In the end, it all comes down to the smell of the towels, but that’s what I said when someone who visited Bangalore asked me why I didn’t feature a guide to the city’s spas in this column. . After all, I was writing about other things too. This is weird because I’m a regular at that. I’m a spa fanatic.
There are people like me who like hot springs and people like my husband who don’t. The third category is those who bring ‘marish wali’ or masseuses into their homes. This article is not for them. They see massage as something beneficial, something that promotes health, and it is. But for me, a spa is a calming experience. It’s a waste of money.
Bangalore has a number of independent spas such as Bodycraft, Meraki, GlamsJo and SPA.ce. All these provide a perfectly useful massage for your next period. INR2,500 and INR3,500. But if you want a luxurious experience, you should go to a 5-star hotel and enjoy every bit of it. INR7,000 yen for a 60 minute massage. That’s how I do it. I don’t do it often, but I like to splurge when I can.
After living in the city for over 20 years, I have tried the spas of almost every 5-star hotel in Bangalore. I tend to choose hotels that are newer because the towels smell good, or rather don’t smell at all. I had almost given up on the “Ayush” Ayurvedic places in the city because the towels all smelled of oil. When in doubt, choose a new hotel. That’s my first tip.
Recently I went to the Four Seasons Infused Spa. It was heaven. The towels were fresh. It was a weekday morning, so I was the only customer. This is also a strategy. Business hotels are often empty on weekdays, so if you have time, it’s a good idea to go at 10:30 a.m. on a Tuesday instead of a Monday. Masseuses work hard on the weekends, so they are tired on Monday. Tuesday morning is better. I received the “Four Seasons Flowers” made with aroma oil inspired by the city’s gardens. As always, we took full advantage of the steam shower and sauna before and after our treatments. I forgot my cell phone in the locker during the massage. You should.
For Indian spas, it’s hard to think of creative ways to stay in place. Ayurveda is there, but the question arises whether we should stay true to Ayurveda as the CGH Earth brand aims to do. Would you like to try luxurious Ayurveda? The Taj Group does this well with ceremonies that are authentic and actually moving. Or do you go beyond Ayurveda and opt for a new paradigm in the spa field?
Four Seasons achieved this by connecting the city with its gardens. Shine Spa at Sheraton Grand Whitefield pays homage to Bangalore through its products, using sandalwood wraps and coffee his scrubs. To be honest, I went to Shine because it was rated #1 for Spa and Wellness on TripAdvisor in Bangalore. For many of my friends who live in Whitefield, this is their favorite spa, but not for me because I live an hour away. But here’s the problem. If you are going to Whitefield from central Bangalore, you have two options. One is to rush in and out, and the other is to use your time to do things you wanted to do in the area. I chose his second option. We had a beer at Rogue Elephant around the corner, did a little shopping, and received Shine’s signature massage, which includes a variety of techniques to induce deep sleep.
But mostly in Bangalore, people tend to stick to their places. I live in central Bangalore so I only go to spas in this area. In terms of value for money, you can’t beat The Lalit. This is a spacious, traditional, luxury hotel located right next to the golf course. Rejuve Spa was my go-to place before the Covid-19 pandemic. You can still get a 60 minute massage. INR 3,750. I usually choose the Njabara pheasant. It is a simple Ayurvedic treatment that depends on the quality of the rice and the medicinal herbs applied in the form of a poultice to the body. Luxury hotels have the means to order good ingredients. The same goes for Lalit. If you’re particular about the ingredients in your massage, i.e. high-quality oils and herbs, you need to choose a spa that doesn’t take shortcuts.
This is my case for spa splurges. When I look down from the massage table, I see a single flower floating on the ground. Linens are fresh, clean, and odor free. Product quality will be good. It gives you privacy which is rare in Bangalore. And it gives you the space and time to just have a luxurious time. I tend to spend money on experiences rather than things, so spa treatments are an easy choice. You may be the type of person who believes you can buy a dress. INR7000 and not a massage, this entire article doesn’t apply to you either.
Shobha Narayan is an award-winning writer based in Bangalore. She is also a freelance contributor and writes about art, food, fashion, and travel for many publications.
