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Conscious travel is the need of the hour. According to a Global Wellness Institute report, wellness tourism has been identified as one of the biggest travel trends, with sustainability in focus. Given the past two years that have been extremely hectic, stressful, emotionally and physically draining, the need to adopt wellness practices in our day-to-day lives now has become more important than ever. There’s a significant rise in demand for holistic experiences among tourists in the post-pandemic world to keep stress at bay and heal mentally and physically.
Away from the fast-paced city life, these retreats are nestled in secluded and quaint areas surrounded by abundant greenery and scenic beauty. The wellness retreats are specially designed to offer therapeutic and fulfilling experiences of self-discovery that help to declutter the mind and heal. From properties pinned at the foothills of the gigantic Himalayas to beach-facing nests, take a look at some of the best wellness retreats in India.
1. Atmantan, Maharashtra
Located on the sublime Sahyadris range overlooking Mulshi Lake in Maharashtra, Atmantan is a haven of wellness and tranquillity. As the name suggests, it’s a place that reunites your soul, mind and body and helps to reconnect with yourself through 13 scientifically researched and customised all-inclusive wellness programs. It is considered as one of the top wellness retreats in India that helps you adopt a healthier and happier daily routine.
Their wellness cuisine is all about fine-dining nutritious vegetarian dishes prescribed by doctors and are aimed at helping guests achieve their wellness goals. Also, it’s a celebrity favourite destination. Actors like Sonakshi Sinha, Karisma Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra, Malaika Arora, Bhumi Pednekar, Mouni Roy and many more, love to spend time here.
Book here.
2. Ananda In The Himalayas, Uttarakhand
Situated in the foothills of the Himalayas, near Rishikesh - the birthplace of yoga, Ananda is an award-winning wellness retreat known for its holistic approach to create a sustainable journey towards a healthier and enriched lifestyle. From stress management to chronic pain management, Ayurvedic rejuvenation, immunity boosting, detox, cleansing and improving digestion, their health experts offer a range of methodologies to treat chronic health issues.
Book here.
3. Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat And Spa, Maharashtra
Another celebrity favourite wellness getaway tucked in the village of Shillim with gorgeous views of the Sahyadri mountain range is Hilton Shillim. Malaika Arora, Alia Bhatt, Sara Ali Khan, Huma Qureshi, Twinkle Khanna are just to name a few of the regular celebrity visitors here. They offer an all-inclusive wellness package with greater focus on mental health and well-being. They have health experts offering an authentic and soothing range of tailor-made therapies and treatments through their Dharana wellness program that includes conservation walks, yoga, meditation, and cooking lessons. Each treatment promises inner peace with a meaningful change from within.
For those seeking to rejuvenate the body, their immersive experiences inspired by the Ayurveda-inspired dining, is mindfully designed to eliminate toxins, improve immunity and stimulate the body’s natural regenerative processes.
Book here.
4. Ashiyana, Goa
Goa might be popular for its beaches and nightlife, but did you know that it’s equally focused on wellness? To your surprise, it has quite a few unique wellness retreats tucked in the unspoiled areas surrounded by abundant tropical flora and fauna. One such retreat nestled on the pristine and less explored Mandrem beach in north Goa is Ashiyana.
They not only offer detox programs, yoga and wellbeing experiences, but also have their own well-being app. Guests can choose the offerings best suited to their needs through their concept of integrating traditional yoga packages in a natural environment. This retreat is meant for those who wish to truly disconnect from the crowd and embark on an overall mindful wellness journey.
Book here.
5. Vana, Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand is home to some of the most unique and picturesque wellness retreats. Another sustainable retreat located in the midst of the Sal forests in Dehradun, is Vana which basically translates to ‘forest’. It offers wellness experiences and mindful practices such as Ayurveda, yoga and Sowa Rigpa that helps improve health and evoke a sense of harmony and well-being. For the uninitiated, Sowa Rigpa is a restorative healing practise that helps to strengthen the mind, body and emotions. Vana is one of the very few places worldwide to offer this curative practice in its most traditional form.
Their food menu comes with a strong emphasis on the procurement of seasonal, local and indigenous produce with an aim to reduce carbon footprint. Their culinary treats follow principles of Ayurveda that encourage you to practise mindful eating while aiding digestion and reducing overconsumption.
Book here.
6. Tamara, Karnataka
Pinned in Coorg, Amal Tamara stresses on effective weight loss strategies under expert Ayurvedic physicians with almost five decades of experience. Some of their key healing experiences are oral herbal medications, therapeutic yoga, ayurvedic therapies, and metabolic adjustments achieved through their carefully curated wellness food menus and lifestyle reformation activities.
Book here.
7. Fazlani Natures Nest, Maharashtra
Located in Vadgaon between Mumbai and Pune, the resort offers bespoke wellness treatments which are a combination of alternative medicine approaches that include Ayurveda, naturopathy, acupuncture, acupressure, physiotherapy, and unique wellness offerings like equine therapy. Not just that, it also treats lifestyle disorders such as immune resilience retreats, natural relaxation retreats, and optimal weight management retreats. All this with their range of yoga and detox practices. Additionally, focusing on ‘you are what you eat’, their wellness food menu also helps to achieve the desired wellness goals, with their farm to fork approach.
Book here.
8. Kairali - The Ayurvedic Healing Village, Kerala
Located in Palakkad, this wellness retreat surrounded by lush greenery and abundant scenic beauty offers yoga, meditation, astrology, palmistry, nutrition, therapy, and spiritual training to transform the mind, body and soul.
Book here.
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