Ananda In The Himalayas Review By Frances Geoghegan

Our owner and founder Frances Geoghegan shares with us what she thought of her recent stay at Ananda In The Himalayas in India.

Setting The Scene

I didn’t go to Ananda In The Himalayas just to unwind — I went because I was running on empty. Between deadlines, responsibilities, and the relentless pace of everyday life, something inside me had dulled. I wasn’t sleeping well, my energy was scattered, and the stress I thought I could manage started to feel like it was managing me. I knew I needed a reset — not just for my body, but for something deeper.

Ananda, which means bliss in Sanskrit, I knew it was more than a wellness retreat — that it had a kind of soul you don’t often easily find.. Still, nothing quite prepared me for the moment I first arrived. Set in the Himalayan foothills, overlooking the sacred city of Rishikesh and the Ganga river, Ananda sits on the 100-acre palace estate of a former Maharaja. The air felt different there — lighter, quieter, more intentional. Guests drift through the grounds in white cotton kurtas, and a calming fragrance — Ananda’s own blend of tropical lily and soft spice — seems to follow you everywhere. I hadn’t even unpacked and already felt like I was breathing more deeply.

A Philosophy, Not a Programme

Ananda In The Himalayas isn’t about quick fixes. It’s not just about weight loss or pampering spa treatments. The founder, Ashok Khanna, envisioned it as an antidote to modern stress — a place rooted in ancient wisdom, especially the teachings of Vedanta, which are gently woven into the experience here.

The location is key. Less than an hour’s drive from Rishikesh — a city that hums with spiritual energy — Ananda feels both grounded and elevated. You’re surrounded by dense forests, birdsong, and occasional glimpses of the snow-capped Himalayas. It’s quiet, but never lonely.

My Wellness Journey

I signed up for the Hormone Rebalance programme, but what I received went far beyond physical recalibration. My days were structured yet never rigid — a beautiful balance of Ayurvedic therapies, yoga, meditation, breathwork, and reflection.

Dr. Naresh Perumbuduri, a fourth-generation Ayurvedic doctor who leads the wellness department, explained their holistic approach early on. At Ananda In The Himalayas, it’s not about treating symptoms — it’s about rebalancing your whole system through four pillars: diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management. Every guest receives a detailed constitutional analysis, and everything from your meals to your treatment plan is customised from there.

Women’s health is a growing focus — from PCOD and menopause to postpartum recovery — and I appreciated how open and nuanced those conversations were. In one consultation, Dr. Perumbuduri casually mentioned that regular sex can help delay menopause and improve immunity, memory, and mental clarity. There’s no awkwardness around these topics here — just knowledge shared openly, respectfully, and with purpose.

There are group activities available each day — sunrise mantra chanting, forest walks, Vedanta talks, local village excursions — but nothing is mandatory. Some days I joined. Other days, I simply rested.

Therapies That Go Beyond Skin Deep

I’ve had plenty of massages in my life, but the treatments at Ananda felt different. Intentional. Ritualistic. Healing.

Among the highlights: Reflexology was intuitive and grounding. Shiatsu released tension I didn’t even know I was holding. The Kundalini massage tapped into something much deeper — I walked out feeling emotionally lighter. And the Ayurvedic oil massages, warm and cocooning, felt like a kind of return to self.

Yoga here is not the Westernised power flow I was used to. Under the guidance of Malati Mehrish, who heads the yoga department, I began to understand yoga not as movement, but as a doorway. He spoke often of pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses) and dhyana (concentration) — deeper meditative practices that help quiet the mental chatter. His analogy stayed with me: “You don’t leave your laptop on all night. You shut it down. The same is true for the mind.”

The Accommodation

My room overlooked the lower Himalayas — serene, tastefully designed, and with just enough modern comfort to make things easy. The muted colours, traditional art, and old wood furniture gave the space a sense of character. And the silence… I didn’t realize how much I needed it until I had it.

If you have a taste for the regal, the Viceregal Suite is a stunner. Housed in the Maharaja’s palace, it comes with a private terrace and rooftop gazebo with views stretching all the way to the Ganga Valley. I didn’t stay there, but I can absolutely see the appeal.

The Food

Mornings began with a warm ginger-lemon-honey drink delivered to my door before yoga. Meals were simple, flavorful, and tailored to my Ayurvedic plan — no caffeine, gluten, or dairy during my stay, but I never felt deprived.

Breakfast was my favorite — kombucha, fresh tropical fruits, gluten-free breads, and tiny pots of homemade preserves. Lunch was filling but light, usually ending with a small dessert. Dinner was quieter, often accompanied by live instrumental music — a violinist and tabla player once played during my soup course, and it felt like something out of a dream.

The chef and nutrition team were incredibly accommodating. They happily adjusted meals based on my preferences without compromising the philosophy of clean, healing food.

What Makes Ananda Truly Special

What struck me most about Ananda In The Himalayas is its depth. Many luxury retreats offer relaxation, but few offer reflection. Here, there’s a philosophical spine — a quiet but powerful spiritual current running beneath everything. The founders were students of A. Parthasarathy, a renowned philosopher and one of the foremost living teachers of Vedanta. That influence is felt everywhere — not preached, but present.

I had the chance to speak with Suddhakar Dass, a longtime Vedanta teacher and scholar. He said something that stuck with me: “This isn’t the average luxury traveller. People who come here are already looking for something.” And I think that’s true. The silence, the rituals, the mountain air — it all draws out a kind of inner stillness you didn’t know you were craving.

The Goodbye (And A Ganga Aarti)

Before I left, I took a short trip into Rishikesh to witness the Ganga Aarti — a sunset ceremony where young priests-in-training chant hymns and release oil lamps into the river. It’s hard to put into words, but standing on those banks, watching the flames drift across the water, I felt part of something timeless. It somehow crystallised everything I’d experienced at Ananda — the stillness, the surrender, the return.

Final Thoughts

You can come to Ananda In The Himalayas to detox, to heal, to rest, or to simply be still. You can spend your days trekking and chanting or do nothing at all but sit on your balcony while a peacock struts across the lawn. I did both. And somewhere in that mix — between the treatments, the philosophy, the mountain light — I found peace and quiet in my frazzled mind.