Ananda in the Himalayas
This latest five-minute chat with a TI writer shifts the focus from the inside angle on Crete to the dizzy heights of the Himalayas, as we ask Matt Morley…
TI: Hello, Matt. What have you doing with yourself lately?
MM: It’s been rather a busy season for me. I work full-time for Luxury Branding (based between Cape Town and London); it’s a strategic marketing agency with a specialism in travel, hospitality and real estate projects. I then do my travel writing in what remains of my free time and take holidays when I need to go on a press trip, so the boundaries between business and pleasure are nicely blurred in my case! In the past two months I’ve been to India, Venice and Johannesburg.
TI: Wow. You have been busy! Which of those recent trips really stands out for you?
MM: I was lucky enough to have my trip to India sponsored by their Ministry of Tourism and spent nine days there just after the end of monsoon season. I flew from Cape Town to New Delhi, spent some time soaking up the chaos there and then hopped on a short internal flight up into the Himalayas for five days.
TI: So you moved from New Delhi to the mountains… that must have been quite a culture shock? How did you find it?
MM: You’re right – it was like visiting two different worlds: Delhi is an intense place to be, in every sense of the word. The Himalayas on the other hand are amazingly spiritual, full of natural beauty and a pervasive sense of calm. It certainly made for a varied two-stop itinerary.
TI: Where did you stay in the Himalayas? Anywhere we should know about?
MM: Despite the fact that I normally get restless after two-three nights in any one place I ended up pulling off a five-night stint at Ananda in the Himalayas on this trip, a record for me as far as I can recall! Ananda is a luxurious wellness retreat perched on a hillside 1000m above the River Ganges. Once I got there I was in no hurry to leave…
TI: Sounds like you were enjoying yourself; did they have you on a yoga matt each morning?
MM: You’re not far off… Ananda is a pretty special place, it focuses on offering experiences and knowledge to its guests rather than avant-garde design or big name chefs. The whole concept is about spiritual, physical and emotional wellbeing so I was given an ayurvedic assessment upon arrival, an entire program of activities to partake in (if I so chose), suggestions on what I should/shouldn’t eat during my stay and so on. I took three big books with me but hardly touched them at all as there was always so much to do, from yoga, to trekking to, er, spa treatments, that I’d reach my bed utterly exhausted at the end of each day.
TI: Did you get a chance to explore the surrounding area at all?
MM: The nearest place of interest is called Rishikesh, somewhere I was really keen to explore as I do a lot of yoga and it’s known as one of the world’s spiritual capitals. The town is located alongside the Ganges and is literally full to bursting with ashrams teaching various forms of yoga, ayurveda and the like. I made the journey down into the valley twice and even joined in a few yoga classes whilst there too. Rishikesh still has a down-to-earth backpacker vibe, so it’s perhaps best as a day-trip for upscale visitors to the region.
TI: What tips would you pass on to style-conscious travellers visiting New Delhi?
MM: New Delhi’s new kid on the block is undoubtedly the Aman Resort that has several restaurants open to the public, including a lower-level Tapas Lounge that serves excellent Catalan cuisine and plenty of vegetarian tapas. The pool scene at The Park New Delhi had more than a hint of Nikki Beach about it with a live DJ, cocktail bar and plenty of young hipsters in residence, so that’s worth a look too. For those with more classic tastes, The Imperial Hotel serves a cooling afternoon tea in its plush gardens that was a welcome respite from my long and dusty sightseeing walks.
TI: So where are you off to next?
MM: Well, as I mentioned, I literally just returned from Venice where I was staying at a delightful little place called Ca’ Maria Adele that flicked all the right switches for me aesthetically. Next up is a trip to Cadaques in Catalonia, northern Spain – about two hours up the coast from Barcelona, in fact. It’s a picturesque seaside town known as being one of Salvador Dali’s favourite summer residences, so there’s plenty of culture around for those willing to search it out. Cadaques fills up fast in summer, but it’s just the locals there for Christmas and New Year, giving it a completely different ambiance… I can’t wait!
TI: We can imagine. You’ll keep us posted, won’t you?
MM: Of course. Look out for more travel writing and hotel reviews from me in the very near future…
Tags: Himalayas, India, interview, Matt Morley, New Delhi, Yoga
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