The place is grand, equipped with indoor tennis courts, outdoor swimming pools, an indoor heated swimming pool, squash courts, a bowling alley, pool and billiard tables, a gym, Jacuzzis, sauna and more. A sports mall guaranteed to make you sweat out all those calories you ingested yesterday munching away on your couch watching cricket on tv.

Shahanshah International Sports Centre (SIC) is easily one of the biggest sports clubs not just in Nepal but also the region, boasts Senon D Lama(right), its proprietor. An avid tennis player, Lama came up with the idea for indoor tennis courts after seeing them in Europe.

Back in Nepal, he also saw that there was no place where people could go for a complete sports experience. Increase in health consciousness and expansion of club culture meant it was high time something was done about it. So, in 1996, he began the construction of an exclusive sports complex. As the idea developed, so did the wide variety of activities in Shahanshah.

When it opened on the Ring Road in Dhapasi in 1999, Shahanshah was Nepal's first all-weather sports centre. This meant a lot, specially for tennis aficionados in the monsoon and for swimming enthusiasts in the winter.

The indoor tennis courts became hugely popular and the covered hall has also been used for various sports activities such as badminton and karate. Schools and other clubs often organise tournaments here and this, SIC considers a major asset.

Lama finds the Kathmandu public's response to SIC "very encouraging". The club has a capacity for 600 members and it already has 400 and growing. Asked if being located in Dhapasi, far from the city is a disadvantage, Lama says, "It is a bit of a problem especially for people in Lalitpur but we are very accessible through the Ring Road."

SIC is a complete sports club. Membership rates are reasonably priced at Rs 26,000 for a year's single membership and family membership is Rs 58,000 for parents and two children under 16. SIC also has a scheme offering one day of swimming, steam and sauna Rs 495 for adults and Rs 300 for children and for just swimming, Rs 300 for adults and Rs 200 for children.

Hotel Shahanshah International
Dhapasi
4355484, 4355487
shansha@mos.com

Where to work on it

HARDIC FITNESS CENTRE,
Pulchok, 5522068
Membership rates vary from Rs 2,500 to Rs 30,000.

CLUB TARA, HOTEL GOODWILL,
Patan, 5544520
Various membership schemes are available with different arrangements for singles, couples and families.

ESHANI CLUB,
Kalankisthan, 4274890
Yearly membership rates vary from Rs 12,500 for singles to Rs 30,000 for families.

GOLD'S GYM,
Manbhawan, Patan, 5543517
Yearly membership rates are Rs 3,100 for admission, Rs 250 payable every month and Rs 100 for single visits.

KUNDALINI HEALTH RESORT,
Chandol, 4410721
Membership charge is Rs 15,000 a year for an individual and Rs 35,000 for a family.

CITY GYM,
Lajimpat
The membership rates are Rs 2,000 as admission and Rs 400 per month.

BANU'S TOTAL FITNESS,
Kamal Pokhari, 4434024