Still Life
GQ India|October 2019
What does it take to create one of the world’s most comprehensive wellness retreats? Arun Janardhan catches up with the maverick founder of Vana, Veer Singh
Arun Janardhan
Still Life

Farmer. Physicist. Tennis player. Percussionist. Socialist. Good son. Troublesome son. Entrepreneur. Environmentalist. Father.

Veer Singh has been all of these, but it’s the last role that’s keeping him occupied these days. Shakyasimha, which is another name for Siddhartha Gautama, is just a few months old, but he has the complete attention of the retreat head/eco-warrior who has moved from Dehradun to Chandigarh for his son’s sake.

The founder of the wellness retreat Vana, in Dehradun, is on more than a paternity break – he’s considering the next iteration of his venture. From expanding its scope to changing its fare structure to introducing newer elements, Vana is a five-year-old baby that still needs his attention.

Singh is planning, among other things, to add a music recording studio, classrooms for children to engage in while their parents are getting “well”, a manga-style graphic novel translation of the Buddhist scripture Vimalakirti Sutra and more. It can be safely assumed that the 36-year-old has finally found the equilibrium in his career that his center helps others find in mind, body, and soul.

At the Max Group company’s guesthouse in Chandigarh, where Singh is staying when I visit him in late August, there is a certain tranquillity that’s rare to find in cities. A large garden with manicured lawns surrounds the bungalow that faces Sukhna Lake. It’s so quiet that even Singh’s soft voice echoes in the room.

Dressed in an off-white kurta and blue pants, the bearded Singh talks about interacting with nature at Vana, where the environment is integral to the wellness experience. It cost him approximately ₹600 crores to put the project together, and since it opened in 2014, it’s driven him at times to exhaustion, frustration and definitely satisfaction.

But Vana has also been the culmination of a journey of self-realization.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2019-Ausgabe von GQ India.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2019-Ausgabe von GQ India.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS GQ INDIAAlle anzeigen
The 30 Best Watches Of 2024
GQ India

The 30 Best Watches Of 2024

Rounding up the best shapes, materials, complications and sizes from this year's horological novelty treasure chest.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
October - November 2024
Wes Lang's Heroes of Love...
GQ India

Wes Lang's Heroes of Love...

Last month, LA-based artist Wes Lang unveiled The Black Paintings, a monumental series of works that play like storyboards to a raucous midnight horror movieand a spiritual quest. Here, GQ collaborates with the artist on a fashion story that brings his stylish characters off the canvas.

time-read
8 Minuten  |
October - November 2024
The Miraculous Resurrection of Notre Dame
GQ India

The Miraculous Resurrection of Notre Dame

In 2019, a fire nearly destroyed the crown jewel of France-and the nation set a breakneck five-year deadline to bring it back from the ashes. This is the story of how an army of artisans turned back centuries to restore Notre-Dame by hand, and wound up reviving something even greater than the cathedral itself.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
October - November 2024
"IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PERFECT. IT'S ABOUT BEING REVOLUTIONARY."
GQ India

"IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PERFECT. IT'S ABOUT BEING REVOLUTIONARY."

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter talks business, legacy, art, and family

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
October - November 2024
The Wedding Singers
GQ India

The Wedding Singers

Madboy Mink's dynamic duo, Saba Azad and Imaad Shah, redefine festive style.

time-read
5 Minuten  |
October - November 2024
A Watch Is More Than Just a Pretty Face
GQ India

A Watch Is More Than Just a Pretty Face

As collectors look to make their grail watches stand out, they're turning to unique vintage bracelets and paying thousands on thousands for straps on the secondary market.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
October - November 2024
The Fluidity of Cartier
GQ India

The Fluidity of Cartier

Why Gen Z stars are obsessed with this historic maison.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
October - November 2024
A Princess with Passion
GQ India

A Princess with Passion

From restoring monuments to reviving hereditary crafts, Bhavnagar's Brijeshwari Kumari Gohil has her sights on the future.

time-read
6 Minuten  |
October - November 2024
THE FUTURE SOUNDS LIKE AT EEZ
GQ India

THE FUTURE SOUNDS LIKE AT EEZ

The Coachella-slaying, multi-language-singing, genre-obliterating members of Ateez are quickly becoming load-bearing stars of our global pop universe.

time-read
10 Minuten  |
August - September 2024
DEMNA UNMASKED
GQ India

DEMNA UNMASKED

He's the most influential designer of the past decade. He's also the most controversial. Now the creative director of Balenciaga is exploring a surprising source of inspiration: happiness. GQ's Samuel Hine witnesses the dawn of Demna's new era, in Paris, New York, and Shanghai. Photographs by Jason Nocito.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
August - September 2024