Masters of Luxury: Ashok Khanna and Aashica Khanna on how Ananda was built and what makes it a Truly Holistic Retreat Today

Almost two decades ago, driven by rising global stress levels and the growing need for rejuvenation, Ashok Khanna set out to find a spiritual, pollution-free haven to create a destination spa. The Palace Estate of the Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal, overlooking Rishikesh and the Ganges, became that perfect place.

Inspired by the Himalayan birthplace of Yoga and Ayurveda, Ananda was built on ancient Indian virtues and the belief that harmony within leads to lasting peace. The Khanna's studied India’s timeless wellness sciences to form Ananda’s pillars: Yoga, Ayurveda, Vedanta, and Spirituality. Traditional Ayurvedic food philosophies were refined with modern cuisine sensibilities and fresh, seasonal produce, blending seamlessly with global wellness traditions to create Ananda’s holistic approach.

RR: How has your personal journey been?

Mr.K: I started yoga at the age of 30 when I was still working with the Oberois, and my actual wellness journey started when the lease was signed for Ananda with the Maharaja of Tehri Garhwal. At that point, both my father and I travelled across the world to look at various destinations, but we came to the conclusion, when we came back to India, that the therapies and practices available here had evolved through generations and were much superior and beneficial compared to others available worldwide.

RR: What was your first reaction when you chanced upon this property?

Mr.K: My reaction was very positive because it had really good energy. But since it had been uninhabited since the Viceroy’s time, my wife did not have a very positive reaction. The Maharaja used to stay in one part of the mahal and the other was in complete ruins. But because yoga and Ayurveda were born in the Himalayas, I felt that it was the right place for me to do something very special.

RR: How has the wellness seeker evolved in the last 20 years, especially in India or have they evolved at all?

Mr.K: In the 90s, when we conceived Ananda, there was not much awareness around wellness. It was not mainstream, but things have changed. Now people are not looking at wellness through the allopathy point of view. Natural wellness is appreciated, and that’s where we come in.

RR: You are a fourth-generation hotelier and have been with operations of Ananda. Today, as we speak, what is the bifurcation that Ananda attracts between domestic as well as inbound tourists? And what do you think the global Indian traveller is looking for in a wellness getaway?

AK: Initially, it was for global travellers. Fortunately, there is awareness now, which was not there before, and investing in one’s own self was something people didn’t prioritise earlier. People would much rather go out for different types of vacations. It was a departure from what they were used to. About 10 years ago, we saw the tide changing, and people Indians now are looking for purposive, goal-oriented programs that show real results. People are very disoriented when it comes to allopathy. They are looking for more holistic solutions where results are visible, something Ananda has done very consciously. We have done extensive research and clinical trials across the country to objectify what was really a subjective science. There were no parameters to go by, so we have done a lot of work. Agni, for example, the digestive fire, today we have enough data to show how Agni is changing over time, and that is what domestic customers are looking for.

RR: What are some of the areas that have become extremely popular, or what are the primary asks?

AK: Mental health is a big one; sleep is a major problem. Hormonal issues and women’s issues too. All our programs are integrated; we draw on various sources and philosophical studies. We rely heavily on the Indian and spiritual sides and also take from Western healing techniques, Chinese medicine, and physiotherapy, which is comparatively newer. We are starting to document this, and it has obviously gotten better. We have become a very research-driven organisation.

RR: India today boasts a huge wellness-forward industry. With it, there is also a lot of noise. How do you stand out and break the clutter?

AK: I tell people it’s like managing a grand orchestra of operational chaos. It is not just hospitality but also health. There are people with unique diets and bodies, each needs to be catered to differently, and behind the scenes, there is an army of approximately 350 people. There is often a mismatch between what people want and what they need, so a lot of counselling goes into explaining that to them without them having to ask. The second is the integrative aspect, all our specialists draw from the same source.

RR: When one comes to Ananda, what is the one lesson you want to give guests, whether they come as a leisure getaway or for more of a listicle, what is your positioning?

AK: We come very close to wellness, and that’s where we find all the answers. There is only one thing to do: look within. The mistake a lot of people make, the trick is to reverse it enrich oneself, which ultimately gives you peace of mind.
Most people used to come for leisure, but now it is mostly wellness. When you are here, you forget about everything else because you are so involved in the program. It is devised in a way that, without the person realising, wellness becomes part of their routine.

RR: Tell me about Gen-Z and millennial travellers. How does Ananda appeal to them? What is the storytelling for that segment?

AK: There is a curiosity that Gen-Z has, which wasn’t common before. They want to embrace their culture, ask important questions like never before. They are willing to invest in themselves and are seeking balance in life at a much younger age.

RR: Will there ever be another Ananda in India or anywhere else in the world?

Mr.K: We do not have any plans at the moment. We want to make it more holistic and parallel to changing times.
AK: Ananda is like the perfect storm so many factors came together to make it what it is today, and in that sense, there can never be another. All the exact things can never come together again. But that also means we have many assets to draw from when we create another chapter.

RR: With so much conversation around AI and wellness, what do you think will be the next step in holistic wellness?

AK: The world of wellness is changing so fast that there are all kinds of fancy approaches. We have taken a conscious approach. We have created systems using technology as support, that’s how we see it.
Mr.K: Human touch is really important. AI and technology can complement it, but cannot replace it. Most people coming here want a human touch, less machine and more hands.

RR: What does luxury mean to you?

AK: I think peace and happiness are the biggest luxuries one can strive for, but they are difficult to achieve. Acquiring things is not how you reach it; the trick is to flip the equation.
Mr.K: I think it is the feel and touch, and luxury is also about the feeling.

Quick Questions

RR: Your favourite destination abroad?
AK: Africa.
Mr.K: Anywhere near nature. Africa, sea resorts, golf courses, and the lower Himalayas.

RR: One bucket-list experience?
AK: Japan, Australia.
Mr.K: Northern Lights.

RR: Favourite car?
AK: Nothing specific, but I have a fun Mini Cooper that I drive.
Mr.K: A Porsche.

RR: Favourite timekeeper?
AK: AP, which I love to wear.
Mr.K: I do not wear a watch.

RR: Favourite quote you live by?
AK: “You should look for peace within” — Buddha.
Mr.K: “Find faults within yourself and not in others.”

RR: What is your unwinding mechanism?
AK: I make sure to go to the gym four times a week; I have started playing golf recently.
Mr.K: Playing golf.

RR: A book or author you keep going back to?
AK: I enjoy reading biographies and nonfiction. Recent read would be Kitchen Confidential.

RR: Any particular stay or hotel that has really stood out for you?
Mr.K: Four Seasons in Montreal.