It was the realisation of the fact that I was a hypocrite that led me to this wellness sanctuary on the outskirts of Bengaluru called Shreyas Retreat.
During the pandemic, all cooped up in my city apartment, I cribbed and moaned about the lack of travel. In the months to follow, when the ensuing travel boom for a travel and food writer like myself all but exploded, I started to seek out a more tranquil, relaxed pace of life. Back-to-back travel and all that related wining and dining had started to get to me, making me tired and cranky once again.
An invitation to check out this wellness haven couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. I soon found myself driving along semi-rural roads from the city of Bengaluru towards a lush, tropical paradise in the town of Nelamangala, where the promise of rest, relaxation and tranquillity was just what my travel-weary self was in dire need of.
Hotel
As a member of the prestigious Relais and Châteaux group of luxurious hotels and restaurants across the world, Shreyas ticks pretty much every box that comes its way. Recognised as one of the finest wellness retreats in the world, here, the dedication to promoting healing of the body, mind and soul, through authentic Ayurveda, Panchakarma, Naturopathy and spiritual tradition of yoga in a holistic manner, is very much apparent. What makes Shreyas unique is that they achieve total wellness through the right blend of all the three streams of healing sciences.
Whilst yoga is taught in traditional ashram style with daily yoga, meditation sessions, chanting classes, gourmet vegetarian cuisine and no alcohol; guests live in a luxurious environment normally associated with a starred hotel and engage in community service. And what’s best is that, on leaving, guests are enabled to integrate the manifold facets and benefits of yoga into their daily lives without the austerity and rigour usually associated with ashrams. This is done with tailor-made dietary, meditation and yogic exercise regimens drawn up by the team of doctors and wellness coaches that are at one’s service throughout the stay and even beyond.
Room
Scattered across the retreat’s well-manicured lawns – filled with swaying coconut and fruit-saturated mango trees, and surrounding by water bodies holding forth croaking toads and water lilies – are the various cottages and tented accommodations on offer.
Luxurious, yet not over top, Shreyas has eight garden tented cottages, three poolside cottages and two garden suites. One of which called ‘Maya’ (illusion) was allocated to me. This one had a living room, a courtyard meditation space, indoor and outdoor showers, a breezy veranda with seating, and a spacious bedroom featuring a large four poster bed. The retreat also has a singular three bedroom cottage, for five guests to share, boasting a large living room, and three bedrooms, each with an attached bathroom.
Food
The general belief at Shreyas as far as their food and beverage offering is concerned is that ‘excellence is a manifestation of the divine and annam (or ‘food’) is simply another facet of divinity’. So, here divinity and food are inextricably linked. You are what you eat is the philosophy. In the Upanishads, it is stated that the subtler part of food makes our mind; the gross part makes our bones and flesh. To that effect, how we cook, what we cook and how we serve are important in equal measure. Cooking, serving and eating are divine processes.
At Shreyas they are mindful of which seeds are planted, how the land is nurtured and then, harvested. All cooking at Shreyas starts with the chanting of a prayer and so, needless to say that the food is wholly vegetarian (not even eggs!) with no alcohol served on the property. But that’s not to say that the food lacks any kind of imagination and flair.
The retreat’s chefs bring you dishes inspired by their travels around the world; Indian, Continental, Mexican and Oriental gourmet vegetarian cuisine are all on offer. The process of nourishing the guests begins outside the kitchen, in the expansive organic gardens, which are lovingly tended with due respect given to nature.
Spa
With a generous 16,000 square feet footprint that includes 13 spa rooms (with dedicated rooms for Ayurveda, Western massages, and a separate three-room section for hydrotherapies), I was informed that the Anaha Spa and Wellness Centre was born from the desire to offer more holistic healing experiences at Shreyas. Anaha, in Sanskrit meaning ‘well-being’ or ‘to breathe freely’ perfectly expresses the retreat’s philosophy.
In ancient scriptures, the breath or ‘prana’ is considered to be a life-force, creating harmony between one’s body and the world around. And thus, from offering age-old Ayurvedic treatments to modern therapies, from naturopathy to a wide range of massages, the spa is designed to offer the best wellness experience. Here, experienced consultants with knowledge of techniques from across the world, create a personalised wellness regimens to help one chart one’s own journey towards harmony.
To do
At Shreyas one can indulge in cooking sessions, experiencing organic farming and cow milking, while partaking and learning Indian traditions. Perhaps, my favourite activity was the community service one where guests are encouraged to pick, clean, chop and cook up the vegetables grown in the retreat’s farm, with the help of the chef, and serve them up as a meal to orphans at the nearby Kaveri Vanitha Sevashrama orphanage in the town of Hesaraghatta that the retreat supports. A place that I found to be one filled with happy, bright and well-cared for children and teenagers.
While there is a lot to do at the resort itself, aside from the de rigueur yogic and Ayurvedic pursuits, there’s loads to do outside its fecund campus. There are many historical and spiritual sites in the surrounding areas and trips can be organised to nearby areas of Belur, Mysuru, Shravanabelagola and city excursions to Bengaluru, among other activities like trekking in the nearby hills and temple visits.
In a nutshell
Focussing on the holistic approach towards wellness of body, mind and soul, coupled with unbridled luxury in a serene settin, the essence of a retreat like Shreyas seems to be helping guests along the path of its pursuit. It does this in the most effective way possible. And that is to help one balance out one’s needs, wants and how to achieve them in a manner that leads to the ultimate goal of happiness and oneness of being.
This is only accomplished by pursuing both yoga and Ayurveda. Two ancient Indian principles that Shreyas combines to great success in almost every way it functions, from its therapies and meditation to the food on offer.
Factbox
Getting there: Shreyas Retreat is situated on the outskirts of Bengaluru near Nelamangala. Flights to Bengaluru are available from the US, Europe and from all major Indian cities on airlines like Air France, British Airways, Gulf Air, Jetstar Asia Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates. The newly opened Bengaluru International Airport is one hour away from Shreyas and is a beautiful drive through the countryside as the road by-passes the main city and its chaotic traffic. The retreat is happy to arrange airport transfers at an additional cost.
Tariffs start from £387 all inclusive per night for two people. This includes accommodation in a garden tent or poolside cottage, wellness consultation on arrival, all three meals served in the dining area, twice daily group yoga sessions, and one daily group chanting or sound meditation session. It also includes the use of all recreational facilities such as the infinity pool, sauna, steam, gym, cricket nets, reflexology path, library, jogging trails, and trying one’s hand at organic farming.
Address: Shreyas Retreat, Santoshima Farm, Gollahalli Gate, Nelamangala-562123, Bengaluru, India
Phone: +91-9916110434
E-mail: reservations@shreyasretreat.com
Website: shreyasretreat.com
Photography courtesy of Shreyas Retreat.
