During my trip to Chandigarh, luxury came calling when The Oberoi Sukhvilas Resort & Spa hosted me at Oberoi group’s first destination spa which oozes vast, creamy Rajasthani architecture and the splendour of tented safari camps in Ranthambore. Whisked off in a plush Audi, welcomed by incredibly thoughtful staff who said they were expecting me and welcomed with some jaggery and lassi…this was just the beginning of the day-long regal pampering to follow.
The architecture of the property is signature Vilas, with landscaped courtyards, cusped arches, gorgeous fountains and an outdoor pool that overlooks the forest. The common areas of the resort are exquisite. There are two restaurants, each with hand-printed murals and motifs made from 23-carat gold and semi-precious stones like amethyst and lapis. The chandeliers are made from real Indian crystal.
A spa experience at The Oberoi Spa followed. The serene, light-filled space spread over 12,000 square feet, adjoining 8,000 acres of natural forest at the foothills of the Himalayas was embellished with water features and was enough to make me swoon.
After filling a quick consultation form, my therapist Rini escorted me to my treatment room which was understated and still so wow-inducing. My treatment for the day was the 60-minute Signature Aroma Massage, which is a full-body massage right out of the luxurious life of Maharajas. Massages are conducted using a metal cup that stirs the natural minerals in your body. Utilizing rich Indian fragrances called attars, which have been made by distilling flowers directly into pure sandalwood oil, the massage was dreamy as it could get.
The amalgamation of rich oils and rhythmic strokes created a lasting effect on the body and manipulated my muscles into submission. In my opinion, the heated relaxation beds also take rejuvenation to new heights. As if this wasn’t enough, I had a Zen moment while unwinding at the (Instagram-worthy) hydrotherapy pools, infrared sauna and the heated tepidarium.
What followed was me walking out of the spa watching prancing peacocks and devouring a delightfully healthy thali meal at the Anant Mahal restaurant housed by the property. Never had I ever celebrated a healthy meal before as much as I did that day.
The spa at the Oberoi Sukhvilas is definitely a strong draw. It dares to break the clutter but still wins over the wellness path. I am still in awe of how just one treatment helped me walk out of the spa feeling like there is no such thing as stress. More so, because it had no spa music to disrupt the entire spa experience but merely the lilting music of nature, predominantly birdsong. As I departed from the backdrop of blue skies, lush-green fields and landscaped gardens, I had a sense of being lost in a delirious soup of cosmic consciousness. If merely one treatment can help me get back to my blissful nature state of being, I cannot imagine how powerful a detox programme would be…
Where: The Oberoi Sukhvilas Resort & Spa,
Siswan Forest Range, SAS Nagar,
Pallanpur, New Chandigarh, Punjab 140110
Phone: 1602720000
Note– The critic was invited by the The Oberoi Sukhvilas Resort & Spa but all the opinions expressed herewith are her own
