Departures Australia Spring 2017

BLACKBOOK Ornamental

BLACKBOOK Ornamental pools and water features at the resort’s majestic main courtyard FIRST LOOK CHANDIGARH’S JEWEL Set in the forests that surround India’s premier planned city, the new Oberoi Sukhvilas Resort & Spa is an escape for mind, body and soul, says THOMAS MIDULLA Of all the architectural milestones that Le Corbusier left for posterity, the Swiss National Bank decided that the masterplan for the city of Chandigarh was most worthy for gracing the back of the current 10-franc note. It is an hommage not just to the titan of Modernism, but also to the city he laid out on his drafting table, the capital of Indian Punjab and a symbol of the new forward-thinking spirit that permeated the Subcontinent after the partition in 1947. The city is just a 45-minute flight from Delhi, arriving into an airport that is less than two years old and surrounded by a booming economy, remarkable infrastructure and a quality of life, perched in the foothills of the Himalayas, that is hard to beat anywhere in the region. It made sense, then, that the Indian luxe hotel group Oberoi decided that this was the spot for its latest, exceedingly ambitious project: one of the most elaborate destination spas in South Asia, the Sukhvilas Resort & Spa, which opened in December. Immersed in the protected woods of the Siswan Forest Range, outside the city, the property is a poetic ensemble of shapes, colours and materials. The interplay of artfully decorated pavilions, light-flooded courtyards, © OBEROI 42 DEPARTURES-INTERNATIONAL.COM

countless fountains, shimmering flowerfilled pools and softly woven roofs atop cream-coloured walls feels intimately rooted in the region. Sukhvilas is not designed as a grandiose, ornate palace – as are some of the brand’s other properties – instead, it’s been conceived as an intimate summer residence that basks in 10 hectares of natural beauty, reaching the height of its splendour at dusk. The property’s 60 guest rooms are set back in private courtyards, and include Royal Forest Tents, set on solid stonework walls with three-layer American-made tented roofs and their own private pools. More spacious and opulent still is the Kohinoor Villa, which spreads out across nearly 400 square metres and boasts three bedrooms and an expansive garden and pool. The heart and soul of Sukhvilas is the spa, just completed this September. The temple-like wellness complex – with a dozen treatment rooms, tepidarium, An atmospheric corridor, right; the warm interiors of a Royal Forest Tent, left It’s been conceived as an intimate SUMMER RESIDENCE that basks in 10 hectares of natural beauty hydrotherapy pools, Turkish hammam and yoga pavilion – is the domain of Ram Kumar, one of India’s leading Ayurveda doctors and a true prize for the resort. Under his direction, the one- to 21-day The retreat’s tented suites blend seamlessly into the surrounding nature therapies begin with a personal diagnosis, which is used to create a tailor-made programme that comprises treatments as well as a fitness, meditation and a comprehensive nutrition plan. Those who prefer a less regimented approach can indulge in an aroma massage, unwind under the soothing sound waves of Himalayan singing bowls or savour the culinary creations of chef Simran Singh Thapar, whose family-recipe thalis, made tableside by the chef himself, are unmissable. In a city that has come a long way since partition and since Le Corbusier’s grand plan, Sukhvilas is a confident step toward 21st-century values, a place of peace, reflection and relaxation that embraces its natural surroundings. oberoihotels.com ♦ ELSEWHERE IN INDIA ... A TRIO OF NOTABLE NEW PROPERTIES FROM TOP: © OBEROI (3), © RAJBARI BAWALI, © ALILA RAJBARI BAWALI Recently plucked from the brink of ruin and artfully revived, this neoclassical palace on a serene lake in the rolling countryside just south of Kolkata now offers 30 charmingly rustic rooms and suites joined by an indulgent spa. mahoutuk.com ALILA FORT BISHANGARH Magnificently raised from the vestiges of a 230-year-old hilltop fortress in Jaipur, the newly restored, 69-key property wins points for its harmonoius suites that blend new and old as well as the breathtaking alfresco barbecue resturant, Nazaara. alilahotels.com TAJ EXOTICA RESORT & SPA, ANDAMANS A bucolic beach on Havelock Island plays host the fêted hotel marque’s newest revelation, a 75-key all-villa resort with a holistic spa and countless opportunities for outdoor adventures, from kayaking to underwater photography. tajhotels.com For booking tables, finding the best place to sample regional fare or simply exploring otherworldly new cuisines, the EazyDiner app is a user-friendly gateway for all things food across the India. eazydiner.com CONTACT PLATINUM CARD SERVICE FOR BOOKINGS DEPARTURES-INTERNATIONAL.COM 43