Haslemere Traveller 2017

INDIA & THE HIMALAYAS
“I WAS IMMEDIATELY
AMAZED BY ALL
THE WONDROUS
COLOURS, SIGHTS
AND SMELLS”
WELLNESS
INDIA & THE HIMALAYAS
GEMMA’S FIRST TRIP TO INDIA WAS
AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE
After an easy, direct flight with Virgin to New
Delhi, in April I took my first steps in India. I was
immediately amazed by all the wondrous colours,
sights and smells, my senses were on full alert.
After a comfortable night in the capital at the Oberoi
Gurgaon hotel, I took a brief orientation tour, driving
past the Presdient’s House, Parliament House and
admiring the most imposing features of renowned
Surrey architect Sir Edwin Lutyens’ designs for Delhi.
A visit to the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the largest
Sikh temple in Delhi, with its glistening gold dome,
was inspirational. Our fascinating day ended with
dinner at the iconic 1930s, 5-star hotel Imperial.
The following morning we caught a short domestic
flight to Dehradun, with a one-hour transfer in
air-conditioned, chauffeured vehicles to Ananda in
the Himalayas, a renowned destination spa in the
foothills of the Himalayas (pictured above, top right).
Nothing prepares you for your first sight of this
mountain range, it is the definition of awe-inspiring
and one I will never forget. Located in the tranquil
foothills, this extraordinary hotel, close to the
mythological cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh,
is surrounded by forests, overlooking the sacred
Ganges as it meanders in the distance.
The views may leave you breathless, but the
hotel takes you back to a calm, bygone age, as
the façade of the palace of the Maharaja of Tehri
Garhwal fronts the hotel. Having played host to
some of India’s most renowned heads of state
during the Maharaja’s reign, it now offers complete
luxury for the traveller. A billiards room houses the
oldest billiards table in India; while the Viceregal
Tea Lounge retains the old-world charm and
understated elegance of times gone by – a perfect
place to enjoy a cup of Darjeeling tea. With 70
elegant rooms and suites, as well as three villas,
each has a panoramic view of the palace or valley.
The hotel offers a wide range of activities, such
as water rafting on the Ganges river with its
formidable rapids, nature walks, treks and a safari
option in Rajaji National Park, spread across 820 sq
km around Ananda, home to 500 elephants and a
birdwatchers’ paradise.
But my favourite pastime was experiencing what
the amazing Spa had to offer, one of the best in the
world. First I had my dosha read and then followed
the programme given to me by the Ayurvedic doctor.
I enjoyed plenty of Ayurvedic treatments and was
well and truly rubbed, scrubbed and pummelled. As
a novice, I also enjoyed yoga at dawn every morning.
I returned home feeling very Zen and spiritual
(pictured above, top left). I can’t recommend this
highly enough as a way to de-stress.
But the true essence of India and the highlight event
for me was the lighting of the lamps for Ganga Aarati
at Rishikesh, a wonderful, Hindu spiritual experience;
performed each evening at sundown on the banks of
the holy river, it starts with sacred chants and a fire
ceremony and ends with singing by saffron-robed
disciples as the sun sets. A photo opportunity not to
be missed (pictured above, bottom left).
“NOTHING PREPARES YOU
FOR YOUR FIRST SIGHT OF
THIS MOUNTAIN RANGE”
Back in Delhi, I ended my stay with a night at one
of India’s newest and most luxurious destination
resorts, the all-suite ITC Grand Bharat, which is a
1.5 hour drive from the capital.
Prior to going to India, I was excited but a little
apprehensive about my inaugural visit – including
fears about stomach upsets – but they were very
quickly dissipated. Yes, the driving can be hairraising,
with 8-lane motorways and cars avoiding
cows every now and then – but the people we met
were universally welcoming and kind, I felt very well
for the entire stay and I can’t wait to go back and
experience the many wondrous sights and sounds
I found on this extraordinary visit.
4 TRAVELLER 2017 haslemeretravel.co.uk 01428 658 777