Ananda In The Himalayas India
Ananda In The Himalayas
The Palace Estate, Narendra Nagar, Teri Gharwal, Uttrakhand – 249175,
India
www.anandaspa.com
HOTEL INFORMATION
Group
IHHR Hospitality Pvt Ltd
Shareholders
Privately Owned
Date of Creation
2001
Hotel General Manager
Mr. Aniket Sarkar, General Manager, Ananda in the Himalayas, is a seasoned hotelier with close to two decades of experience in various roles across prestigious hospitality and wellness brands. Aniket started his career with Hyatt and graduated from the Hyatt International’s Corporate Training Program. He has been associated in key operational roles with stalwarts like Starwood Hotels and Accor, in India.
Over the last 5 years, he has gained an in-depth operational experience in managing luxury wellness destinations. Aniket is also a certified facilitators in Wellness coaching and has an extensive knowledge in holistic wellness practices.
His strong business acumen and excellent interpersonal skills enabled him to successfully essay his roles and responsibilities in all previous stints. With this rich experience, his role is pivotal in taking the iconic wellness brand of Ananda In the Himalayas, forward. He is passionate about helping everyone embrace an element of personal wellbeing in their lives. He closely works with his team on improving and strengthening the wellbeing offerings at Ananda, to ensure that the guests an holistic healing environment.
Hotel Positioning
Luxury Wellness Destination
Ananda In The Himalayas
History & Story
From Founder’s Desk: Mr. Ashok Khanna.
Born into an eminent family of hoteliers, hotels were in my blood. My formative years were spent with the Oberoi Group where I got to learn deeply about classic luxury and an unyielding commitment to detail. India was a closed economy at the time and the landscape was very different to what it is today with a few domestic players monopolizing the marketplace, hotels were no different.
As the economy opened up and competition started to grow across all industries, stress levels began to rise dramatically and people started to lose sight of life’s balance. I envisioned that in the years to come people would need a different kind of hotel, one which would not just provide the services and facilities which indian luxury hotels did so well already, but one which would also assist people on a journey to personal health, wellness and rejuvenation. That is when, in the year 1989, the seed for Ananda was planted.
I traveled throughout India searching for the location that would embody the soul of Ananda, a location that would bring Ananda to life. I finally found this in the foothills of the Himalayas, the birthplace of Yoga, where people have visited for centuries to be healed and to find rest and rejuvenation.
There was a lot of work to be done before Ananda would come into being.
I wanted Ananda to mean one thing, and one thing only- holistic wellness for the mind body and soul. Many elements would need to come together seamlessly to make this a success. Together with my wife Neelam, we began to piece together the pillars of Ananda which are – Yoga, Ayurveda and Vedanta (a philosophy of life). Another vital aspect is the cuisine – Our ancestors believed that the way and what we eat largely contributes to a healthy life, and is an important part of wellness. We adapted the concept of traditional ayurvedic food (food for your body type) so that the same could be accomplished with International cuisines as well. All this, combined with the wellness traditions of other parts of Asia and the west, is our recipe for Ananda’s holistic wellness. The last and most important element essential to Ananda’s being are its people. They are the single most important reason for Ananda’s success. Ananda opened its doors in 2001 and has since received numerous awards and worldwide recognition.
Date Renewal
Our designer at the time of opening was Chhada, Siembieda & Associates. Ananda went through extensive refurbishments of all rooms and public areas in 2015 to enhance its fresh tranquil appeal.
Main Strengths, Special Touch
Ananda’s signature wellness programs such as Ayurvedic Rejuvenation, Detox, Yogic Detox, Weight Management, and Stress Management begin with personal wellness consultations and follow a holistic approach towards achieving the best results in a safe, nurturing atmosphere guided by our team of expert ayurvedic doctors, skilled therapists, nutritionists, yogis and spa cuisine chefs. Ananda offers a unique blend of customised therapeutic treatments based on traditional Indian practices of Ayurveda, yoga and meditation. The spa also offers the latest European and Thai treatments to purify the body and soothe the senses
Location
Set amongst 100 acres of virgin forest Ananda-In the Himalayas is built around the Maharaja of Tehri Garhwal’s Palace estate in Narendra Nagar. Narendra Nagar is located above the holy city of Rishikesh, with breathtaking views of the Ganges River and the mountainside. Daily flights operate from Delhi to Dehradun airport (45 minutes) and from Dehradun airport Ananda is a 40 minute scenic drive.
Key sites/activities in the area
An exhilarating extension to the spa at Ananda, we offer an array of outdoor adventures and thrilling explorations into the Himalayas, Ganges and surrounding National parks.
• Trekking in the Himalayan foothills
• White water rafting on the Ganges
• Jungle safari in Rajaji and Chilla National Park
• Morning energisers – nature walks
Fun Facts
• Six holes mini Golf course on site
• Cooking classes by Ananda’s chefs demonstrating Ayurvedic cuisine
• Weekly entertainment of traditional Indian folk dance and music at Ananda
Children’s Corner
In order to preserve the tranquillity of the destination spa, children below the age of 14 years are not permitted at the Ananda in The Himalayas. Ananda’s Active Teen® Program incorporating several outdoor and on site activities provides a perfect platform to engage teenagers accompanying their parents.
HOTEL FEATURES
Accommodation
Number of rooms in all: 78
• 75 Rooms
• 04 Suites with private gardens
• 01 Historic Suite in the Viceregal Palace
• 03 Villas with private pools
Views
• Palace View – of Maharaja’s Palace a, the lawns and the surrounding foothills
• Valley View – with breathtaking views of the Ganges River and the mountainside.
Restaurants & Bars
• The Restaurant
The Restaurant features the finest of Asian and Western cuisine based on the values of traditional Ayurvedic cooking.
• Tree Top Deck
An outer deck of The Restaurant set within the natural environs of the surrounding Sal trees and overlooking the valley.
• The Pavilion
A casual and cosy setting for drinks and light snacks, located adjacent to The Restaurant and pool.
• Palace Tea Lounge
Located in the Viceregal Palace and serves high tea and soft beverages.
• The Poolside
Set on the ridge of the Himalayan foothills, a perfect place to relax with healthy snacks and fresh juices.
Wellness
Ananda is a retreat dedicated to restoring balance and harmonizing energy through a holistic approach to wellbeing. Guests can immerse themselves in a complete rejuvenation experience in the 24,000 square foot spa, with an extensive selection of around 80 therapies in the 24 treatment rooms and 4 consultation rooms. The Spa also features luxurious hydrotherapy facilities, outdoor temperature-controlled swimming pool, sauna, steam rooms, and a fully equipped gymnasium.
Corporate & Celebration Events
Ananda offers a unique opportunity for a once on a lifetime celebrations for occasions like birthdays, honeymoons, bridal showers and anniversaries. While Ananda has also a rejuvenating destination for board/CXO level strategy meetings, we do not accept accept large corporate groups.
Extra Notable Features
• Vedanta lectures – ancient Vedic philosophy on life and living
• Ganga Aarti – an unforgettably spiritual experience on the banks of the holy river Ganga
Hotel & Restaurants Awards
2015
Favourite Destination Spa – Conde Nast Traveller, Readers Travel Awards (India)
Best spa for Mind & Spirit, Best spa for Yoga, Best spa for Healthy Cuisine – SpaFinder Wellness Travel Awards
Best Spa & Wellness Program – Zanadu, Travel Experience Awards, China
Best Spa – Elle Beauty Awards (India)
2014-2013
Best Destination Spa – Conde Nast Traveler, Reader’s Travel Awards, India, (2014)
Spa of the Year (North and West Asia) – Spa Awards (2013)
Favourite Spa in India – Spa Finder Readers Choice Awards (2013)
Number of employees
256