Warm smiles and soulful renditions of khamma ghani greet you as you make your way to the rather spacious terrace of Zenana Mahal atop the Aravalli hills in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan. As you proceed to down some healthy shots of a concoction made from celery, kale, pear, cucumber and mint on a balmy midweek evening, you can’t help but admire the various design elements such as relief motifs and Shekhawati frescoes that went into the making of the former palace for ladies of royal families.
Zenana Mahal is now home to a spa and wellness centre, one of the highlights of Six Senses Fort Barwara—the first outpost in India of the Six Senses Hotels Resorts and Spas portfolio of hotel company IHG Hotels and Resorts. The other Six Senses property—Six Senses Vana—is situated in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
Fort Barwara, which houses two palaces and two temples within its walled complex, is itself an epitome of royalty from a bygone era dating back 700 years. But what makes the place so special is how it has been preserved and turned into a luxury heritage wellness retreat, making it a confluence of the east and the west. The decade-long restoration process was jointly undertaken by the Espire Group and Prithviraj Singh, grandson of Raja Man Singh of Barwara, with the architectural design overseen by Ahmedabad-based firm Panika.
Even the spa rituals are inspired by yoga, meditation and ayurveda therapies, which reflect the theory of science meeting spirituality. Some of these therapies are combined with a nutritious meal plan. The ayurveda thali, for instance, has food items as per doshas from the ancient Indian science that balance vata (space and air to govern movement; pitta (fire and water to regulate metabolism), and kapha (earth and water to manage assimilation in the body).
The charm and allure of the fort are such that it is frequented by affluent travellers, who charter a jet solo, as a couple, or with families, from across the globe. Whether it is to celebrate a special occasion—birthday or anniversary—or looking for mind-body-spirit rejuvenation in the arid desert state, the fort offers an exception to the international luxury experience with a touch of Indianness.
“India is blessed with hospitality second to none. The culture and spirituality of the brand resonate with India, and our partnership with InterContinental Hotels Group benefits the brand in many ways. As for most travellers, Rajasthan is a very special place to visit because of its cultural and heritage values. Visitors look for luxury in experiences, especially after the pandemic, and wellness is on everybody’s mind. Here, the local fabric, natural surroundings and culture are very much in tune with the world-class crafted guest experience to nurture and revitalise,” says Aaron McGrath, general manager, Six Senses Fort Barwara.
The food menu is dotted with an array of healthy ‘shots’ made with local Indian herbs like clove, pepper, turmeric, beetroot, ginger in apple cider vinegar, lemon water, besides ingredient-rich world cuisines—French, Italian, Middle-eastern and Vietnamese, to name a few—that blend with mild flavours of Rajasthan’s seasonal produce procured within a 80-km radius of local community farms. In fact, this is one of the many sustainability guidelines that the resort follows to protect, recycle and promote the use of local products.
“Today, the global traveller understands food philosophy, comfort and luxury, so the idea is to have comfort food with health quotient,” says Stephen Jones, executive chef of the property, whose food philosophy revolves around ‘less is more’, nutrition and wellbeing. In the new food menu, Jones is introducing a mix of world and pan-Indian cuisine like butter chicken burger and Middle-eastern wraps keeping in mind the multicultural dining experience.
Playing host to the celebrity wedding of actors Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif in the past, the fort is slowly becoming the destination for leisure and family celebrations. The next few months are packed with robust bookings that include a total buyout of the 48 regal suites housed in the heritage structure. “We are very selective when it comes to hosting intimate weddings. At the same time, we don’t want to be pigeon-holed into a wedding or spa destination. It’s an oasis to offer something special and the brand tastefully operates bringing environmental peace for the local communities,” adds McGrath.
Wellness tourism is flourishing in Rajasthan and augurs well for the place, agrees Dr Neeru Jain, wellness director, Six Senses Fort Barwara. “Wellness is not location conducive. It’s a myth. Other places in India are already flooded with such offerings, so why bombard them? We are in close proximity to the serene forest of the Ranthambore National Park. Nature heals the body, mind and soul, and wellness is very much entrenched in every aspect of the fort—food, wild land, open spaces, sleep mattresses and pillows,” says Jain.
The signature treatments are valued like a sacred and spiritual healing process and include wellness screening to analyse key physiological biomarkers, to build personalised programmes with ancient healing traditions and wellness activities like alchemy bar workshop, transcendent sound journeys, locally inspired treatments like ‘eye of the tiger’, must-visit osteopaths and facialists.