IN THE SPIRITUAL cradle of the Himalayas, some 8,500 feet above sea level, I came to, soaked in tears. A gentle woman by the name of Ms Naveen Chauhan (healer, wellness practitioner, wizard) had just guided me through a sequence of stretching, marma therapy and reiki. She looked down at me with a knowing smile and handed me some tissues and cool water in a silver cup.
Sitting up in Sitara Himalaya’s elegant Paro Svasthi spa, with its tonal accents in pale blue and unfettered 360-degree views of the mountains, I felt like the bridle around my head and heart had been released. I was floating. I could see clearly. I felt love.
Anita Lal is not a hotelier and you cannot find Sitara on Instagram. Quite frankly, there’s a chance you may not even get into the exquisite 10-room property. This is not a place for brash group events or unruly children. If you want big-screen TVs or a stale margherita pizza at 2am, in the politest possible way, you are not welcome.
At Sitara, Lal is welcoming you into her home. This land is one she has been coming to for decades; her residence, where she designs the Good Earth pieces we’ll be coveting in due course, is a stone’s throw away. Sitara isn’t simply an extension of her creative vision but, in my opinion, her love for India itself.
This story is from the November - December 2023 edition of VOGUE India.
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This story is from the November - December 2023 edition of VOGUE India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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