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The next part of my grand adventure in India took me north to the Himalayas - to a dream come true called Ananda.
India is well known for it's luxury hotels and Ananda in the Himalayas is one of the best there is. A luxury wellness retreat, Ananda is built on the property of a Maharaja's palace high in the clouds and overlooking the city of Rishikesh. The grounds, which are pristinely manicured, are filled with flowers, roaming peacocks, trouble-making monkeys and butterflies. The spa is one of the best in the world. The guest rooms are a haven of relaxation. And the food - to die for.
India is well known for it's luxury hotels and Ananda in the Himalayas is one of the best there is. A luxury wellness retreat, Ananda is built on the property of a Maharaja's palace high in the clouds and overlooking the city of Rishikesh. The grounds, which are pristinely manicured, are filled with flowers, roaming peacocks, trouble-making monkeys and butterflies. The spa is one of the best in the world. The guest rooms are a haven of relaxation. And the food - to die for.
Have I painted a good enough picture yet?
Probably not; I should start from the top.
I am met at Dehradun airport by a driver after my short 1 hour flight from Delhi. He is regally dressed in a white uniform and turban. I am carrying my back-pack and am looking like I'm in dire need of a spa break. He points out the local attractions to me - the national park where tigers roam free in the wild, local markets and the small town of Rishikesh - before we snake our way high up the side of a mountain, just a few short kilometres from the Tibetan border. I literally catch my breath when I see the hotel.
I am met in the circle drive of the palace by the staff and am greeted with a blessing and some beautiful prayer beads. I am brought into the tearoom of the palace to take care of the paper work for my check-in and to review my schedule for the week. I am then escorted to my room by golf-cart and am almost brought to tears of joy at the sight of my luxurious room. After two weeks of backpacking through the desert, the king-sized bed in my room was a welcome sight. So much so, that I decided to spend my first night pretty much in my room. After an Ayurvedic consultation and a Salt Scrub treatment at the Spa, I drew a bath in the enormous tub overlooking the golf course, ordered in my dinner and watched TV in bed. Paradise.
After that ultra-relaxing first night, I started my first day bright and early with ginger-lemon tea brought to me in bed by my butler. Yes, I did say butler. While sipping my tea, I read the paper in my Kurta - a white pyjama style outfit that all the hotel guests wear throughout their stay. Each day a new one arrives in your closet and you don't ever have to get properly dressed. I wore mine the whole time - with the exception of evening dinners - and enjoyed every single minute of it. After tea, I reviewed my schedule and readied myself for a rigorous day of breakfast, a private yoga session, lunch, Abhyanga (a 4 hand massage) and a nap by the pool. The yoga session took place outdoors with a lovely yogi who was surprisingly quite impressed with my skills. My massage took place at the spa - the absolutely most incredible spa I have ever laid eyes on. After changing into my robe and relaxing in the change area reading Indian fashion magazines and sipping tea, I was taken through the spa past the flower petals laid out on the floor, the sculptures and water treatments, past the man sitting on the ground playing a sittar in the candlelight, to a private treatment room where two masseuses gave me a Hindu blessing before starting my massage.
And this was only day one.
I could go on and on about my time at Ananda. I am pretty sure I could write a whole post just about the amazing blue colour of the resident peacocks' feathers. Or the gourmet meals and beautiful staff. About my Himalayan Honey Facial and my private Meditation session. About being chased by a monkey through the gardens. About seeing the twinkling lights of Rishikesh at night. But there is just too much to say...so I think I'll let my photos do the rest of the talking. Enjoy.
I am met at Dehradun airport by a driver after my short 1 hour flight from Delhi. He is regally dressed in a white uniform and turban. I am carrying my back-pack and am looking like I'm in dire need of a spa break. He points out the local attractions to me - the national park where tigers roam free in the wild, local markets and the small town of Rishikesh - before we snake our way high up the side of a mountain, just a few short kilometres from the Tibetan border. I literally catch my breath when I see the hotel.
I am met in the circle drive of the palace by the staff and am greeted with a blessing and some beautiful prayer beads. I am brought into the tearoom of the palace to take care of the paper work for my check-in and to review my schedule for the week. I am then escorted to my room by golf-cart and am almost brought to tears of joy at the sight of my luxurious room. After two weeks of backpacking through the desert, the king-sized bed in my room was a welcome sight. So much so, that I decided to spend my first night pretty much in my room. After an Ayurvedic consultation and a Salt Scrub treatment at the Spa, I drew a bath in the enormous tub overlooking the golf course, ordered in my dinner and watched TV in bed. Paradise.
After that ultra-relaxing first night, I started my first day bright and early with ginger-lemon tea brought to me in bed by my butler. Yes, I did say butler. While sipping my tea, I read the paper in my Kurta - a white pyjama style outfit that all the hotel guests wear throughout their stay. Each day a new one arrives in your closet and you don't ever have to get properly dressed. I wore mine the whole time - with the exception of evening dinners - and enjoyed every single minute of it. After tea, I reviewed my schedule and readied myself for a rigorous day of breakfast, a private yoga session, lunch, Abhyanga (a 4 hand massage) and a nap by the pool. The yoga session took place outdoors with a lovely yogi who was surprisingly quite impressed with my skills. My massage took place at the spa - the absolutely most incredible spa I have ever laid eyes on. After changing into my robe and relaxing in the change area reading Indian fashion magazines and sipping tea, I was taken through the spa past the flower petals laid out on the floor, the sculptures and water treatments, past the man sitting on the ground playing a sittar in the candlelight, to a private treatment room where two masseuses gave me a Hindu blessing before starting my massage.
And this was only day one.
I could go on and on about my time at Ananda. I am pretty sure I could write a whole post just about the amazing blue colour of the resident peacocks' feathers. Or the gourmet meals and beautiful staff. About my Himalayan Honey Facial and my private Meditation session. About being chased by a monkey through the gardens. About seeing the twinkling lights of Rishikesh at night. But there is just too much to say...so I think I'll let my photos do the rest of the talking. Enjoy.
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