There’s a place in the Himalayan mountains, near Rishikesh (India), tucked in a castle that has lived in my memory longer than any other property I’ve ever visited. Called Ananda in the Himalayas, the spa resort has received many accolades and enough A-list awards that it doesn’t need another blog entry uttering praises and oozing admiration. Yet, here I’m reminiscing about the experience at the spa resort many many summers back.
Nestled atop a hill, the property in my memory is white, teak, granite and glass. If I had to create a mood-board for the spa and wellness resort, these materials and colours would take the crown. As soon as we entered the room, we were given crisp, white kurta pajamas to be worn for as long as we stayed there. The outfit brought serenity along with it, the first impact of being in the Ananda setting. Every guest around dressed up in fresh, crisp, white, oversized Kurta Pajamas making it soothing for the eyes and that’s just one of the memories of the place.
The first night of dinner at the café that serves organic farm-to-table menu was rather pleasant. Look around and you could spot many accomplished people of the world as they tried to maintain a low-key presence and escape the worldly noise. Indian Martha Stewart -Tarla Dalal – was there in the morning for breakfast at the same café where many organic preserves were served made from the produce from Ananda Farms. While farmer’s market and farm-to-table style dining is popular now all over the world, Ananda is among the pioneers who initiated the trend of growing their own ingredients.
Another crystal clear memory that has made its place in my mind is the hydrotherapy room. A sizeable space with all things hydra under one roof. Experience pebbles under your feet as you sit and dip them in a pool for feet or skinny dip in the open, warm water jacuzzi with steam and sauna rooms to each side, there’s nothing quite like this roomy hydrotherapy space in the world of luxury spas.
I still remember my introduction to the massage treatment called Abhyanga which blew me off as two masseuses took over my pain-ridden body. Since then, I have made it a ritual to judge a spa by its Abhyanga. None has come close to my session in the Himalayas, just how no tea has come close to the kettle of honey lemon tea I received in my room every morning I stayed in the Himalayas!
