Perched atop the Himalayas, Ananda is a luxury wellness resort with a difference
Imagine a retreat high up in the Himalayas, surrounded by graceful Sal forests, overlooking the pious city of Rishikesh and the mighty Ganges River. Ananda in the Himalayas might just be the perfect place of solace for you. Housed inside the 100-acre premises of the gorgeous palace estate of the Maharaja of Tehri Garhwal, Ananda is a luxury wellness hotel providing customised wellness packages, combining modern scientific techniques with traditional healing practices, inspired by Ayurveda, Yoga and Vedanta. Gourmet dining options and a state-of-the-art fitness centre and spa round up the Ananda experience.
Accommodation and Facilities There are 70 lavishly appointed rooms, 3 luxury villas with private pools, 4 expansive suites with private gardens, and a one-of-a-kind vice-regal suite in the hotel, which also comes with a host of other facilities to make sure your stay is comfortable. A 6-hole golf course, a spa building that is spread over 24,000sq.ft, a temperature-controlled outdoor lap pool, a sophisticated fitness centre, perfectly manicured gardens overlooking the mountains, and an outdoor amphitheatre are just some of the top facilities of the hotel. The spa showcases 24 rooms with over 80 select body and beauty treatments.
Journey Towards a Better Self The wellness journey at Ananda starts with a detailed consultation with a physician, who determines your body type and thereafter develops customised programmes suitable to your needs. Some of the top packages of the hotel include Detox packages, Renew and Rebalance packages, Ayurvedic packages, among others. The wellness programmes follow a holistic approach towards achieving the best results in a safe, nurturing atmosphere guided by Ananda’s team of expert Ayurvedic doctors, skilled therapists, nutritionists, yogis, and chefs trained in creating wholesome and tasty dishes. Specialised international treatments and therapies are also on offer, which blend in completely with the Ayurvedic treatments, giving guests a wider range to explore. Years of research by the Ayurvedic, Yogic and International wellness experts have enabled Ananda to come up with a unique integrated focus on the core physical and mental aspects which have the maximum impact on an individual’s health and wellbeing. The results are award- winning programmes which work to create a sustainable journey towards a healthier, enriched lifestyle.
Leisure Activities Apart from health and wellness programmes, the hotel offers a range of outdoor activities. Go on a day trip to local temples or watch the Ganga aarti at sundown. Enjoy treks, nature walks, white-water rafting and jungle safaris. Take a round of ancient temples and caves or visit the Beatles temple.
A Gourmet Affair The cuisine at Ananda is customised to suit the body type of every individual. The hotel believes that there is no one type of diet that is suited for everyone. According to Ayurveda, everything evolves out of the five elements (tatwa) including air, space, fire, water and earth. As such, our bodies are a combination of three doshas (substances). They are vata, pitta and kapha. The idea behind wellness is to achieve a perfect harmony of all these components. Depending on an individual’s body type, medical conditions and fitness goals, the hotel provides customised menus in consultation with the in-house Ayurvedic doctor.
Apart from customisation, the hotel emphasises organic, healthy food, which is high on nutrition but low on artificial preservatives, flavours and colours. Expect a lot of fresh, natural produce that is low in fat and calories, but high in whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and low-fat dairy products. The hotel also stresses on the ‘farm-to-table’ initiative, using locally grown, seasonal fruits and vegetables. The chefs at Ananda’s slow kitchen are more than willing to show how healthy dishes can be created at home so that guests can continue eating healthy once they return from their trip.
