Location and design
The location of Ananda is undoubtedly its most exceptional feature. Nestled at an elevation of 1,100 metres in the serene foothills of the Himalayas, it has a spectacular view of the lush valley below, which stretches towards the sacred town of Rishikesh — a revered destination known as the birthplace of yoga and a historical hub for spirituality and wellness.
From up here, the views are absolutely stunning — rolling hills, lush green forests, and the elegant curves of the Ganges River winding its way through the landscape. The grounds at Ananda are just as special, full of wildlife and vibrant native plants. Surrounded by the peaceful sights and sounds of nature, I felt completely at ease, often slipping into a calm, almost meditative state.
When you arrive and check in, it’s in an iconic palace (once the royal residence of the Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal). Built in the early 1900s, this grand estate was designed as a peaceful retreat for the Maharaja and his family. As you can imagine, the place is full of history and luxury. The Viceregal Suite is the only room you can actually stay in within the palace, and it’s incredible — packed with original charm and boasting one of the biggest terraces I’ve ever seen. My friends at Ananda say people literally change their travel plans just to book this historic suite!
The other accommodation and facilities are a five-minute walk from the palace, and a beautiful blend of traditional Indian design and a more modern elegance. I absolutely love the design and ambience at the Ananda. It’s luxurious and comfortable, but in a soft, understated way that feels like stepping back into a more elegant time.
The team
My last visit was eight years ago, and not only did I fall in love with the place, but also the people. It was amazing to recognise some of the same faces from back then, and their kindness and care were just as prevalent as I remembered. I've always thought that luxury hospitality in India is the best in the world, and Ananda exemplifies that. But it goes beyond excellent service — it's the genuine care and deep knowledge that makes this team truly special. From the incredibly intuitive and knowledgeable Ayurvedic doctor, to the beautiful soul who brought a hot water bottle to my room every night before bed, every detail felt heartfelt and thoughtful.
The team is highly valued and supported by the management, with their own wellbeing given thoughtful consideration. Every day, they have access to a dedicated wellbeing activity, such as a sound bath, yoga class, walking meditation, or fitness session. The team is also encouraged to connect with nature, and one of my favourite moments was watching two young Ayurvedic therapists happily birdwatching. There’s a noticeable sense of calm among the staff — they don’t seem stressed or overwhelmed. This balance allows them to deliver treatments and services with genuine care and mindfulness.
The food
I was on a wellness programme, so my food was prescribed by the doctor. There are three main menus that are dosha-specific. A fundamental concept in Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine originating in India, doshas represent the three primary energies or bio-elements that govern physical, mental, and emotional health. These energies — Vata, Pitta, and Kapha — are derived from the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space) and believed to influence every aspect of an individual’s constitution and wellbeing.
My Vata element, which represents air and space, was out of balance, so I was prescribed the daily Vata menus. This made perfect sense to me since one of the common symptoms of a dominant Vata is digestive issues, which I have been suffering from recently. According to Ayurvedic principles, those with a Vata imbalance should avoid cold and raw foods, so my meals were designed to be warm, cooked, and easy to digest. The dishes ranged from Indian flavours to Oriental and European influences, providing plenty of variety.
On my first evening, I had a consultation with the chef to discuss my food preferences and dislikes, and going over the advice the Ayurvedic doctor had provided for the kitchen. I thought this was such a brilliant idea — it made me feel actively involved in my meal choices, which is especially thoughtful when you’re on a health-focused programme.
For those not following a specific health programme, there’s still a great selection of dishes, spanning Indian, Oriental, and European cuisines, all prepared in a healthy way without compromising on taste.
Wellness facilities and activities
Ananda has its roots in Ayurveda and yoga. The hotel has now been around for almost 25 years, so unsurprisingly, the team has expanded the offering to include a broader range of wellness modalities. There's now a physiotherapy department, good fitness facilities and instruction alongside some fabulous hikes in the Himalayas. Going on a hike was one of the metaphorical and literal high points of my stay, climbing to 1,600 metres and feeling in complete awe of the majestic mountains ahead of me.
Another more recent addition to the wellness facilities is emotional healing. There is always a clinical psychologist available to help people dealing with high levels of stress, anxiety, and overthinking. Our emotions play such an important part in our overall health and wellbeing, so it's heartening to know that the team at the Ananda takes this seriously.
There is a daily activity schedule that includes yoga and meditation in true Indian style, hikes, fitness classes, talks on Vedanta (Indian philosophy), sound healing and much more — so you won’t get bored!
My wellness experience
I opted for the stress management programme, to try and deal with the chronic stress I have suffered with for years. My stress is not the type with dramatic effects but that low-level stress I have normalised but that culminates in harmful effects to my body.
Interestingly, my consultation with the Ayurvedic doctor revealed a diagnosis which was similar to one I'd been given from recent medical tests. I always find this so impressive, that they can diagnose through the pulse and by looking at your tongue. But yet again, I reminded myself that these doctors spend more than five years studying this age-old science, so why do we need Western medical tests to believe everything?
The programme consisted of a mix of Ayurvedic therapies, other types of massages and stress-busting treatments. The therapists are wonderful, as are the doctors and I was walking around feeling blissful most of the time.
The stress management programme also included an emotional healing session. It was interesting for me to discuss my thought processes and patterns with the psychologist and come up with practical ways to reduce my stress through my own thinking. A lot of people feel these types of therapies are only relevant if you have serious mental health issues, but I found it very helpful and would recommend it for everyone.
Personal highlights
- The hike to Kunjapuri Temple was wonderful, taking you through beautiful nature to a viewpoint with spectacular views of the Himalayan peaks.
- The extremely relaxing Quartz Facial using a crystal mask and various instruments, such as quartz rollers and gua sha to revive and rejuvenate my skin. In crystal healing, rose quartz, in particular, is associated with love and self care. Some believe it promotes relaxation and positive energy, so I was very happy to experience it!
- The people I met during my stay. Ananda attracts international guests and I loved connecting with very interesting people from different countries that were all there to improve their wellbeing and visit this iconic destination.
Areas for improvement
With the team’s dedication to helping you achieve your goals, there is sometimes an inflexibility with the requests in the restaurant. For example, I had to insist that I wanted the whole egg rather than just egg whites and special approval had to be given from the doctor. While this is not a bad thing, I would recommend that if you have any specific requests, you raise them with the doctor at your consultation to avoid the “Doctor says no” standard response.
Who's it for?
- Those who want to experience the stunning location and have an active holiday exploring the area, alongside world-class treatments and healthy food. Check out the Active Fitness Programme.
- Those who want to deepen their yoga and meditation practice going back to basic teachings and learning about the philosophy. The true essence of yoga is much more than just a physical movement and stretching — the team at the Ananda will teach you that.
- Those with a health issue they'd like to address in a holistic way under the care of the very impressive Ayurvedic doctors. I heard about women who had remissions on PCOS and endometriosis. People with immunity challenges or other chronic issues such as auto-immune issues have also benefitted from their stay at Ananda. The programme is personalised for your needs.
Insider info
- You're provided with freshly laundered Kurta pyjamas daily, so you don’t have to think about what to wear everyday and there's no need to overpack.
- There is a steam room, sauna and plunge pool in the women’s changing rooms. The attendants will discourage you from using these after your Ayurvedic treatments, so it's best to enjoy them before the treatment.
- The daily Vedanta classes are worth attending if you have an interest in why we are here, the nature of the self and the universe and spirituality.
Stella visited in December 2024.
For personalised advice and to speak to Stella or a member of the team about visiting Ananda in the Himalayas, you can get in touch here or call 020 3735 7555.
