*Denotes local charge
*Denotes local charge
Located close to the temple town of Gokarna, this intimate resort is a yogi haven. SwaSwara, which combines ‘Swa’, meaning ‘the self’ in Sanskrit and ‘Swara’, referring to sound, is a place where you can embrace your inner voice. This luxury resort is just seven minutes from Om Beach, a beach in the shape of the sacred ‘Om’ symbol – a very good omen for a spiritual retreat if there ever was one. Enjoy treatments tailored for your needs, depending on your programme choice which include therapeutic Ayurvedic massages, salt scrubs and private yoga sessions. If you are looking to detox, there is a comprehensive two-week 'detox & panchakarma' programme to cleanse the body of accumulated toxins. There are 90 staff to 24 villas so you can be assured of highly personalised servic, plus there are resident Ayurvedic doctors. A simple pool provides relaxation and serves as a place to peacefully settle down with a book. In keeping with the wellness concept, meals served at Cocum Restaurant do not include meat but instead focus on light and fragrant seafood and organic, seasonal vegetables sourced from the garden and nearby farms. Those on Ayurveda-focused programmes are served a pure vegetarian, dosha-specific diet as recommended by the doctors. You can stay hydrated throughout the day with unlimited Indian herbal teas. The resort is mainly alcohol-free except for a selection of wines but there are nearby beach bars in case you want to indulge. A nice touch are the interactive cooking sessions with the resort’s chef where you'll learn healthy recipes to take home with you and continue focusing on your wellbeing. 24 thatched-roof Konkan-style villas are set in the tranquil gardens and bring you as close to nature as possible. Each villa features a small garden terrace and private yoga deck overlooking the forest. Cool off in the balmy climate with a shower in your semi-outdoor bathroom, or find inner peace with yoga in the heart of the resort, the meditation hut. You can make your own short pilgrimage into the temple town Gokarna by tuk-tuk. See our selection of spa and wellness packages
There are few places more idyllic for a wellness escape than Atmantan Wellness Resort. Just a year after it opened, it was voted India’s Best Wellness Retreat in the prestigious World Spa Awards. The resort embraces both nature and modernity; it has a classic health retreat setting, embedded into the mountains above a wide, peaceful river and surrounded by deep green nature, yet the resort itself is sleek and contemporary. Even walking around the manicured grounds is an exercise in tranquillity – the grounds are pristine, there are sculptures to discover and benches are placed at just the right spot for some of the best viewpoints. As the owner is an Ironman tri-athlete, it’s natural that fitness is high on the agenda. Challenge your balance and flexibility with yoga on a stand-up paddleboard, get your legs burning in a spin session or learn some new moves with Bollywood-inspired aerobics. The state-of-the-art gym has picture-postcard views of the Mulshi River if you like a good old-fashioned cardio and weights session, there’s an excellent physiotherapist on site and an indoor saltwater pool for laps. The three-storey spa has a comprehensive range of therapies including Ayurveda, aromatherapy and Chinese medicine and the spa cuisine is a treat as you dine on healthy and colourful dishes, using ingredients sourced wherever possible from an organic farm nearby. See our selection of spa and wellness packages
Shreyas is luxury yoga retreat an hour from Bangalore that’s as intimate as a boutique hotel. It has just 12 rooms and cottages set in a former coconut plantation in 25-acre grounds and is the only fully vegetarian member of Relais & Châteaux – the gourmet meals bring produce from the retreat’s five-acre garden to the table in healthy, delicious meals and there’s a sharing table if you’re feeling sociable. The cottages are contemporary and stylish and feature complimentary Wi-Fi should you need it. Of the 12 cottages, three lead straight off the pool while the Garden Tented Cottages have a clean canvas roof and their own veranda. If you’re travelling as a group, there’s also a spacious Three Bedroom Cottage with en suite bathrooms for each room. Balancing Ayurvedic principles and established luxury, the retreat prides itself on personalised service with its philosophy that 'a guest is to be served as God'. There’s also a strong sense of community – the retreat supports a local orphanage and school which guests can visit. Yoga is the retreat’s key focus and it is used with a therapeutic approach. There are twice daily group yoga sessions and a daily meditation session too. Programmes can be tailored to your needs and abilities and all teachers have extensive yoga training so that they can explain everything from yoga asanas (postures) and meditation to pranayama (breath). See our selection of spa and wellness packages
SwaSwara with Wellbeing Escapes
Atmantan Wellness Resort with Wellbeing Escapes
Shreyas Yoga Retreat with Wellbeing Escapes
