Last rites of Ambica Shrestha, Chair of Dwarika's Hotel performed at Pashupati

KATHMANDU, July 21:Ambica Shrestha, a tourism industry pioneer and founder of Dwarika's Hotel, was cremated at Aryaghat in Pashupati.

On Saturday, the late Shrestha was cremated at the Pashupati Aryaghat electric crematorium.

Shrestha, 92, passed away on Thursday at Nepal Mediciti Hospital in Lalitpur after receiving treatment for an intestinal infection for a considerable amount of time.

Those who attended Pashupati remembered the late Shrestha's contribution to Nepal's tourism and hotel business, saying that his death has caused irreparable damage in the social sector.

On Saturday morning, Vice Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, Minister of Culture, tourism, and Civil Aviation Badri Pandey, Chandra Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FNCCI) and other dignitaries and tourism experts paid their tributes at Dwarika's Hotel.

Late Shrestha was held near Pashupati's electric crematorium on Saturday afternoon. Family members lay wreaths and paid respects to Shrestha's mortal remains, together with tourism industry experts and both domestic and foreign tourists.

Shrestha, who graduated a commerce degree from Patna University in India, founded Kathmandu Travel and Tours, the country's second travel company, as alongside her husband.

Her husband, Dwarika Das Shrestha, who envisioned the Dwarika's Hotel while reviving Kathmandu Valley architecture, died on February 10, 1992. Dwarika's Hotel was registered in 1977.