For travelers visiting the Anandapur District, the Yak & Yeti is a prime stop for accommodation, refreshment or the news of the day. The proprietor of this establishment, a local man called Arjun, had been a successful merchant, but fallen on hard times. In an effort to turn things around, he converted his home into a hotel and restaurant, finding fortune once again.
The original stone house dates to June 1924, during British Colonial rule of the region. Over the years, though, Arjun has expanded his facilities with eclectic additions from various periods. At the western corner of the structure is an authentic Indian marble pavilion, in which visitors may sit and reflect and enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings. A former garden and patio area, original to the house, can now be found as part of the interior of the building.
Inside, the lobby and bar are warm and welcoming. Even those passing through are encouraged to stop in for company and conversation. Trekkers heading into the Royal Anandapur Forest or out to the foothills of the Himalayas may also leave messages here for members of their traveling party hoping to catch up with them.
As with every business in Anandapur, a portrait of the current rajah and his wife is prominently displayed. Not leaving anything to chance, Arjun has also placed a statue of Ganesha in the lobby. Ganesha is the Hindu deity known to be a "remover of obstacles."
The lobby of Yak & Yeti leads to a series of dining rooms, with beautiful patterns of inlaid tile in the floor and tabletops.
Throughout the space, Arjun also proudly displays his extensive collection of artifacts gathered from around southeast Asia (all of which are authentic, by the way, gathered by the team at Schussler Creative who designed Yak & Yeti for Landry's Restaurants in association with Walt Disney Imagineering). There's statuary, ceremonial costumes and props, puppets, bowls and vases, antique furnishings, cabinets and more.
Additional dining rooms and details can be found upstairs. Look closely, and you'll even come across indications of the hotel portion of the establishment (while lodgings are part of the story being told here, there obviously isn't anywhere for Walt Disney World guests to stay).
In creating the finely-appointed Yak & Yeti, it appears Arjun was inspired by the romance of cinema. On one wall of the interior, he displays several favorite movie posters, including one for the classic Bollywood drama Ekadashi (1955).
Have only tried the counter service there, not impressed. But the restaurant looks so neat inside...just may have to try the sit down one of these days! :) Great pics!!
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Shawn - I love all the great shots you have here. My wife and I have eaten here a number of times and it is one of our favorites. In December, we also took her parents and sister (a vegetarian) and they were also impressed. The food is very fresh and well prepared and the service is always great. This is a gem in the Animal Kingdom and a great way to escape the summer heat. We also use gift cards that we earn to pay for most of our meals here. I wrote about it here: http://mousemoneyfund.blogspot.com/2011/01/december-2010-disney-trip-funds.html
ReplyDeleteNext time your are in the Animal Kingdom, make a point of stopping here, you won't regret it.