SherleneGirardi at 19:26, 29 March 2026

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{{Short description|Building in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox hotel
| name = Ananda in the Himalayas
| image = Viceregal Palace, Ananda - In the Himalayas, Narendra Nagar, Uttarakhand.jpg
| caption = Viceregal Palace
| location = [[Narendranagar|Narendra Nagar]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[India]]
| coordinates =
| opening_date = 2000
| closing_date =
| developer =
| architect =
| operator =
| owner = IHHR Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.
| number_of_restaurants =
| number_of_rooms =
| number_of_suites =
| floor_area =
| floor_count =
| parking =
| website = http://www.anandaspa.com
| footnotes =
}}
'''Ananda in the Himalayas''' is a luxury [[destination spa]] in [[Narendranagar|Narendra Nagar]], [[Uttarakhand]], set in the Indian [[Himalayas]].

It is located in a {{convert|100|acre|adj=on}} estate surrounded by [[Shorea robusta|sal]] forests, near the river [[Ganges]], close to the towns of [[Rishikesh]] and [[Muni Ki Reti]], it was established in 2000, and was India's first destination spa.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/india/1922797/The-Himalayas-Over-the-hills-and-far-away.html The Himalayas: Over the hills and far away] ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'', 6 May 2008.</ref> Ananda focusses on [[Yoga]] and [[Ayurveda]] practices,<ref>''Yoga Escapes: A Yoga Journal Guide to the Best Places to Relax, Reflect, and Renew'', by Jeanne Ricci. Published by Celestial Arts, 2003. {{ISBN|1-58761-187-2}}. ''Page 131''.</ref> combined with international spa therapies.<ref>[http://www.travelandleisure.com/hotels/ananda-narendra-nagar Ananda] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122063611/http://www.travelandleisure.com/hotels/ananda-narendra-nagar |date=22 November 2008 }} ''[[Travel + Leisure]]''.</ref> The property includes the royal palace of [[Narendranagar|Narendra Nagar]], of the Maharaja of [[Garhwal Kingdom|Tehri Garhwal]] <ref>{{cite news|last1=Dugger|first=Celia W.|title=Himalayan Spa for Sybarites|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/30/travel/himalayan-spa-for-sybarites.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=30 July 2000|access-date=14 October 2017}}</ref>, the restored Viceregal Palace was built in 1910–11 by the Maharaja for an expected visit of the [[Viceroy of India]]. Though the visit never materialized, the edifice remains,<ref name=asia/> and went to accommodate the likes of [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Lord Mountbatten of Burma]], a later [[Viceroy of India]].<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2006/01/01/Travel/Dream_trip__downsized.shtml India's only destination spa, Ananda mixes...] ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]'', 1 January 2006.</ref><ref name=tr>[http://www.anandatthesatluj.com/activities.html Ananda-in-the-Himalayas]</ref><ref name="age">{{cite web|url=https://translate.google.com/?client=firefox-b&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.&biw=1366&bih=635&sns=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&client=tw-ob#hi/en/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A6|title=Google Translate|website=Translate.google.com|accessdate=9 September 2017}}</ref>

In 2003 and 2007 it was considered one of the best spas in the world by ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]''<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/sunandsea/728693/Ten-of-the-best-spas.html Ten of the best spas - Suzanne Duckett selects her top spas around the world] ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'', 12 September 2003.</ref><ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/africaandindianocean/mauritius/740792/Winner-by-a-head.html Winner by a head] ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'', 9 April 2007.</ref> and rated No. 1 [[destination spa]] in the world by ''[[Travel + Leisure]]'' magazine in 2008.<ref name=dis/>

==Etymology==
[[File:The lounge at Ananda - In the Himalayas spa, Narendra Nagar.jpg|right|thumb|The lounge at Ananda in the Himalayas.]]
The word ''[[Ānanda (Hindu philosophy)|ananda]]'' means happiness in [[Sanskrit]].<ref name=age/>

==History==
[[File:Fountain, Ananda spa, Narendra Nagar.jpg|left|thumb|An old fountain, Ananda spa, Narendra Nagar]]
Some years ago, given the impetus on health and rejuvenation in the world and after an exhaustive search located a site for a destination spa, Ashok Khanna,<ref>[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Features/ET-Travel/Hospitality-sector-needs-infrastructural-support/rssarticleshow/4316915.cms hospitality sector needs infrastructural support-Ashok Khanna] ''[[The Economic Times]]'', 26 March 2009.</ref> discovered the Palace of the Maharaja at Narendra Nagar, Tehri-Garwhal. It was decided that the property was to be called "Ananda in the Himalayas", a name that embodies the spirit and ethos of what Khanna wanted to offer to his guests.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/229342.cms Bliss Himalayas] ''[[Times of India]]'', 12 October 2003.</ref>

Soon the former [[Viceregal]] Palace close to the Royal palace of the Shah family, of the erstwhile [[princely state]] of [[Garhwal Kingdom|Tehri Garhwal]] originally built in 1910–11,<ref name=asia>[https://books.google.com/books?id=GVmAfRMHw1wC&dq=Ananda+in+the+Himalayas&pg=PA74 Ananda - In the Himalayas] ''Asia's Legendary Hotels: The Romance of Travel'', by William Warren, Jill Gocher. Published by Tuttle Publishing, 2007. {{ISBN|0-7946-0174-X}}. ''Page 74''.</ref> was restored. [[Narendranagar|Narendra Nagar]] was the summer capital and the Palace, where the present viceregal suite of Ananda in the Himalayas is situated, is the official residence.

[[File:Himalayan view from Ananda spa, Narendra Nagar.jpg|right|thumb|Himalayan view, from Ananda, with the meandering [[Ganges]]]]
Traditional Indian practices of [[yoga]], meditation, [[ayurveda]] and [[vedanta]] are offered at the spa. Treatments include Ayurvedic spa treatments, Tibetan treatments and international therapies such as massage, body wraps and facials.<ref>[http://www.luxist.com/2005/10/18/ananda-spa/print/ Ananda Spa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721104456/http://www.luxist.com/2005/10/18/ananda-spa/print/ |date=21 July 2011 }}, Luxist.com. 18 October 2005.</ref><ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/india/722812/India-The-Ananda-Spa.html India: The Ananda Spa - Jo Foley reports on the Ananda Spa in the Himalayas] ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'', 19 July 2001.</ref>

==Visitors==
Ananda has been frequented by many famous guests, including [[Chris Froome]] and his wife Michelle Cound,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ccalphagroup.co.uk/tour-de-france-winner-christopher-froome-visits-ananda-in-the-himalayas/ |title=Tour de France Winner Christopher Froome visits Ananda in the Himalayas | C&C Alpha Group |access-date=4 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814151033/http://www.ccalphagroup.co.uk/tour-de-france-winner-christopher-froome-visits-ananda-in-the-himalayas/ |archive-date=14 August 2017 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> [[Oprah Winfrey]], [[Jerry Hall]], [[Bill Gates]] and [[Melinda Gates]], [[Kate Winslet]], [[Frederick Forsyth]], [[Deepak Chopra]], [[Nicole Kidman]], [[Jeremy Piven]], [[Ricky Martin]], [[Macklemore]], Bharat Kavitha Golecha, [[Charles, Prince of Wales]] and [[Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall]].<ref name=dis>[http://dhd.discovery.com/fansites/piven/slideshow/slideshow_02.html Jeremy landed at Ananda in the Himalayas] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211131244/http://dhd.discovery.com/fansites/piven/slideshow/slideshow_02.html |date=11 December 2008 }} [[Discovery Channel]].</ref>

==Ratings==
[[File:Lawns surrounding the Ananda spa.jpg|right|thumb|Lawns surrounding the 21,000 sq.ft. Ananda spa.]]
In 2005, ''[[Condé Nast Traveler]]'' rated this spa as the 'Best Overseas Spa Retreat' with a score rating of 99.62 and the Readers choice world's Number 1 destination spa (2005, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2019,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/readers-choice-winners-2019 | title=Readers' Choice Awards 2019: All the winners | date=7 October 2019 }}</ref> 2020<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.cntraveler.com/readers-choice-awards/world/top-destination-spa-resorts-in-the-world-readers-choice-awards | title=Top 30 Destination Spa Resorts in the World: Readers' Choice Awards 2021 | date=5 October 2021 }}</ref>) It is also the only spa in India to be awarded the 5 wave certificate by BISA (British International Spa Association). Highly recommended by many other travel journals such as ''[[The New York Times]]'',<ref name=tr/> Travel and Leisure,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/ten-top-meditation-retreats|title=Nine Great Meditation Retreats to Find Your Inner Zen|website=Travelandleisure.com|accessdate=9 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://events.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/travel/04journeys.1.html | title=For Luxury Travelers, India's Past Isn't Past | newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> While its judged as 'Top Spa in India' by Spa Finder, Inc.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Features/ET_Travel/Travelog/rssarticleshow/2618153.cms | title=Travelog | newspaper=[[The Economic Times]] | date=13 December 2007}}</ref> According to a reviewer of ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'', Ananda "..mixes the healing principles of the East with the pampering needs of the West.".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/alternativemedicine/3321626/Healing-meets-pampering.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111095548/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/alternativemedicine/3321626/Healing-meets-pampering.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=11 November 2012 | title=Healing meets pampering | newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] | date=1 August 2005}}</ref>

==Business==
Ananda is owned and managed by IHHR Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.<ref>[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ET-Travel/Hospitality-sector-needs-infrastructural-support/articleshow/4316915.cms IHHR Hospitality ..] ''[[The Economic Times]]'', 26 March 2009.</ref><ref>[http://ihhrhospitality.com IHHR Hospitality Pvt. ltd.] Official website.</ref>

Ashok Khanna, the managing director of the company, is the grandson of legendary hotelier Rai Bahadur [[Mohan Singh Oberoi]]. Khanna is a graduate from the Cornell School of Hotel Administration and has over three decades of experience in hospitality.
IHHR hospitality also founded a chain of luxury business hotels known as Ista Hotels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://profit.ndtv.com/2008/09/23003219/Ista-Hotels-to-expand-business.html |title=Ista Hotel to expand India operations |accessdate=2008-10-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212102716/http://profit.ndtv.com/2008/09/23003219/Ista-Hotels-to-expand-business.html |archivedate=2008-12-12 }}</ref> These hotels located in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Amritsar and Pune are now managed under the brand name "Hyatt".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.india-server.com/news/ista-hyderabad-named-among-worlds-top-1248.html |title=Top New Hotels Annual List by Conde Nast Traveler - Ista Hyderabad Named Among World's Top New Hotels by Conde Nast |accessdate=2008-10-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120014703/http://www.india-server.com/news/ista-hyderabad-named-among-worlds-top-1248.html |archivedate=2008-11-20 }}</ref>
==Education==
[[File:Back of the palace, Ananda spa.jpg|thumb|left|Back of the palace]]
The Ananda spa institute, located adjacent to the Ista hotel in [[Hyderabad]], admitted its pilot group of students in the summer of 2008. This educational institution is the only one of its kind in the world that provides yoga, Ayurveda and international therapies under one roof. Realizing the importance of international certification, the institute has got the [[International Therapy Examination Council]] (ITEC), Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (CIBTEC) to prescribe the curriculum for the courses on international treatments and give the required certification. The curriculum for the Yoga and Ayurveda courses will be framed and certified by the institute itself. The institute plans to lead spa education in South East Asia and maintain high standards throughout the region with international cooperation. Josephine Wackett has been appointed Principal. She was earlier with the world-famous Steiner School in London, where she was principal of the Steiner Beauty School for the last 30 years. Josephine is also the CIDESCO International Board member for Education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anandaspainstitute.com/Spa%20Travel%20News%20-%20Ananda%20Spa%20Institute.pdf |title=IHHR plans spa institute for 2008 |accessdate=2008-12-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707140125/http://www.anandaspainstitute.com/Spa%20Travel%20News%20-%20Ananda%20Spa%20Institute.pdf |archivedate=2011-07-07 }}</ref>

==Sources==
* "India: Mandarin group, Indian Hotels part ways on Himalayan resort," ''Businessline.'' Chennai: 27 December 2001. page 1.
* "Ayurveda Meets Five-Star Splendor at New 'Ananda,'" by Lisa Tsering. ''India - West.'' 18 May 2001, Vol.XXVI, Isse 29; page C32.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Ananda spa}}
* [http://www.anandaspa.com Ananda in the Himalayas official website]
* [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/735530/Indias-middle-classes-relax.html Photo feature] ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]''.

{{coord missing|Uttarakhand}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ananda in the Himalayas}}
[[Category:Resorts in India]]
[[Category:Houses completed in 1911]]
[[Category:Hotels established in 2000]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Tehri Garhwal district]]
[[Category:Palaces in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Destination spas]]
[[Category:20th-century architecture in India]]

Ananda in the Himalayas - Revision history

SherleneGirardi at 19:26, 29 March 2026