The world isn’t short of beautiful resorts, but the upcoming Mövenpick Dharamshala Resort & Spa in Northern India is poised to take the design and delivery of upscale remote properties to a whole new sustainable level.The 124-room resort, due to open in 2013, will be located 2,400m above sea level in the upper reaches of the Kangra Valley and surrounded by a dense forest and the Himalayan Mountains.
Its key attraction will be a 2,500sqm Ayurvedic spa which will feature extensive preventive health programmes, detox sessions, international treatments alongside Ayurvedic, meditation and yoga therapies.
As befits the resort’s stunning Himalayan setting, it is in the sustainable arena where Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is really pulling out all the environmental stops.
The Swiss hotel company along with the owning group, Kamakhya Hospitality Services Pvt. Ltd. are committed to sourcing mainly locally available materials in the construction process, installing energy-efficient systems to harness wind, solar and hydro power, and serving organic vegetables and fruits, and local products from rural farms nearby.
Links with the local community won’t end there, with guest programmes set to provide the opportunity to interact with villagers and learn about their mountainous lifestyles – and perhaps pick up a tip or two on the secrets to their longevity.
In addition, the resort’s lobby will double up as the living room and serve as a centre point for socialising and gathering around open fire places. The hotel will face the Dhauladhar mountain range and rooms will vary from 45sqm (standard) to 70sqm (suites).
Guests will be able to enjoy a wide range of food and beverage options, and undertake activities which are as varied as the terrain, with everything from mountain biking and trekking to adventure sports, all at their doorstep.
To access the resort, guests will take a one-hour flight from New Delhi to Gaggal, followed by a 40-minute drive through spectacular mountain ranges, trails and gorges.
