Ladakh’s reputation as a land of myth, mystery and magic precedes it. One of India’s most beautiful and remote destinations, its moonscapes, turquoise lakes and craggy mountains are part of its appeal while its inaccessibility is part of its allure. Intent on discovering more about the former Himalayan mountain kingdom, I set off with photographer Avani Rai. Our base? Shakti Ladakh in the Indus Valley.
After five days here, you begin to understand what wellness really means. Spas, room service, massages and a giant bathtub will always be delightful, but what really stands out is the absence of television and spotty internet connectivity—seemingly more by design than deficit. In 2022, to slow down and savour each moment feels deliciously privileged.
Shakti Ladakh, part of the Shakti Himalaya pantheon, offers an immersion into an authentic, holistic way of life, crafted for the modern-day traveller. Each of its six village houses, spread across five villages, are also home to local families. And while every dwelling retains its original warmth and decor, each is thoughtfully appointed and subtly luxurious. For example, glass walls are installed to attract light and retain warmth. Most lodges have three double rooms and offer an individual experience with your own chef, porters and a private guide. (Apart from Ladakh, Shakti Himalaya also has outposts in Kumaon and Sikkim, and each property is tailored to a different kind of getaway.)
To step into the Indus Farm House in Nimoo Village was to surrender to the flow designed for me. Over the next five days, I was guided over the less-trodden paths through the villages, ate meals that were specially designed to align with my dietary preferences, and remembered how to disengage from the frenetic city vibrations we carry with us.
Denne historien er fra June - July 2022-utgaven av VOGUE India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June - July 2022-utgaven av VOGUE India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Breathe In, Breathe Out
A powerful tool to help you master your nervous system or another biohacking buzzword? SIMONE DHONDY explores the inhalations and exhalations of breathwork
Red Pill, Blue Pill
India's nutraceutical industry is booming thanks to advanced technology, distrust of the medical system and rising vanity. With multivitamins becoming purer and more effective, NIDHI GUPTA finds out if supplements have become the new serum
Sign of the times
No longer do you need to have an answer to, \"What is the significance of this?\" when people point to your new tattoo. ARMAN KHAN discovers that everything is on the table when you get inked temporarily
Return to form
Watching the world's most elite athletes deliver the best performances of their careers rekindled SONAKSHI SHARMA's own love for sports
Dimple, All Day
YOU MAY HAVE WATCHED HER ON THE BIG SCREEN FOR OVER FIVE DECADES, BUT DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF ASSUMING THAT YOU KNOW DIMPLE KAPADIA.
MUSIC, TAKE CONTROL
As someone who had always sought safety in numbers, ALIZA FATMA often wondered what her own company would feel like. The answer arrived unexpectedly when she attended her first-ever music festival, one of the largest in the world, all alone
Let it grow
When we think of hardworking farmers toiling in India's scorching heat, we often think of men, the sweat on their brow, the sinews in their arms. JYOTI KUMARI speaks to four women who are championing the invisible female labour that keeps these fields running
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE
When armless archer Sheetal Devi set her sights on the Paralympic Games this year, she knew she had a tough journey ahead of her. Luckily, her mother was with her every step of the way.
Beauty and the feast
The appeal of Indian weddings has always been in a sprawling spread. For additional bragging rights, Aditi Dugar recommends going beyond designer tablecloths and monogrammed napkins.
Sweet serendipity
From a scavenger hunt-inspired proposal to a Moroccan-themed baraat, Malvika Raj and Armaan Rai's love story prioritised playfulness throughout their blended celebrations.
