THE WESTIN PUSHKAR RESORT & SPA
Recently I visited the Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa on invitation and was pleasantly surprised to see a luxurious resort in an area which is known as the pilgrim destination of Rajasthan. The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa marks the brand’s seventh property in India and Pushkar’s first internationally-branded hotel. Owned by Paradise Properties, the newly-built resort aims to bring the Westin brand’s innovative wellness initiatives to the renowned spiritual destination of Pushkar, Rajasthan, the popular desert state in India. Pushkar is 158 kms from the Jaipur International Airport, 53 kms from the Kishangarh Airport and is also connected by rail to Ajmer Junction. I had to travel from Pune to Jaipur and then a car was sent to drive me to the resort. After three and half hours, I finally reached the beautiful resort late evening and was welcomed by General Manager Amit Rana on arrival. A hassle free check in ensured I reached my luxury villa in a buggy (cart) and relaxed in my luxurious villa which had an in house plunge pool- a first in my various travel experiences so far.
India’s seventh Westin property, The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa is surrounded by the picturesque Aravalli Hills and spread across a vast eleven acres. The property offers ninety eight contemporary guestrooms with more than half (forty four) featuring private pools. These rooms are divided into four categories namely luxury villas, royal villas, premier villas and deluxe rooms. In addition to the signature amenities, including the Westin Heavenly® Bed and the Westin Heavenly® Bath, the resort embraces Westin’s innovative programming designed to inspire balance and enhance well-being, leaving guests feeling better than when they arrived. The resort offers a choice of four unique dining venues: Seasonal Tastes, the signature all-day dining restau-
rant, that serves international and local cuisines alongside Westin’s nutrient-rich SuperFoodsRx™ and Fresh by the Juicery menus; Panorama, the resort’s rooftop lounge, offers snacks and beverages with a view; Splash features a refreshing menu of light bites and drinks, served by the poolside; while Mix offers a range of cocktails and beverages at the bar.
“With more travelers looking to maintain their wellness routines while on the road, The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa is thrilled to offer guests the brand’s signature amenities and programs, designed to evoke renewal and well-being,” said Amit Rana, General Manager, The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa.
Apart from the natural beauty of the resort and vast expanses of greenery along with beautiful water bodies, The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa also curates exciting experiences for guests such as the floating breakfast. For guests who are put up in a plunge pool, the resort organizes for the floating breakfast right inside the villa whereas for others, the fascinating floating breakfast is organized in the outdoor pool. Chef Maanveer Singh Chauhan had a chat with me about my breakfast preferences the previous day and created an amazing spread of chocolate doughnuts that dangled off a stand on the wooden tray; bottles of freshly squeezed juice, an omelet with toast, the local specialty mathris, mouth watering kachoris and assorted fruit, enough to keep one going the entire day. The tray is made of red cedarwood, created to hold 3 kilos of breakfast goodies without tipping over. My breakfast that morning was really delayed as I kept taking photos of the magical tray such was my fascination for the floating breakfast.
The next morning, I visited the expansive Heavenly Spa for a relaxing massage. The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa boasts a 10,000 squarefoot Heavenly Spa with seven therapy rooms offering a range of local and international treatments. Even though the hotel also arranges for a spa experience in the rooms, it is a good idea to visit the serene Heavenly Spa and gaze at the beautiful photograph of the Buddha or to spend time at the spacious terrace which will function as a venue for yoga sessions as I was informed by the resort. A sprawling, outdoor pool located at the center of the resort, and a state-of-the-art WestinWORKOUT® fitness studio ensure there is something for fitness enthusiasts. The Westin Family Kids’ Club features a 20-seat mini theater and a dedicated play area for children making the resort a perfect family getaway. “The opening of The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa brings the first internationally-branded resort to the city of Pushkar,” said Pankaj Prabhashankar Saboo, Managing Partner, Paradise Properties, a part of Paradise Group. “The newly-built resort will combine the spiritual essence of the Holy City along with the well-being philosophy and programs of the Westin brand, offering unparalleled experiences and facilities to our guests.”
Apart from admiring my luxurious villa, I also spent time just sitting in the breezy and elegant lobby which is a great place to spend evenings while sipping on a glass of wine or a cocktail made by the efficient waiting staff at Mix. While at Mix it is a great idea to take up the bartender’s suggestion of mixing one of his cocktail recipes just for the delight of making your first cocktail ever. The staff at Mix use a lot of locally grown produce to create mind blowing cocktails served with some great finger foods which you can feast on while enjoying some great music at the lounge. Seasonal Tastes was always buzzing at mealtimes with guests helping themselves to superfoods created specially as part of the brand Westin and a huge array of European, Asian and Indian cuisine. Executive Chef Neeraj Kataria dished up local Rajasthani delicacies on the first day at lunch including laal maas, ker sangri, gate ki sabzi daal baati churma. Panorama with its spectacular views is a great place to sip on delicious cocktails or a glass of wine with some great food to match especially barbecues and grills.
The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa is a perfect gateway when you are planning a relaxed holiday in Rajasthan. Surrounded by picture perfect Aravali mountains, this superbly designed resort with vast expanses of greenery and water bodies offers everything from serene natural elements and beautiful sunsets to rejuvenating therapies and food for the soul. Spacious guestrooms featuring private pools, innovative dining options and stateof-the-art wellness facilities succeed in their motto of making guests leave feeling better than when they first arrived! Worth several visits!
India westin.com/pushkar