travelandleisureindia.in
THE INDOOR POOL AT Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary was
never intended to be a place for meditation. But I
couldn’t help being lulled into a contemplative state as
I sat on its edge, pondering the way the fl oor-to-
ceiling windows perfectly framed the emerald
Neyphu Valley and the bright blue skies beyond.
My reverie was interrupted by the soft ringing of a
gong. I turned to fi nd my dedicated well-being guide,
Dr Thinley Om, standing at the door. I followed her
down a long hall lined with laboratory-like jars of
herbs and into an austere treatment room that
smelled faintly of sage. She instructed me to hang up
my robe and lie facedown. The scent became stronger
as she lit small sticks of wild mugwort and placed
them inside the tiny bamboo boxes along my back.
This traditional Chinese medicine treatment, known
as moxibustion, uses herbs and heat to help the body’s
chi, or life force, fl ow freely. Mine, according to Dr
Om, was very congested.
Few people make the journey from halfway across
the world to Bhutan just so they can unblock their chi.
In fact, I partly blamed the nearly 16-hour fl ight from
New York for jamming mine up in the fi rst place. But
the hotel’s Dutch owner, Louk Lennaerts, who has
spent much of his career in Vietnam developing such
health-focussed all-inclusives as Fusion Maia Da Nang,
believes this Himalayan kingdom is primed to become
the next wellness mecca. Not only does Bhutan—
whose ancient name, Mejong , means Land of
Medicinal Plants—have that rare combination of
intense natural beauty and rich cultural heritage that
draws spiritual seekers from all over the world; its
branding is also perfectly aligned with the current
mania for self-improvement.
Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Index—
conceived by King Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 1998 as
an alternative to GDP—has created a global perception
of Bhutan as a mystical, trouble-free paradise in a
world beset by cynicism, anxiety, and the 24-hour news
cycle. And unlike in Bali and Thailand, the government
of Bhutan embraced a low-volume tourism model
when the country opened to the outside world in
1974—decades before the sustainable-travel
movement gained mainstream appeal.
In Bhutan, well-heeled travellers have their pick
of fi ve-star lodges from wellness-travel leaders like
Aman, COMO, and since late last year, Six Senses.
All three of these brands encourage guests to visit
multiple high-end lodges over the course of one trip
as part of the experience. Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary
takes a diff erent approach, however, asking guests to
stay put. The recommended minimum stay is fi ve
nights—enough time for visitors to learn about the
local culture and get immersed in their surroundings.WELL-BEING