A WELLNESS SOJOURN

The spa at The Lodhi, New Delhi offers luxurious massages in a soothing setting. BAYAR JAIN experiences 60 minutes of pure bliss.

IF YOU ASK ME, the ideal form of relaxation is one that takes you on a journey. The minute I set foot in the spa of The Lodhi, New Delhi, my voyage begins. As I sit on the floral green sofa in the waiting room, sipping on my welcome drink—a cooling peach iced tea—I find myself transfixed by the views of soaring bamboo plants beyond the glass windows. My therapist, Achumi, leads me to the therapy room soon after and explains what I should expect in the signature therapy—The Lodhi Experience—that I have signed up for. “First, change into a bathrobe and take a shower, post which the oil massage will begin,” she says.

The lavish therapy room features an open shower, seating for reflexology, a bathtub laden with fresh marigold and rose petals, a massage table with shirodhara equipment, and divan seating. Once I’m ready, Achumi presents me with two options of oil: lemon oil for pain relief, and a mix of sandalwood and vetiver for dry skin. My dreary epidermis picks the latter.

She begins the therapy by slathering the oil down my spine. Then, every inch of my back is given its due share of attention with tugs, twists, and pulls to obliterate pain. She pays extra attention to my sore spots. My back no longer feels strained, and my shoulders are hunch-free; my feet have never felt more alive. Soon, I slip into a meditative trance, partly owing to the Vedic chants ringing through the room. Achumi gently nudges me out of my daze, “Lie supine, please.”

The second half of my journey is just as blissful. Finally, a face and hair massage completes my hour-long trip. Or so I think. Achumi tempts me into taking a quick steam and sauna session, both of which have dedicated spaces within the spa.

The sauna with its wooden panels reminds me of a cosy mountain lodge. My heart, however, falls in love with the steam room, past the hammam chambers, where the aromas of eucalyptus and lemon rejuvenate me and unclog my pores. A pot of jasmine tea paired with a nutritious wholegrain cookie wait for me outside, and they do what they’re supposed to: snap me back to reality. thelodhi.com

The Lodhi Spa has glass windows overlooking bamboo plants.

The spa offers a collection of traditional Indian therapies and modern rejuvenation treatments.