Off the grid

Losing her phone before she even boarded her flight was just what KALYANI ADHAV needed to allow herself to fully experience a holistic detox and emerge feeling renewed

-  KALYANI ADHAV

AS SOMEONE WITH a hectic nine-to-five job, I’ve learnt that it takes more than drinking chamomile tea while marinating in a sheet mask to nourish my body from the inside. Even on a day off, I can’t trust myself not to get distracted by Netflix or the pinging of my cellphone. So in what I am positioning as a boss move, I decide to outsource taking care of my body to professionals. A three-day detox programme in a picture-book setting? Sounds ideal. And that’s how I find myself on a trip to Chenot Palace Gabala, a wellness retreat in the Greater Caucasus mountains of Azerbaijan.

Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan has been popping up all over Instagram lately because of its scenic landscapes and e-visa options for Indians. It is also home to the crown jewel in the Chenot group of wellness hotels. Checking my itinerary as I pack my bags, I can already feel the stress begin to melt away.

My trip, however, begins with a rude surprise. Settling into my five-hour flight from Mumbai to Baku, as I dig through my bag to find my phone, I realise I’ve left it in the waiting lounge at the airport. As luck would have it, this is not just going to be a mental and physical detox but a digital one too.

Chenot Palace Gabala is a three-hour drive from Baku, a city I know for its F1 circuit, doners and cultural significance. It’s surrounded by lush forests and overlooks the serene Nohur Lake, a far cry from my concrete vista at home.