care of,” said Suresh.

Drivers said they feel secure while eating in the hotel. Bhutan bus to Samdrup Jongkhar and Phuentsholing, which was reintroduced recently, stop at the hotel for lunch.

Meanwhile, Brahma family is upgrading the hotel. Adjacent to the present restaurant, they are building a new structure where they will have a fully air-conditioned 40-chair restaurant. Brahma said the restaurant is for Bhutanese officials who may not feel comfortable eating with common people.

The hotel is closed on Sundays and Thursdays when there are no escorts but it attends to Bhutanese people who wish to travel without security escort or those who are left behind because of some problems with their vehicles.

The Brahma family has plans to start lodge facilities in the future.

By Rabi C Dahal

Ratings: 1 Star