EXPERIENCE

At Uttarakhand’s jüSTa Mukteshwar Retreat & Spa, nature and a wide range of therapies join forces to nourish your soul.

MY TRIP TO Mukteshwar in the state of Uttarakhand is a first in many ways: my first trip in 11 months; my first experience of sub-zero temperature; and my first daughtermother holiday.

With luggage full of sweaters and jackets, and countless munchies, mum and I reach Uttarakhand’s jüSTa Mukteshwar Retreat & Spa after a bumpy eight-hour-long road journey. The property’s bright yellow interiors contoured with dense green surroundings set the tone for the weekend, and a face mask-clad team at the reception alleviates our pandemic fears.

Spread over two acres, this hilltop retreat is splattered with colours. Picture yellow cottages interspersed with multi-hued flowers set amid towering pines. A kafal tree, which bears the state fruit of the same name, steals the spotlight as it soars up to greet the clear blue sky. With a heated swimming pool, garden seating, brick pathways, and an upcoming open-air live bakery, the retreat is designed to put your mind at ease.

The 35 cottage-style accommodations are split into Valley View and Himalayan View rooms; we pick one of the latter. A stone staircase flanked by Buddha statues leads us to our abode, which lives up to its name. I open the drapes to be confronted by panoramic views of rolling hills leading to the imposing Himalayas—including the distinct peaks of Trishul, Panchachuli, and Nanda Devi—at the horizon. Inside the room, wooden flooring typical to mountain homes is paired with exquisite wall paintings and plush furnishings. Art is integral to all jüSTa properties. The brand, I’m told, has collaborated with fashion designer Deepika Govind to set up an art collective and residency, Chitrashaala (chitrashaala.com). The initiative aims to connect with artists across ages and geographies and spruce up all the properties. For my artist mother, Mukteshwar is already shaping up to be a muse.

Determined to elevate mum’s experience further, I book us a couple’s massage at the

The Himalayan View rooms at the property offer views of rolling green hills and the Himalayan peaks of Trishul, Nanda Devi, and Panchachuli. Ekam Spa offers a wide range of therapies.