PATHEEO PARADISE

The Six Senses Fort Barwara, a 14th-century fort turned hotel in Rajasthan is where luxury and history collide. Vogue India visits the wellness resort and soaks in its storied heritage. Photographed by BOWEN ARICO. Styled by MEGHA KAPOOR

The fort itselfis breath-taking. It's not overdone or ritzy: is enveloped in a sense of luxury that is so mindful and respectful of its legacy and architecture. You feel like you've slepped back in time to experience a piece of history

There are luxury properties and then there is Six Senses Fort Barwara in Rajasthan. As one of the newest luxury heritage properties in India, this year-old destination—also the first Six Senses outpost in the country—has quickly earned a reputation for being a sanctuary of wellness, and rightly so. Constructed in the 14th century, the majestic structure, 30 minutes from Ranthambore National Park, is now a 48-suite resort that offers world-class luxury while still retaining its old-world charm.

Here, 700 years of history have been thoughtfully retained and painstakingly reinterpreted with exacting attention to detail. But the hotel’s glorious past apart, it’s also the 30,000sqft Six Senses Spa that is the real draw. With extensive Ayurveda offerings, meditation and Six Senses Integrated Wellness programmes, it combines Eastern medicine with Western influences to serve as a temple of healing.

During a visit, Megha Kapoor, Vogue India’s head of editorial content, and photographer Bowen Arico meandered through the manicured gardens, indulged in wellness therapies and came back after soaking in the property’s seamless blend of the old with the new. They tell us more below.

When someone walks into the palace for the first time, what can they expect to see, sense and hear?