Long working hours and a tiring schedule necessitated that I unwind and relax. Add to that availability of a long weekend and I said, "Mussoorie, here I come."
To beat the blues, I travelled 275 kms from Delhi to the mystic heights of Mussoorie.
It was not a run of the mill visit to the mountains to escape the maddening rush of city life.
This time I was in for a royal Ayurvedic rejuvenation treatment at the Avalon Ayurveda Resort in Mussoorie.
After an overnight train journey I reached Dehradun.
Meandering through the roads of Dehradun, climbing my way up the Mall Road in Mussoorie, I reached my destination.
It was the first time I had stepped into a cloud, and hundreds of the cottony clouds breezed through the resort.
The picturesque location, the scenic beauty around and the warmth of the staff... my getaway was turning out to be quite an experience.
The Avalon Ayurveda Resort is built on a hill and sprawls across close to 5 acres of enchanting view.
Built and designed under the supervision of its owner Naresh Khattar, the resort is truly a home away from home with its simplicity intact.
The resort houses 63 cottages each of which is designed to cater to all the needs of a traveller.
There are studio rooms for lone travellers and one, two and three bedroom cottages for families and groups of different sizes.
All cottages are designed and furnished with state of the art fittings to make sure you have a comfortable stay.
With the Himalayan range on one side and the Doon Valley on the other side you are in for pampering right from the moment you check in.
The landscaping of the resort is exotic yet simple and so are the rooms, beautiful yet comfortable..
A peep outside from your balcony will introduce you to the freshness and invigorating experience of the Himalayas.
The different recreational facilities like the dinning hall, the convention center, conference room, the fun zone for kids and adults alike and of course the Ayurveda Center beckon you to explore the child within you.
These facilities are built at a distance from your room to ensure that you don’t spend your entire vacation ensconced in the unadventurous security of your room.
Although the walk to these facilities might leave you out of breath, (due to the low density of oxygen at that height,) the experience of walking through the clouds and the peaceful environment around makes it an exhilarating and memorable one.
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After a quick change I headed to the dining hall for breakfast. The long journey from Delhi had made me rather hungry.
As I entered the hall, a hospitable attendant led me to my table and gave me the menu card.
The menu looked rather simple at first glance with the usual spread of Indian, Continental and Chinese cuisine but on afterthoughts, I guess that is deliberate.
The doctor at the Ayurveda Center told me later that simplicity is the way to go in Ayurveda.
So after I’d had my share it was time for me to head to the Ayurveda Center.
I entered the center with a bit of apprehension, as I had never had an Ayurvedic treatment before.
But the warmth of the doctor who greeted me made me shed all my reservations.
And warmth is something most staffers at the resort will extend, as I soon discovered.
He introduced me to the world of Ayurveda and the different kinds of treatments available at Avalon Ayurveda.
I must have heard about Ayurveda innumerable times from my grandparents.
But I never really had the first hand experience to believe that some plants and herbs could cure maladies and change my outlook towards life.
But I had just checked in to be surprised.
After half an hour of enlightening exchanges with the doctor on Ayurveda and a complete body check up, I was recommended a rejuvenation treatment...something that I eagerly awaited.
During the Abhyanga (massage) every part of the body was smeared in the therapeutic oil of herbs and medicinal products.
The masseur eased the stressed muscles and that released tension and exertion from my body.
The aroma of the herbal oil filled the room, reviving my spirits and energy.
It exhilarated and relaxed...eased and soothed...almost like meditation.
The medicinal properties of the oil worked like magic and recharged my body.
My trust in Ayurveda multiplied by the first-hand experience.
After an hour of refreshing herbal massage, when the session came to an end I woke up to a new me.
Now I was ready to face the city again, completed charged.
The walk down the Mall road after lunch did not tire me, though it was nearly a three kilometer stretch.
The road is dotted with big and small souvenir shops. The street has an old world charm about it.
After strolling for most of the evening I returned to my resort for an early dinner.
The day came to a close and I packed my bags to return home. The moon shone in full bloom and signaled me that the vacation had come to an end.
The getaway had worked its web around me. But like all good things, this too had to end.
So if you too want to escape from the maddening rush of the city life, then pack your bags and head to a rejuvenating experience in Mussoorie.
(Contact the Avalon Ayurveda Resort at www.avalonayurveda.com)
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