Six Senses Vana: A Transformational Wellness Retreat In India

Why Six Senses Vana leads India's luxury wellness retreat movement

From the moment it opened, Vana marked a pivotal shift in India’s wellness tourism landscape. Unlike heritage-focused retreats like Ananda in the Himalayas, Vana introduced a design-forward, globally inclusive approach to healing. Designed by Esteva i Esteva, the Spanish architectural studio, the retreat blends clean, modern lines with spiritual aesthetics: think Himalayan salt walls, candlelit corridors, serene Buddha imagery, and an underground tantric meditation cave where guests might experience profound moments of inner stillness.

Today, under Six Senses, Vana retains this exquisite beauty while opening its doors to a broader audience seeking authentic wellbeing experiences. The retreat now welcomes children over six, offers shorter stays, and sees a rising number of Indian visitors alongside its loyal international clientele, all drawn to the promise of deep healing and restoration.

Personalised ayurvedic & holistic healing programmes at Six Senses Vana

What sets Six Senses Vana apart is its multi-modality approach to wellness, where each programme is carefully crafted to address the unique needs of every guest. Guests embark on personalised journeys designed by expert practitioners who draw on deep traditions and modern diagnostics to create bespoke treatments. The retreat is the first in the world to host therapists trained at the Dalai Lama's Men-Tsee-Khang Institute, delivering deeply restorative Tibetan therapies. Ayurvedic consultations, Watsu hydrotherapy, acupuncture, and breath-centered yoga sessions are just a few of the transformative experiences on offer.

Whether you come to process grief, recover from illness, or simply disconnect, the depth of care and healing energy at Vana is palpable across every treatment and consultation. Every element, from organic cuisine and sustainable architecture to bespoke kurta pyjamas by Abraham & Thakore, supports a sense of inner and outer alignment, reinforcing the holistic wellbeing at the heart of your stay.

Six Senses Vana rooms: Garden view & forest accommodations

Vana's accommodations are thoughtfully designed to extend the healing journey into your personal space, offering a serene retreat within the retreat. The property features beautifully appointed rooms that blend contemporary comfort with mindful design, each serving as a peaceful sanctuary for rest and reflection.

Guests can choose from a variety of room configurations to suit their needs, with options available for both single and double occupancy. Each room is a study in understated elegance, with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame views of either the tranquil garden or the verdant Sal forest beyond. Solo travellers will find these rooms provide the perfect intimate space for deep introspection on their healing journey, while couples or friends can share the transformative experience together in the same peaceful setting.

Every stay at Vana includes access to all communal wellness facilities, and your room serves as a private haven where you might continue practices learned during treatments—whether meditation, journaling, or simply absorbing the forest's restorative energy. The garden-view rooms overlook manicured medicinal herb gardens where many of the ingredients for Ayurvedic treatments are grown, while the forest-facing accommodations immerse you in the sounds and sights of the ancient Sal trees, creating an atmosphere of profound connection to nature throughout your entire stay.

Luxury spa treatments & wellness facilities at Vana Uttarakhand

Despite the shift in management and the expansion of its audience, Six Senses Vana remains a sacred, soul-stirring sanctuary where the spa philosophy extends far beyond traditional treatments. Social media and phones are still discouraged in public spaces, ensuring the atmosphere remains serene and meditative. Guests speak of laughing and crying, of reconnecting with their true selves through carefully curated treatments and consultations, and of returning home lighter, clearer, and more grounded after experiencing the profound wellbeing that permeates every corner of this remarkable retreat in India.

From guided treks in the Himalayas and flute therapy to plant-based gourmet cuisine and evening aarti in Rishikesh, every experience is designed to nourish the mind, body, and spirit. The spa facilities themselves are a testament to holistic healing, with dedicated treatment rooms for Ayurvedic therapies, hydrotherapy pools, and meditation spaces that might become your favorite refuge during your stay.

Why choose Six Senses Vana?

• First luxury wellness retreat in India to combine Ayurveda, Yoga, TCM & Sowa Rigpa in comprehensive healing programmes
• World-class design and architecture by Esteva i Esteva, integrating spa and garden spaces seamlessly
• Exclusive treatments from therapists trained at Men-Tsee-Khang
• Personalised wellness programmes tailored to your health goals, beginning with in-depth consultations
• Tranquil setting in Uttarakhand’s Sal forest, near Dehradun. One of India's most serene locations for wellbeing retreats
• Immersive experiences including yoga nidra, cookery classes, and nature treks
• Flexible room options including single and double accommodations with garden or forest views

• Phone-free, photography-free policy preserving sacred space for deep healing

Experience true transformation at Six Senses Vana

As the world shifts and evolves, so too does Vana, continually refining its programmes and treatments while staying true to its healing mission. Now more accessible yet still deeply profound, it remains a beacon of authentic wellbeing in India, where the integration of spa therapies, Ayurvedic wisdom, nourishing cuisine, and connection to the garden and forest creates an unparalleled healing experience. Whether you're a seasoned spiritual seeker or a wellness novice attending your first wellness retreat, Six Senses Vana offers a transformational journey like no other, a place where healing, nature, and modern luxury coexist in perfect harmony, and where every consultation, treatment, and moment of stillness might become a turning point in your wellbeing journey.

Book your retreat at Six Senses Vana and discover the true essence of restorative travel. Your path to renewal begins here.

List of experts at Six Senses Vana: Ayurvedic doctors & healing specialists

Here are some of the key in‑house wellness experts and practitioners who anchor Vana's healing offerings:

• Dr Jayachandran: Strong foundation in Ayurveda (Kerala); extensive experience treating lifestyle‑induced ailments; integrates Ayurveda with ritual and connection to nature. 
• Dr Tenzin Sopa: Trained in Sowa Rigpa (Tibetan Medicine) at Chagpori Tibetan Medical Institute, Darjeeling; part of the Vana team since 2016.
• Dimple Raghuvanshi: Graduate of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine; over 19 years of experience with acupuncture, moxibustion, electro‑acupuncture, cupping etc
• Jyoti Chauhan: Certified yoga teacher with over 15 years’ teaching experience; works in varied yoga styles and guiding philosophy, both in India and internationally.

These experts are supported by many other practitioners and visiting specialists (e.g. acupuncturists, reflexologists, sound healers) who enhance Vana’s treatment menu and ensure every guest receives comprehensive care during their wellness retreat.

Why Vana's expert-led healing programs deliver real results

• Authentic traditional lineages: From Kerala Ayurveda to Sowa Rigpa, Dr Tenzin Sopa, Dr Jayachandran, etc., bring ancient systems with strong historic and scholarly roots, ensuring that every Ayurvedic consultation and treatment programme is grounded in authentic wisdom from across India and the Himalayan region.
• Holistic breadth: The team covers physical health, emotional healing, energetic alignment, spiritual practices, so it’s not just physical detox or pampering—this is deep restoration of wellbeing that might transform every aspect of your life.
• Continuity and trust: Many of the staff have been with Vana for years, which means guests get consistency of care and a sense of familiarity and safety  throughout their healing journey, from the first consultation to the final treatment, whether staying in a single or double room, surrounded by the peaceful forest and garden.