Nepal Gen-Z protest: Why protesters torched Kathmandu’s Hilton Hotel? It was targeted because…

Visuals shared on social media showed the glassy frame of the Hilton Kathmandu engulfed in towering flames and thick plumes of black smoke as the multi-million dollar property became the latest casualty of the Nepal Gen-Z protest.

Nepal Gen-Z protest: Nepal’s Gen-Z protesters burned down the Hilton Kathmandu as violent protests continued across the Himalayan country on Wednesday, which has witnessed widespread arson and destruction of public property by agitators even after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stepped down on Tuesday.

Why Hilton Kathmandu was targeted?

According to reports by various Nepalese media outlets, the Hilton Hotel in Kathmandu was targeted because of rumors suggesting that the son of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, and his wife and Nepal’s foreign minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, had recently acquired a majority stake in the luxury hotel.

The protesters, angered by the lavish display of wealth by the country’s political elite, stormed Hilton Kathmandu, Nepal’s tallest hotel, and set it ablaze. Notably, Deuba and his wife were beaten up a group of Gen Z protesters on Tuesday when they stormed their residence in Kathmandu.

This is HILTON – kathmandu, Nepal.
Any multinational firm would think a hundred times before stepping into this country.
👉Some pictures are powerful enough to convey volumes of fear for a long time. pic.twitter.com/Yor0zdrcD7

— Naresh Nambisan | നരേഷ് (@nareshbahrain) September 10, 2025

The student protests which has morphed into a violent anti-government and anti-elite movement, has witnessed widespread arson by agitators, who torched government buildings and homes of Nepal’s top political brass, including ex-PM Oli’s ancestral home.

Who owns the Hilton Kathmandu?

Developed by the Shankar Group, Kathmandu’s Hilton Hotel faced multiple setbacks during its construction, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, when work was halted across the Nepal capital. The hotel, which stands at a towering 210 feet (64) meters in Kathmandu’s Naxal neighbourhood, finally began operations in July 2024.

The Kathmandu Hilton, built at an investment of about Rs 800 crore, is the tallest hotel in Nepal, offering 176 rooms and luxury suites to travelers who visit Nepal.

What happened to Hilton Kathmandu?

Visuals shared on social media showed the glassy frame of the luxury hotel engulfed in towering flames and thick plumes of black smoke as the multi-million dollar property went up in flames, serving as a grotesque reminder of the violence that rocked Nepal to its core.

Following the blaze, social media videos and images showed the luxury building reduced to a charred shell against Kathmandu’s skyline, sparking anger among netizens who chided the protesters for destroying public property in guise of anti-government protests.

#WATCH | Nepal: Hilton Hotel in Kathmandu all charred after it was set on fire during the recent anti-corruption protest. Drone visuals from the area. pic.twitter.com/uUGpuZ4rRZ

— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2025

“This is HILTON – Kathmandu, Nepal. Any multinational firm would think a hundred times before stepping into this country. Some pictures are powerful enough to convey volumes of fear for a long time,” on user wrote.

“Hilton, 5-star hotel, in Kathmandu. Meanwhile, youth are burning their own hard-earned assets and businesses. Very soon, these incidents will only lead to a huge rise in poverty,” a second user commented.

“Those who have never created anything meaningful in life often take pleasure in tearing down whatever new is built around them,” read another post.