Ananda-in the Himalayas

ANANDA
in the Himalayas

As the crimson ball rolled down the dusky western horizon silhouetting the distant hills on the valley below, the chirping of the birds faded out and the blanket of darkness slowly spread its wings putting the earth to a slumber that will rejuvenate life to wake up to a new dawn with recharged energy.

The sun set point at Ananda – in the Himalayas conveys this message of reality of life. Energy which has been consumed or dissipated must be revitalised through a soothing process. Every new dawn the body and the soul must be recharged to face the challenges of the day. A normal sleep at night relaxes the body, but at Ananda both the body and the soul get rejuvenated by being close to nature, yoga and meditation to search your true self within and exclusive body massages to resurrect the tiring cells.
A 30-minute drive from the holy city Rishikesh into the Himalayan foothills brought me to a palace of yesteryear rulers of the region. The façade stood majestically on a hill top. I was driven to the backside of the royal home into a porch. A traditional welcome awaits the guests here at the reception of Ananda with a ‘rudraksha’ garland. The reception leads into the Palace Tea Lounge with ornamental furniture giving a royal feeling. This is the part of the palace which is open to the guests of Ananda.
From this point onwards begins the legend of Ananda – in the Himalayas. A well landscaped area spread on 100 acres of land, exclusive plants, shrubs and trees blossoming in the moderate climate of the hilly terrain. The well groomed lawns, the amphitheatre where each morning a yoga guru brings you exercises for freeing the body of physical ailments – all in natural surroundings.

Early morning one can see groups of guests following the yogic exercises in this amphitheatre which in the evening serves as a venue for entertainment with music and dance of the region.

As the battery operated golf car races down the concrete track shadowed by trees on both sides, past the exclusive villas, one reaches the residential block with the entry surrounded by a bamboo grove. Said to bring luck, another bamboo grove curtains the swimming pool on the other side, followed by the restaurant and recreation halls and above all, the Spa for which Ananda is famous.

The Ananda Spa is based on the ancient Indian sciences of yoga, Ayurveda and Vedanta complimented by best international wellness treatments, be it Tibetan or Swedish. An Ayurvedic physician prescribes personalized Ayurvedic therapy program which are guided by experts, be it the 7-day ‘Santvanam’ (calming) which relieves of fatigue through yoga and Ananda Ayurvedic cuisine, the 14-day ‘Sodhanam’ (liberation) – a detoxification therapy through meditation and yoga or the 21-day ‘Rasayanam’ (rejuvenation) which is an intensive treatment therapy.

The luxurious spa rooms at Ananda offer a number of Ayuervedic massages using herbal oils, medicated buttermilk , herbal powders and other specialized concoctions freeing the body of disorders and toxins resulting from erratic lifestyle.

Complimenting Ayurveda are the international experiences.

Dressed in spotless white, a masseur walked up to the bed and directed me to lie down relaxed. There was a clinking of cymbals as if signaling my senses to close out to the external world. The experienced hands of the masseur started to play upon my spinal region in a rhythmic manner. The feel became soothing enough to put me into a swoon. I was lost, into a world where there are no tensions and worries. My senses limited themselves to the ‘inner world’ – a world of ecstasy. I was not asleep, but as if in a trance, as if all the sounds and noises had ceased to disturb me. It was like time stood still, I don’t know for how long. A feeling of timelessness.

Ringing of the cymbals again brought me back to my physical senses. I was out of the trance. I was led into a steam bath. Seconds later I was sweating, the whole body was covered with large drops of sweat from the massaged muscles. Next was a refreshing bath and then relaxation. An hour-long sleep overtook me and I slept like a child.
This was the Swedish massage done by a trained and experienced masseur. Tibetan Massage
Yet another exotic style is the Tibetan massage where the masseuse starts off in a very rhythmic prayer style greeting the subject and then massaging very thin layer of essential oils into the skin. Each part of the body is handled separately leaving the head and face. This massage has a special feature – certain points of the body are lightly pressed with warm stones wrapped in cloth, the spinal cord is also given the warm stone therapy which leaves behind a soothing effect.
The Thai massage and the couple massage are among a dozen others that can be experienced at the Ananda Spa. In addition there are the hydrotherapies from the spring water of the Himalayas, exfoliation therapies using various natural scrubs, healing experiences with reiki and crystals, beauty and skin care treatments, wellness rituals and consultations for the in-house guests. The Visiting Masters
There is yet another special at Ananda – ‘Visiting Masters.’ Under this program specialists in different fields of natural treatments visit Ananda and are available for private consultation to the guests.
In the second fortnight of June Cameron Walker, the cranio sacral therapist, was available for the guests. Walker, a master in his art of alternative healing, has traveled the world helping people recover from ailments. Cranio sacral therapy relaxes tensions in the body, eases pain and creates a natural rhythmic balance.
Meals at Ananda are a unique experience. The Restaurant serves the Ananda Rejuvenation Cuisine – specific Ayurvedic, European, Oriental and Indian delicacies in a well balanced meal. A hog like me was taken aback when I was served grilled chicken sandwich minus the French fries. Even the sandwich bread was wheat bread for keeping the digestion in perfect shape. The daily menu is a balanced diet serving. One can still opt for a la carte.
Encircling the Restaurant is the Tree Top Deck where one can relax enjoying a cool hill breeze in the morning sun at breakfast or a candle light dinner in the cool evenings. One can also enjoy his drinks on the poolside.
Ananda has the Music Pavilion for a special get together. Set in a huge lawn and surrounded by the beauty of the Himalayan range, the Pavilion is a unique venue for an evening event.
Staying at Ananda is a pleasure. Starting with deluxe rooms, there are the deluxe suites, the Ananda suite, the Vice Regal suite and the Ananda Villas.
I had often heard of hotels and resorts in the hills boasting of rooms with view, but it was surprising to see that at Ananda even the bathrooms have a view. Large broad windows in the bathrooms look out to garden or valley or the palace. As you take a shower or enjoy a bubble bath in the tub, you could simultaneously enjoy the nature outside the window. Of course, the rooms are with balcony and view too.
While the suites are luxuriously furnished, the Villas stand out for their private swimming pools. Each villa has a private pool in the back yard where the guests could take a swim anytime – no restrictions whatsoever, after all it is a private affair.
Ananda is different from others. There are certain house rules that need to be followed like ‘early to bed’. Children below the age of 14 years are not permitted in Ananda in order to maintain tranquility at the Resort. All spa therapies are restricted to guests above the age of 18.
Ananda also provides light cotton clothing to its guests – spotless white kurta-pyjamas replaced daily in the room which can be worn on the resort premises.
Ananda is not a resort. Ananda is not a spa. Ananda is a complete health resort with a wide spectrum of natural cures for diseases which arise as a result of modern day hectic life. Ananda is a tranquil and serene stop for rejuvenating all that is tired and worn out. It is second to none. Ananda is ‘ananda’ !

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