AMY BANNERMAN ATE BREAKFAST WITH ELEPHANTS AND HIKED TO TEMPLES ON A SIX-DAY INDIAN ADVENTURE
DAY 1-2
First stop: Dera Amer Wilderness Camp in Jaipur. After an 11-hour flight, I crash out straight away, so it feels extraordinary to wake up in a Rajasthani tent in an elephant sanctuary set in 60 acres of protected wilderness. Ravenous, I tuck into breakfast, with Lakshmi the elephant opting for locally grown sticks right next to me. Then, I help wash the elephants with, essentially, a big nail brush, and adventure through the surrounding dunes. Dusk is marked when the G&T bell rings and we sit down to an organic-farm-fresh dinner by a roaring campfire. I write a letter of wishes to the universe and let them go into the flames. Dera Amer is sustainability at its chicest.
DAY 3
Up at 4am (after another night in a tent, circled by leopards) to be chauffeured in a 4x4 for the ultimate Jaipur adventure. We arrive at the outskirts of the city and are served hot chai and breakfast as a SkyWaltz hotair balloon is inflated against the pink and orange sunrise. Hopping aboard, we drift silently for an hour across countryside and rural villages while local kids chase the shadow of the balloon. It’s something I know I’ll remember forever, and should be on the must-do list for anyone visiting India.
DAY 4-6
After nearly a day’s transfer, I reach my final destination: Ananda In The Himalayas, which overlooks Rishikesh and the sacred River Ganges and is the ultimate wellness and yoga retreat. I wake up early, probably thanks to the 30 monkeys playing a game with a peacock outside my bedroom window. I slip on the white PJs supplied on arrival and immediately see why they are worn 24/7. My Ayurvedic and wellness consultation reveals I am Vata (air), which apparently means that I have a rebellious streak and should avoid eating crackers. Who knew?
Next day, I have a lifecoaching session with Jasrin Singh, who gives me a guided meditation for 90 minutes, putting all of my ex-boyfriends in a proverbial wooden box (more like a large skip actually, Jasrin). Very effective. My final morning is spent on a guided sunrise hike to Kunjapuri Devi Temple at 1,676 metres and up 300 steps. I make my wishes and prayers and am blessed by the priest. It’s the highlight of my trip and an utterly magical experience, as is Ganga Aarti, a ceremony that takes place daily at sunset on the banks of the River Ganges in Rishikesh. The air is filled with the sounds of holy chanting, and you can release your prayers with your candles into the current of the flowing Ganges.