The burning of the Hilton Kathmandu hotel has emerged as one of the most shocking symbols of the violent unrest sweeping Nepal. On Tuesday, protesters vandalised and set fire to the five-star property in Kathmandu’s Naxal neighbourhood, amid claims that it was owned by a ruling party leader and a wave of arson attacks on government buildings and political residences.
Dramatic visuals showed the 15-storey hotel engulfed in flames, its exterior charred and windows blackened as smoke billowed from inside. Drone footage captured extensive structural damage, with large sections of the building reduced to a burnt shell. Most of the infrastructure and property of the hotel have been destroyed, an official from the Kathmandu fire brigade told The Kathmandu Post.
Hilton Kathmandu burnt to ashes
The Hilton, which only opened in July 2024 after nearly seven years of construction delays and an investment of around Rs 8 billion, was Nepal’s tallest hotel at 64 metres. Developed by Shanker Group, it boasted 172 luxury rooms, multiple restaurants, a spa, and over 600 sq m of event space, seen at one point in time, as a symbol of Nepal’s growing ambition in the global hospitality industry.
The hotel fire was part of a wider wave of violence during the “Gen Z-led” protests, which have seen mobs torching key state institutions, including the Parliament, the Supreme Court, and homes of leaders such as former PM KP Sharma Oli. Another historic loss was the Ministry of Health and Population building, designed in 1965 by world-renowned American architect Louis I. Kahn, long considered a site of architectural significance.
Once celebrated as milestones of Nepal’s progress, these landmarks now stand as stark reminders of the country’s deepening political and social turmoil.
Nepal protests: What is happening?
The protests began on September 8 in Kathmandu and other major cities, including Pokhara, Butwal, and Birgunj, after the government imposed a ban on major social media platforms, citing tax revenue and cybersecurity concerns. Protesters took to streets demanding an end to institutionalised corruption and favouritism in governance and the revocation of the ban on social media platforms, which they see as an attempt to suppress free speech. As tensions mounted, the situation quickly escalated on the ground.
At least 30 people were killed and 1033 were injured in clashes with security forces. A curfew was imposed in several cities, including Kathmandu, to control the situation.