Ananda, the Pride of the Himalayas

Located at the foothills of the Himalayas, amongst 100 acres of the clean, serene and lush green forests, Ananda is built around Maharaja Tehri-Garhwal palace estate and is an absolute traveler’s delight.  Ananda is located close to the holy town of Rishikesh, in the small town of Narendra Nagar, situated 260 kms north of New Delhi in the state of Uttaranchal and away from the city’s hectic life, pollution and human infestation.  Ananda is a luxury, destination spa resort that relives and revives ancient Indian arts of yoga, meditation, and to top it all off, Ayurveda.

Ananda in the Himalayas is very easily accessible by:

Air - A short 45-minute flight from New Delhi to Dehradun’s Jolly Grant airport followed by a one-hour drive.

Helicopter - Ananda has a private helipad that is available for chartered flights from New Delhi.

Train - A four-hour journey from New Delhi to Haridwar railway station followed by a one-hour drive.

Road - The driving time between New Delhi and Narendra Nagar is approximately five and a half hours.

Besides the top-notch facilities that Ananda has to offer, it has a very attentive and hospitable staff, which looks after each guest’s every need during their stay.  The staff also prepares a grand welcome for all its guests in typical Indian style; they greet you with a “namaskar” and a rudaraksh garland. The staff is neatly dressed and always willing to help, greeting one with a “namaskar” whenever met.  From the entrance the guests are taken to their rooms in a golf cart with a staff member introducing the guests to the estate grounds.  Its high standards of service, luxurious accommodations, innovative dining and breathtaking Mountain View seem to have brought Ananda to a level of international recognition.

Main Attractions

 1.Ananda spa offers a unique blend of therapeutic treatments based on traditional Indian practices of Ayurveda (Ayurveda spa therapies), yoga andThe spa also offers the latest European and Thai treatments to purify the body and soothe the senses.

 2.The Ananda adventure program includes trekking, white water rafting, nature walks, visiting the wild elephants of Rajaji National Park, and elephant photo safaris at nearby Chilla NationalWith golf turf imported from the United States for the greens and tees, the six-hole, par-three course incorporates an independent driving range, perfect for private lessons.  Small but perfectly formed, the golf course on its Himalayan axle is nonetheless challenging.  Ananda even organizes a trip to see the famous Ganga Aarti.

 3.The spa boutique showcases a fine collection of silk, wide variety of music, books, Ananda wear, art objects, and herbal teas and other organic food, skin care and cosmetics.

 4.The Ananda spa opens into a luxurious poolside set on the ridge of the Himalayan Mountain hills where one can swim, relax, grab a bite and at night have a quiet candle light dinner.

5.Ananda practices Ayurveda which is the traditional, ancient and scientific Indian system of holistic medicine and has been handed down through the centuries by physicians who greatly value the health and fitness of the human body. An individual Ananda Ayurvedic therapy program will be prescribed to the guest after a detailed consultation with theSpecific daily routines, a regulating and nutritious diet, and wellness activities will be prescribed for the individual creating a holistic approach to the entire program.  The physicians also plan an aftercare program for the guests, helping them to get the full benefits of the Ayurvedic treatments received at Ananda.

6.Ananda also plays host to another attraction, the former abode of renowned spiritual figure, MaThe Maharajah made a very special abode for Ma Anandamayi, overlooking the Ganges valley, where she worked to set up her Ashram.  Outside her abode, parishioners regularly congregated to bask in her presence and participate in discourses on spirituality.

 7.Ananda also has a hill theatre where there are Indian music recitals of the “tabla” and the “basoori” and dance performances every week amongst the view of the foothills and Palace.

 8.The library houses the Maharaja’s superb collection of literary and historical books on the Imperial era. It is currently being augmented by contemporary topics, including Ayurveda, wellness, lifestyle, natural history, yoga, meditation and much more.

 9.Ananda dinning features the finest of Ayurvedic, Asian and Western cuisine based on the basic values of traditional cooking, which is served on the outer deck of The Restaurant set within the natural environs of the Himalayas.

So after reviewing all its facilities, I totally agree with Ananda being honored and voted the World's Best Destination Spa by Condé Nast Traveler for the second consecutive year, as Ananda has something so serene, so pious, so wonderful, so grand and eternal about it!

Roma Kapadia is a freelance writer from Mumbai.  For the last eight years, she has been writing lifestyle pieces for several online publications including MSN India and Savvy. Roma loves to write about food, health & wellness, relationships and travel.  In addition to her BA in English Literature and advanced degree in Journalism, Roma also holds a certification in Tarot Card Reading.

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