Vir Singh’s Vana Opened in January 2014, Vana is an innovative wellness retreat combining international wellness standards, personalised treatments and Indian warmth and service. It has 82 guest rooms and suites, 55 treatment and consultation rooms, an Ayurveda centre, a Tibetan healing centre, private and group yoga studios, a temperature-controlled indoor and outdoor pool, a private Watsu pool, an extensive gym, 2 tennis courts and paths for walking within the Retreat. Each of these spaces reflects Vana’s unique design philosophy and holistic wellness approach. Vana’s team comprises a diverse range of specialists who deliver consultations and treatments, which provide tangible and measurable results. These include senior therapists and practitioners, Ayurvedic doctors, a Tibetan healing doctor, fitness expert and a nutrition consultant.
What is Vana’s wellness philosophy ? Vir Singh’s Vana
Exploring physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, Vana’s approach to wellness encompasses cuisine, relaxation, music, art, outdoor activities, discourses and discussion. Vana understands that there are many different paths leading towards greater wellbeing and they work closely with each guest to restore balance, using what works best for them. Treatments range from Ayurveda, Sowa Rigpa (Tibetan Healing), Yoga, Natural Therapies, Spa, Fitness and Aqua. For its Sowa Rigpa offering, Vana is the only place in the world to have an official tie-up with the Men-Tsee-Khang institute of medicine and astrology set up by His Holiness The Dalai Lama in Dharamsala. Its head of Sowa Rigpa, therapists, and treatments are from the Men-Tsee-Khang.
How are the retreats arranged at Vana ?
After booking and before arriving, guests are requested to fill out a wellness questionnaire. This is sent to the wellness team, who sketch out a tentative itinerary. However, the guest’s final retreat is crafted on arrival and is always open to change. Guests may choose from a variety of retreat objectives including Panchakarma, beauty, de-stress, detox, fitness, natural healing, relaxation, weight management and yoga – or they may choose ‘don’t know yet’, if unsure of their retreat objective prior to arrival. The arrival consultant then delves deeper into guest needs, preferences, body-type and previous wellness experiences and an individual wellness itinerary is crafted. A consultation on departure assesses whether retreat objectives were met. Guests are also given advice to take back home and goals to achieve.
After booking and before arriving, guests are requested to fill out a wellness questionnaire. This is sent to the wellness team, who sketch out a tentative itinerary. However, the guest’s final retreat is crafted on arrival and is always open to change. Guests may choose from a variety of retreat objectives including Panchakarma, beauty, de-stress, detox, fitness, natural healing, relaxation, weight management and yoga – or they may choose ‘don’t know yet’, if unsure of their retreat objective prior to arrival. The arrival consultant then delves deeper into guest needs, preferences, body-type and previous wellness experiences and an individual wellness itinerary is crafted. A consultation on departure assesses whether retreat objectives were met. Guests are also given advice to take back home and goals to achieve.
Where is Vana ?
Vana is located in the Uttarakhand Province in northern India, one of the most spiritually rich regions in the world. The 21 acre estate is set amidst fruit orchards and perched on a small plateau with sal forest to the west, the hills of Mussoorie to the north and the bustling small town of Dehradun a short drive to the east. Dehradun is 150 miles north of Delhi; the flight from Delhi to Dehradun takes 50 minutes and the drive from the airport to Vana takes 1 hour 15 minutes.
Vana is located in the Uttarakhand Province in northern India, one of the most spiritually rich regions in the world. The 21 acre estate is set amidst fruit orchards and perched on a small plateau with sal forest to the west, the hills of Mussoorie to the north and the bustling small town of Dehradun a short drive to the east. Dehradun is 150 miles north of Delhi; the flight from Delhi to Dehradun takes 50 minutes and the drive from the airport to Vana takes 1 hour 15 minutes.
What sort of food is served at Vana?
Despite serving health conscious cuisine, flavour is not sacrificed at Vana and their produce is all fresh, local, seasonal and organic. Dishes can range from cumin-crusted sole and teriyaki chicken to pumpkin tart, and everything is beautifully presented. Cuisine is a definite highlight of the retreat – the head chef trained with a Michelin starred chef in the UK and his food delights, heals and nourishes. There are two restaurants: Salana, which offers a variety of cuisines based on wellness principles, and Anayu, serving Indian cuisine based on Ayurvedic principles overlayed with western gastronomic techniques. Vana also has specialist nutritionists offering consultations, dietary advice and a tailored menu to ensure that every guest’s cuisine reflects their retreat objective. Wine and champagne are available in Salana in the evenings only on a chargeable basis.
What is included in a stay at Vana?
A stay at Vana includes an arrival and departure wellness consultation, two private wellness sessions per night based on a guest’s retreat type, non-alcoholic drinks and all meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also included are use of all heat and wet areas (steam, sauna, indoor and outdoor pool) and all group wellness and retreat activities, such as guided meditation, which are open to all guests. Airport transfers, taxes and retreat attire are included.
A stay at Vana includes an arrival and departure wellness consultation, two private wellness sessions per night based on a guest’s retreat type, non-alcoholic drinks and all meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also included are use of all heat and wet areas (steam, sauna, indoor and outdoor pool) and all group wellness and retreat activities, such as guided meditation, which are open to all guests. Airport transfers, taxes and retreat attire are included.
Victory After a long battle of more than 2 years
After a long battle of more than 2 years, Retreat Owner’ Veer Singh, who was publicly embroiled in a legal tussle with his former partner, is said to have finally emerged victorious. This happened after all the criminal cases were unconditionally withdrawn by his former partner, who had cleverly initiated these cases as a retaliatory move to bring their domestic issues to the criminal court.
