Wellness retreat Vana offers a refuge from noise
On 5 October 2020, after a pause of six months, Vana, a wellness retreat nestled amongst Sal forest in Dehradun, was opened to the public. The Vanavasis – those who have chosen to take abode within Vana – were welcomed with sweets to mark the auspicious occasion.
“Many of the Vanavasis, finding Vana a safe haven, have even extended their stays with us,” explains Prasoon Pandey, 40, general manager, Vana. “This pandemic has taught us to slow down and reassign our priorities which, for most people, is health – mental, as also physical. People are now searching for places that provide them an individualised wellness experience. There is no one size that fits all. They want a tailored programme that fits their need. Vana is poised to meet that need”. Pandey had announced the reopening on social platforms in September and had received an overwhelming response from the Vanavasis and those looking to focus on their wellbeing.
Pandey, who spent 18 years with the Oberoi, joined Vana in January 2019, deciding to come out of the ‘race and pace’ of the city to be close to the foothills of the Himalayas. “We have no VIP culture here and have recorded a repeat clientele of 33 per cent. Most of them are high-profile and high-net-worth (HNI) people, such as CEOs and senior executives, who have come in after being informed about Vana by ‘word of mouth’. Some are from abroad and others from India – the ratio being 60:40 in favour of India,” adds Pandey, who saw the venture recording a positive operating profit last year.
“From the human resources aspect, the re-opening was also the culmination of successive re-trainings of the team, where we had to realign them with the re-imaged processes until it became second nature to them,” observes Pandey. “Our entire team is now in-house as safety and security is paramount for us and as we have created Vana as a refuge from the noise”.
Search for equilibrium, learning and the inner journey are at the heart of Vana. It draws inspiration from its literal meaning – forest – a place that protects, nurtures and nourishes, while providing space to discover and flourish.
The venture is a brainchild of Veer Singh, the 37-year-old son of Analjit Singh of the Max group. He had grown up in New Delhi, where he studied at St Columbus School. He went on to study in Harrow, England, for his A-levels and then a gap-year took him to Spain, where he mastered Spanish and also discovered his love for languages, music and art.
Singh then returned to the UK to study physics at the Imperial College in London. While in London, he spent much of his time being politically active, learning about organic agriculture and ecology, learning languages, exposing himself to art, music and culture, while finding enough time for reflection and contemplation. “With a desire to live a more sustainable and conscious life, I eventually decided to work towards, becoming a self-sufficient organic farmer. This pursuit led me to working on farms in Spain and India,” observes Singh.
Armed with new skills and full of passion, he returned to India once again to find a life in agriculture, and to create an example of a small but successful organic farming operation. His dream was to create a model that could be an inspiration to almost anyone. And thus, he created Vana, of which he is the founder & creator.
A place of learning “Reflecting on our first few years, we believe that we have achieved something unprecedented in well-being,” says Singh. “We strive for equilibrium and well-being that is whole, at times by going against the current. Our ambition is to make Vana a place of learning, where all who visit can contribute and share.
Vana never intended to exclude; we want all to benefit from our commitment to transform. One thing we have learnt is that the space of wellness is not best suited for business”. Singh initially invested Rs300 crore and later added another Rs300 crore to the project.
With the dream to create a model that could be an inspiration to almost anyone, he found himself in Dehra Dun in Malsi Estate. Inspired by the site’s natural beauty, adjacent Sal forest and a conviction that came from his new perspective on life, a dream to create a place of well-being was born.
The journey of Vana thus began and, months later, Singh set himself the goal of creating the most iconic wellness retreat in the world. “After nearly five years of arduous work, Vana Malsi Estate opened in January of 2014”, adds Singh, who represents the board of Global Spa & Wellness Summit (GSWS) in India.
In 2013, Vana announced its soft opening by hosting the GSWS pre-summit retreat during 1-4 October. After the Summit in Delhi, Vana also hosted the post-summit retreat on 8-11 October 2013 to give more GSWS delegates a sneak peak of the retreat. Singh sees Vana as a manifestation of his beliefs and journey in life, and hopes to deliver its vision: ‘to be of service and enhance wellbeing’.
“All Vanavasis start their retreat with a private consultation with one of Vana’s wellness consultants,” explains Pandey. “A programme is then developed by the consultant in line with the Vanavasi’s wellness goals. Each Vanavasi’s programme is made up of private treatments combined with a wide selection of retreat activities. There is the option to complement included offerings with a la carte treatments. This is at a price of about Rs25,000 per day”.
There are also group sessions include yoga, meditation, breathing, music therapy, walks, hikes, cuisine and fitness. Indian musical performances, festivities and spiritual activities complement Vana’s Wellness offering. Vana also hosts retreats and specialists in-residence throughout the year.
At Vana, authentic traditions of wellness, medicine and wisdom have been brought together with creative thought, deep commitment and personalised support. The structured frameworks of ayurveda, sowa rigpa (traditional Tibetan system of medicine) and yoga have been mindfully integrated alongside wellness practices of the contemporary world. These exist in spaces that pay homage to nature and the sublime. Nourishing cuisine, experiences for all the senses and a kind-hearted team complete the offering that is Vana.