Healing, Corbett style
More of ten than not, we have returned disappointed from tiger trails without spotting one. But there are other experiences that are almost as thrilling. “One of the most interesting trails at Jim Corbett National Park is The Trail Of The Man-eater,” says Faisal Nafees, General Manager – India Operations, Lebua Hotels and Resorts. “We retrace steps of the legendary hunter and hike to the point where he killed his last man-eater.” The views from the top, the calls of the wild, and the trek through the dense sal forests, he says, are not only spellbinding but also therapeutic.
If it is therapy you are looking for, the jungles offer you that too. There are initiatives that promise to put people in touch with peace and calm. “We help people slow down and connect with Nature,” explains Nitin Das of Healing Forest, one such organisation. The idea, he says, is not only to take from the forest, but to give back too. This is done through clean-up and nurturing activities.
Echoes of the past
For those who love history and culture, the smaller towns in Bengal with colonial heritage and exceptional craftsmanship still visible, as well as the monasteries and ruins in the Northeastern states such as Sikkim, and the not-so-famous towns of Gujarat and Rajasthan should be on your list in 2019.
Many people run homestays in their ancestral homes. One of them is The Bhuj House, belonging to Jehan Bhujwala. He curates tours for his guests and says, “The buildings inside the walled city are centuries-old and display the architectural wealth the town has to offer.” The Bhujia Hill, royal cenotaphs and step-well are must-visits.
In Sikkim, it is the majestic Kanchenjunga seen from Pelling, a small town. Listening to Buddhist prayers, wandering through colourful monasteries and monochromatic ruins of the erstwhile capital should be on your holiday list this year.
A beach all to yourself?
Imagine long stretches of soft sand and never-ending views of the ocean, where you can sunbathe uninterrupted with the sound of the waves for company and a butler at hand for that glass of champagne. Bhagwan Balani, general manager, ITC Grand Goa Resort & Spa says they can organise anything, “From private dining experiences on the white sandy beach and private barbecues in their suite, to intimate get-togethers for friends and family.” Personalised cruises can also be arranged, as well as golfing on the greens.
In Kochi, you can admire the Athirapalli Falls in a private viewing. Shana Ninan, marketing communications manager at Grand Hyatt Kochi’s tour takes guests to the water level of the fall through a private property. “It is an experience like none other,” she describes it. Sitting by a rock pool, looking up at the 190-feet-tall falls, indulging in a gourmet lunch is indeed a special experience.
Rest and rejuvenation
Wellness is the perfect thing to do in deserts.
“When a guest comes to this part of Rajasthan, he has already seen everything; he wants to rest and rejuvenate,” says Devika, the spa manager at Sujan The Serai. Located in the middle of nowhere, tents pitched on the golden Jaisalmer stone function as spa rooms. The signature treatments include sand scrub and wrap, a process in which local red sand along with other natural ingredients is first used as a scrub, followed by a wrap of rose petals, rose oil, vetiver, black pepper and sandalwood. Spa treatments are available from September to March.
At Quan, the spa at Jaisalmer Marriott Resort & Spa, immersive therapies like Rose and Ashwagandha Milk Bath and Lagoon Water Pebble bath, are offered to guests. Marketing and Communication Executive, Pooja Sohal, says their treatments bring together body polish, massages, treatments, and a special bath.
Food for the soul
If it is culinary experiences you are looking for, you can have that too. Dine like a maharaja in a private dining room with a blindfold, indulge in the best of Nawabi fare in a haveli , book yourself a meal at a glass palace or experiment with local cuisines.
“We recreate the recipes that were cooked by the khansamas of the Nawabs,” says Chef Mohsin Qureshi, Azrakh, who comes from the family of the personal cooks of the nawabs. The restaurant, set in a 90-year-old haveli in Lucknow, brings together tameez, tehzeeb , and mehmannawazi, besides indulging your taste buds.
Meanwhile in far-off Bikaner, a maharaja ’s private dining hall comes to life. “Our food meditations are an ode to the life and style of Maharaja Narendra Singh, the last king of Bikaner,” says Siddharth Yadav, vice-president, MRS Hospitality. He personally curates the dining experiences, like the Literary Lunch, where every course is dedicated to a 19th-Century classic; Le Diner Dans Le Noir feeds guests who are blindfolded; Le Diner en Blanc, a dining experience in the wilderness. It is an experience for all the senses.
