Nestled in the exalted yogi foothills above Rishikesh—the northern Indian region famous for The Beatles’ 1968 meeting with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi—you’ll find the majestic Ananda in the Himalayas. The 100-acre holistic wellness and spa destination includes 78 rooms, five suites and three villas, and opened just over 20 years ago when founder Ashok Khanna decided upon the Palace Estate of the Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal to bring his vision for what is now India’s most prized retreat to escape the stress, pollution, and warped speed of everyday life. 

Once you arrive at Ananda’s haven of tranquility (a 40-minute flight from Delhi), a devoted team of practitioners attentively envelop you with a myriad of India’s ancient sciences and health practices including yoga, Ayurveda, Vedanta, and spirituality. Each guest is assigned their own consultant to assess and curate a personalized program based on the Ayurvedic doshas of Vata (space and air) Pitta (fire and water), and Kapha (water and earth). The Ananda approach considers every aspect of the person when creating their visitors’ 5 to 21-day sessions.

Being well is a hard job, but no place on earth offers a deeper 360-degree approach to wellness than Ananda. Spa enthusiasts from around the world flock to Ananda’s 24,000-square-foot spa, where they can choose from more than 80 hedonistic body and beauty treatments that integrate traditional Indian systems of Ayurveda mixed with a contemporary Western spa approach.

We chatted with Mahesh Natarajan, Ananda’s COO, to learn more about the resort’s spa and wellness offerings.

Why You’ll Love It: Ananda in the Himalayas has been voted consecutively nine times as the No. #1 Favorite Destination Spa by the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Awards. As a pioneer in holistic health treatments, celebrities including Oprah, Kate Winslet, Uma Thurman, Ricky Martin, and Edward Norton have all visited this luxurious retreat seeking inner contentment and a more balanced existence.

Ananda is always striving to offer new programs that prioritize one’s physical and mental health. In 2023, they launched several new programs addressing serious health issues emerging in our rapidly changing world such as hormonal imbalances, chronic pain, long covid symptoms, stress and burnout, sleep disorders, skin and autoimmune issues.

Key Features: The Sleep Enhancement program improves and enhances the quality of sleep through a holistic approach of lifestyle modifications, dietary corrections, Ayurveda therapies, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The Rebalance program addresses perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms in women and energetic depletion of overall health in men as they move towards middle age. 

The Renew program targets healthy aging as an inside-out process to rejuvenate the deep fascial web of one’s skin and unlocks youthful essence through skin cleansing and nourishment. It also improves muscular-skeletal health with a focus on relieving conditions of stiffness, rheumatism, and arthritis.

Snacks Served: As with all cuisine served at Ananda, snacks and refreshments are personalized and incorporate key principles from the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, taking into consideration not just taste but one’s dosha. Ayurveda practices don’t believe in leftovers. Old food is seen as toxic. So every ingredient serves a purpose and is fresh, locally sourced, and delicious. Depending on whether you’re a Vatta, Pitta, or Kapha, you’ll be enjoying soothing or spicy offerings. 

Insider’s Tip: When visiting Ananda’s oasis-like location, one would be remiss to not explore its incredible surroundings. Staff members can happily set up outside activities including river rafting in the Ganges, wildlife safaris (snow leopards can be seen living in the region), temple tours, and trail hiking.

After a thrill-seeking adventure, nothing is more indulgent than partaking in an Abhyanga, a traditional synchronized full-body massage given by two experienced Ayurveda therapists using herbal-infused sesame oil. Also known as the “four-handed massage,” Abhyanga is said to improve physical consistency, sleep patterns, and eyesight. It helps the body to detox excess toxins and induces relaxation.

Bonus: Ananda has also introduced an entirely new platform of emotional healing and therapy. These are in-depth and personalized sessions aimed at healing stress, inner trauma, and awakening the inner self to realize one’s full potential. Healing modalities include:

• Hypnotherapy and Regression to address chronic ailments, fears, stress, and weight loss.

• Reiki and Chakra Cleansing to clear the energetic body, removing blockages.

• Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Hypnotherapy, Inner Child Healing, and Regression are used to delve into deep recesses of the mind to trace early formations for negative behaviors. 

Splurge Treatment: Ask for the Pizhichil, a 75-minute indulgent and rejuvenating experience where lukewarm herbal oils anoint your entire body. The anointment is slow and rhythmic, meant to strengthen immunity, lubricate the joints, release toxins, and increase flexibility. 

Unique Treatment: The Ananda Fusion is the spa’s signature massage available in a 55 or 85-minute session. and designed to cater to one’s individual needs. This full-body massage employs several Ayurvedic and international massage techniques. Hot poultices are applied to balance the body. Their signature body oil, Ananda Spice, is used for this massage. The oil has been developed by the spa’s experts and consists of pure essential oils of ginger, cardamom and black pepper, which aid tight muscles, aches and pains, joints, the digestive system, and arthritis.

Insider’s Favorite: Shirodhara is a popular Ayurvedic practice and an Ananda favorite. Lukewarm herbal oil is poured in an even stream onto the forehead to pacify and revitalize the mind and the body. Known for its intense rejuvenating and anti-aging benefits, Shirodhara also improves memory, addresses neurological disorders, as well as normalizes sleep patterns and blood pressure.

Featured Products: All treatments at Ananda in the Himalayas feature their own restorative collection of handmade products developed from over 25 years of research. Blended in small batches, Ananda employs an array of gorgeous body oils, body scrubs, face masks, and moisturizers focusing on the rejuvenating effects of aromatherapy and natural plant extracts.

Ananda Detoxifying Body Oil is a meticulous balance of juniper, grapefruit, and cypress oil blended in a rich base of sunflower and wheat germ oil—perfect to stimulate the skin, and lymphatic circulatory system while removing toxins from the body. Fall in love with a product during your treatment? Ananda offers their collection for retail so you can enjoy them once you return home well-rested. Can’t wait to try them now? Ananda’s online shop can be reached here.

For more information on Ananda in the Himalayas, visit their website and follow on Instagram: @anandainthehimalayas

[Photos courtesy of Ananda in the Himalayas]

Ananda in the Himalayas

The Palace Estate

Narendra Nagar Tehri

Garhwal, Uttarakhand

24917, India

Phone: +91-11-61210000

reservations@anandaspa.com