A luxury wilderness resort located a little away from the town of Rishikesh in a riverside forested area of the tiny hamlet of Byasi – along the Lower Shivalik range of the mighty Himalayas in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand – ONENESS Rishikesh by Ganga Kinare is truly a unique one. To begin with, it’s rare for a property to send out an email with an indemnity waiver form for you to sign, days before you get there, but you’ll soon realise that there is method to this madness.
For this tranquil heaven is accessible exclusively by fording a placid stretch of the Holy River Ganges aboard a private raft. This ride, however, is bookended by two short treks – a 20-minutes downhill one at first and then a five-minute climb of 143 steps – to finally reach the property. It’s clearly not for the faint of heart. If you’re worried about transporting your luggage, then don’t, as it’s taken care of by skilled porters who’ll ferry them to and fro, though you are restricted to just one up to 20kg weighing bag, per person.
Hotel
With social consciousness and eco-friendly practices playing a significant role in hospitality across the world, it is not surprising that ONENESS, too, has sustainability as one of its underpinnings philosophies. Not only is the entire resort built with local materials like bamboo and cedar wood, but also, 60% of the staff comes from the neighbouring Nand Talla village. Thus, promising an authentic guest experience while providing livelihood to the locals.
Also in practice here is a no single use plastic policy, along with no plastic water bottles and no single use soaps and toiletries. Speaking of which, the take away toiletries gift bag that is offered to guests is one that has been upcycled from discarded fabric waste. What makes it even more special is that the resort is also pet friendly and encourages you to bring your fur babies along for the stay. They even get to eat (specially made pet food, of course) for free!
Room
Here, 12 luxury cottages that are divided into three categories are flanked on either side by two private white-sand beaches, while the Holy River Ganges flows sinuously by below.
The base category, tent-like two person luxury cottages feature a spacious 500 sq. feet of space with a king-sized four-poster bed, a huge bathroom and a private patio with a day bed boasting stunning views of the gardens and mountains. And while the slightly larger 900 sq. feet family luxury cottages can accommodate up to six guests, it’s the bird’s nest-like tree top bamboo cottage suite that will leave you speechless.
Though the smallest in size at 450 sq. feet, this one-of-a-kind cottage that sits atop the resort’s check in area is made entirely of bamboo and boasts a 360-degree view of the resort and beyond, promising a unique stay.
Food and drink
The huge, cavernous space fashioned out of bamboo rafters that makes up Her Highness, the resort’s only restaurant (room service is available) is stunning to behold. Respecting the Hindu religion’s significance of the Holy River Ganges flowing alongside, the restaurant only serves organically grown, vegetarian food (both, buffet and a la carte) and is also an alcohol-free space.
But here, one gets to partake in the bounties of local Uttarakhandi dishes like gehat ki dal (lentils), bal mithai (a fudge-like caramelised sweet) and set menu thalis made up of dishes containing mountain greens like stinging nettle, bush tomatoes and even a chutney made with fresh hemp leaves and seeds. Wash these down with cups of steaming hot masala chai. Or perhaps, a refreshing glass of iced buransh (rhododendron) juice that’s again a local speciality.
To do
Now, this is the kind of resort, where doing precisely nothing is one of the major ‘to dos’! Lounging about your cottage’s patio, taking in the various jungle sounds and sights is a wonderful way to enjoy the tranquillity afforded to one here. But for those who prefer a bit of activity, there’s free daily beach volleyball, tree climbing, bouldering and even an easy 2.5km guided trek to the nearby pilgrim rest stop called Bandarchatti to be done.
While we’re told that plans are afoot to set up a proper spa at the resort, for now they only offer relaxing foot massages at an additional charge. These treatments need to be booked in advance and can be enjoyed either in the privacy of your private cottage or on the lawns overlooking the river.
Head out of the resort and visit the nearby holy city of Rishikesh to participate in the nightly Ganga Aarti prayer ritual at the serene Triveni Ghat. Then there’s also a day trip to The Beatles Ashram, on the outskirts of Rishikesh, to be done. Known originally as Chaurasi Kutia, this is where one can learn more about The Beatles’ late 1960s quest to learn the art of yogic meditation. A little away from the resort, one can opt for an easy trek up to the Kunjapuri temple in the foothills of the Shivalik mountain range. Or, one could always explore the natural wonders of the Rajaji National Park, home to wild animals like the majestic elephants and stealthy leopards.
In a nutshell
Imagine a serene resort sharing space with assorted fauna like monkeys, langurs, wild cats and the elusive black bear. Under a sky dotted with hundreds of avian species, including the enchanting Scarlet Minivet, melodious Himalayan Bulbul and River Lapwing. All this, with the eco friendly canvas of ONENESS painted in a rich palette of sal, haldu, fig, and mulberry trees. Each and every one of these natural charmers lends so much beauty and zen to this biodiverse haven waiting to be enjoyed and savoured.
Getting there
The nearest airport to the resort is the Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun. From there, it is an easy 30km, one hour’s drive on a mountainous highway that meanders along the Holy River Ganges to reach ONENESS Rishikesh by Ganga Kinare. Dehradun is connected to most major Indian cities like New Delhi and Mumbai via airlines like Air India, Vistara and IndiGo.
Factbox
Luxury private cottages start from £230++ per night, on a double occupancy basis. This is inclusive of breakfast, lunch, high tea, dinner and a number of select activities like guided nature walks, sunrise yoga, beach excursions and rock climbing.
Address: ONENESS Rishikesh by Ganga Kinare, Badrinath Highway, Byasi, Uttarakhand 249192. India.
Phone: +91-9015544000
E-mail: reservations@himalayan-hotels.com
Website: onenessrishikesh.com
Photography courtesy of ONENESS Rishikesh by Ganga Kinare unless otherwise stated.
