Best healthy living destinations in India

You may be tired of keeping up with the rat race and wish to recharge your flagging batteries. Or you could be desperately looking for an escape from the city grind. You may even simply wish to relax and indulge yourself for a few days while you connect to your inner voice.

Whatever your reason, we bring you a selection of the best healthy living destinations in India to help you rejuvenate your body and refresh your mind.

Ananda in the Himalayas

Where: Narendra Nagar, Tehri-Garhwal, Uttaranchal

What: Ananda is situated in the forested foothills of the Himalayas. Formerly the residence of the Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal, the location overlooks the majestic Ganga not far from the historical cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh. Built in the former residence of the maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal, everything about the location and surroundings is truly enchanting.

Ananda offers vedanta and yoga classes, cooking classes, cultural programmes along with billiards and golf. For those with a more adventurous bent, the resort also arranges nature trails, treks, whitewater rafting, safaris and excursions in the beautiful countryside around.

Contact: Ananda in the Himalayas, The Palace Estate, Narendra Nagar, Tehri-Garhwal, Uttaranchal 249175
Phone: (91-1378) 227500
E-mail: sales@anandaspa.com
Website: www.anandaspa.com

Where: Palakkad district, Kerala.

What: Kairali is located in the lush and scenic Western Ghats in Kerala. It offers a range of ayurvedic treatments and medicinal massages to cure stress-related disorders, respiratory diseases, eye problems and skin diseases. It also offers beauty treatments for pimples, acne, aging and wrinkled skin, and hair loss.

Showcasing the traditional and cultural arts of Kerala, Kairali also has training workshops for martial arts and makes arrangements for performance of poojas and visits to temples.

Contact: Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resort, PO Olassery, Kodumbu, Palakkad Dist 678551, Kerala
Phone: (91-4923) 222623, 224402, 224403
Website: www.kairali.com

Where: Mandrem, North Goa

What: Ashiyana is spread over a beautiful estate comprising a palm grove connected by a bridge to the beach front and is nestled between the Mandrem River and the pristine Mandrem beach. The resort offers a retinue of treatments and massages including ayurvedic massage, chavutti thirumal, cranial sacral therapy, deep tissue massage, Indian head massage, reiki, reflexology, shiatsu, Swedish massage and Thai yoga massage.

Other activities include yoga and meditation lessons, palmistry and astrology sessions, creative arts, craft and music workshops, cooking classes, retreats, concerts and exhibitions.

Contact: Ashiyana Tropical Retreat Centre, Junas Waddo, Mandrem, North Goa
E-mail: contact@ashiyana-yoga-goa.com
Website: www.ashiyana-yoga-goa.com

Where: Uruli Kanchan, Pune district, Maharashtra

What: The Nisargopchar Ashram is a nature cure facility that owes its inception to Mahatma Gandhi's belief in the power of naturopathy. Set amid shade trees, the resort, which is minimally furnished, offers the experience of living close to nature.

The ashram offers a variety of naturopathy treatments such as massages, enemas, baths, acupressure, acupuncture, mud-packs and yoga for conditions ranging from obesity to more severe conditions of the stomach, nerves, joints and skin, including arthritis, asthma, diabetes and heart disease.

Contact: Nisargopchar Ashram, Nisargopchar Gramsudhar Trust, Uruli Kanchan 412202, District Pune, Maharashtra. Phone: (91-020) 2692 6298/ 2692 6230
E-mail: nisargopchar@vsnl.com
Website: www.nisargopcharashram.org

Where: Lonavla, Pune district, Maharashtra

What: These days getaways are not only about taking a vacation to an exotic destination but also about retreating to places close to nature. The Kaivalyadhama Ashram situated in Lonavla takes you to the tranquil path of yoga and meditation. The institute is part of a serene campus spread out over 180 acres of land. A college of yoga, a yoga hospital and healthcare centre, a temple and a library constitute the campus.

Kaivalyadhama was established in 1924 by Swami Kuvalayananda who was initiated into yoga by Paramhamsa Madhavdasji of Malsar.

The centre offers yoga teaching courses, naturopathy and ayurvedic courses, ayurvedic and naturopathy treatments, and conducts stress management workshops.

Contact: Gordhandas Seksaria College of Yoga and Kaivalyadhama Ashram, Kaivalyadhama, Lonavla, District Pune, Maharashtra.
Phone: (02114) 273039/ 273001/ 271518
E-mail: kdham@vsnl.com
Website: www.kdham.com

Where: Nelamangala, Bengaluru

What: Shreyas Retreat is your sanctuary from the chaos of city life. You, as a guest, can participate in daily yoga, meditation, chanting and breathing awareness classes amid the surrounds of nature. This place offers hath yoga classes for beginners and ashtanga yoga classes for the advanced. Holistic wellness here includes ayurvedic treatments and massages.

The highlight of this place is the silence retreat.

Contact: Shreyas Retreat, Santoshima Farm, Gollahalli Gate, Nelamangala, Bangalore, Karnataka.
Phone: (91-80) 27737102, 27737103, 27737183
E-mail: balaji@shreyasretreat.com; nidhi@shreyasretreat.com
Website: www.shreyasretreat.com

Where: Uttarkashi, Himalayas

What: The Sivananda Yoga vacation programme is designed to recharge your pranic (energetic) batteries as well as to rejuvenate your body and mind.

There are several Sivananda ashrams around the country, all of which are open all year round to offer its yoga vacation schedule. These ashrams are located in the countryside and equipped for you to stay for days, weeks, months or more if you so desire.

Apart from regular programmes, special theme-retreats are organised. You are also encouraged to participate in the Karma Yoga (selfless service) experience. According to traditional belief, yoga acknowledges that voluntary work helps you feel closer to the spiritual mission.

Contact: Sivananda Kutir, Netala, Uttarkashi district (near Siror Bridge), Uttarakhand
Phone: (91-1374) 22624
E-mail: himalayas@sivananda.org
Website: www.sivananda.org (You can contact your local branch. For a list of all ashrams and centres visit: www.sivananda.org/locations/ashrams.html)