Surrounded by breathtaking mountains, Sitara Himalaya is the perfect place to escape from everyday life, reflect and recharge your batteries.
Hotel Review: Sitara Himalaya, Himachal Pradesh
“It was never a hotel for me,” says founder Anita Lal, which well explains the atmospheric home-away-from-home feel of the most exciting new opening in years, Sitara Himalaya. This new ten-bedroom retreat on the way to the ancient Buddhist valleys of Lahaul and Spiti sits at an altitude of 2,500 metres, 22.5 kilometres below the Rohtang Pass. Surrounded by epic mountain and glacier views that are breathtaking in their splendour, you can feel the magic and mystery as soon as you arrive. The surroundings exude a power, a transcendent spiritual majesty that can be felt. It’s no wonder, then, that just a short walk away lies the very spot where the great Indian sage Rishi Ved Vyas meditated for 12 years thousands of years ago before inscribing the eternal cosmic wisdom in the four Vedas. This higher knowledge, a philosophy rooted in the idea that everything in the universe is interconnected and comes from the same source, is the foundation of every detail in Sitara.
The entire property is decorated with touches of the divine by Ms. Lal, the driving force behind Indian lifestyle brand Good Earth (with stores in Delhi, Mumbai and beyond). These include Tibetan rugs, sacred ornaments, a brass work by Vikram Goyal, hand-painted murals, flower vases and the earthy scent of juniper berry incense sticks. Beauty is everywhere. Everything inspires relaxation, reflection and upliftment. The glass-roofed Skylight Room invites you to sit back and watch the Milky Way. “On quiet nights, I can hear the hum of the earth,” says Ms. Lal.
The connection to the Absolute is a common thread that also runs through the library of spiritual books and right into the Svasthi wellness area. This exquisite little retreat is a sanctuary in its own right with a plunge pool, sauna and steam room. Daily yoga with Naveen releases both physical tension and emotions, while extraordinary body treatments combine sound healing with ancient Marma massage techniques.
Days are spent walking with butterflies, reading or contemplating. Evenings are spent by candlelight telling stories, Singing, dancing or dumplings on the veranda, a hot apple cider in hand. The food is traditional and comforting, the atmosphere of a relaxed house party. Don’t expect room service, minibar or TV. “You have to be so careful not to pollute your system,” says Ms. Lal. “Every cell knows it.” It feels like you could settle into a new (or is it an old?) way of life here. Read a little more, sleep a little more, dream a little more, do a little more nothing. Whatever, you’ll feel rejuvenated and reconnected. This isis the secret yet super luxurious India you have been looking for.
BOOK IT: From £4,555 per person for seven nights on a full board basis for two people. Includes domestic flights, transfers and some activities. greavesindia.com
