A spa vacation in Kasauli at Moksha Himalaya Spa Resort

You know what makes a great staycation? If you ask me, I would say, it has to be somewhere remote, tucked away in nature, with the right company and weather to compliment your stay. And of course, food!

When we received an invitation to visit Moksha Himalaya Spa Resort, we were mesmerised by its gorgeous vistas, and the fact that we needed to board the only private cable car in India to reach the resort in Parwanoo, close to the popular hill-station of Kasauli.
What transpired was a comfortable journey from Delhi to the base hotel, a property famous for being Khushwant Singh’s honeymoon place of choice. We took the cable car after parking our car at the garage, and embarked on the journey, quite exciting for my toddler. The sun reflected against the bright red compartment of the cable car, as we passed by the dense foliage of the mountain below. Mind you, this is the only way to reach the hotel, and the cable car stops after 6.00 pm, unless there is an emergency, so make sure you have all your stuff with you before you embark on that journey!

However, once you reach Moksha, on top of the mountain, its sprawling spaces make you forget that you’re away from the world. We reached around early evening, after a nice snack of chana kulcha at Chandigarh. A side-note on the chana kulcha in the OG city, it is very different from the version in Delhi. Served in the softest kulcha, which is folded and stuffed with chana, lightly spiced and aromatic with chillies and other spices, it is convenient for a working lunch, a truly democratic meal for Rs 20!

Once we were in Moksha, we explored the resort to find the setting sun just hitting the pool area, bathing it in golden light. This is where a high tea had been set up for us, a delicious meal with local delights as well as hors d oeuvres. I specifically remember the litti chokha, and delicious pastries, as well as the much needed masala chai that tied it all together.

I rushed onto my spa appointment little later, for much needed R and R. I had chosen a traditional Ayurvedic massage, and was ushered onto a traditional wooden bed for my massage. Seema, my masseuse, was a very thorough professional, coming from years of experience in Kerala. With the massage over, after a cup of hibiscus tea, it was time to hit the pool, as twilight hit. The infinity pool at Moksha is one of the highlights of the resort. Overlooking the cities of Kasauli and Chandigarh, the twinkling lights in the distance made for the perfect view for our evening nightcap.

Dinner was at their all-day dining restaurant where we tried some authentic Chinese including Kung Pao chicken, dimsums, some kebabs, and a great dal makhni with hot tandoori breads.

The next day was a slow start as we walked around the resort and its many levels. The property has 62 suites including the 800 sq. ft. Moksha Suite, the newly renovated Moksha Luxury Suites, Royal Suite, a two-bedroom apartment and Presidential Suite that spreads over 4500sq.ft. The best part is that all rooms have a different view of the mountains and surrounding landscape. The garden landscape here is also a treat as the property is a burst of colours courtesy of the numerous flowering shrubs that line the same.

The Moksha resort is attached to the Timber Trail Heights and Terraces. Both the venues together offer numerous lawns, banquet halls and vistas for a scenic Himalayan wedding, MICE events and other group activities. The Timber Trail Heights and Terraces operates as a separate hotel, with different restaurants, with every room having a full view of the lower Himalayas.

Moksha Himalayan Spa resort is very kid-friendly, with two separate areas for family activities, with a games room, again with a stunning view, where there’s a pool table, air hockey, a chessboard and a dedicated play area for toddlers. An outdoor area has several adventure activities, including rappelling, rope bridges, jungle gym, among other things. The entire resort is built on a hill, so there is plenty of walking about to be done. It had got quite hot, and we cooled off in the pool for some time. The pool is a good enough length to swim properly, and then there are heated jacuzzis at both ends of the terrace overlooking the hills. This makes is usable throughout the year, even when it gets slightly chilly in the evenings.

The in-house spa is spread over 75,000 sq. ft. and is where you can try a range of wellness treatments from Ayurveda to International. There are 14 spa rooms here including special rooms for Balinese and Kerala Ayurveda treatments. All the spa rooms also have fantastic views and the trained therapists will ensure that you are completely relaxed. The signature treatment is the Turkish Hammam, which is highly recommended. There are yoga classes in the morning that can be customised based on your current health condition. Guided meditation sessions are also offered at the retreat.

We then went for another core memory experience of our trip – our first encounter with the Himachali thali. Thalis are at the core of how modern food is presented in India, across its breadth. However, the variety in them is something to look forward to.

The plate included delicacies such as lushke, a mildly sweet fermented wheat pancake called Lhuske, to be had with ghee and gud, sepu wadi, a steamed urad dal dumpling in a savoury spinach sauce, a spicy tadka chhach, served in a lota, bhuna aloo, made in the tandoor, dal madra (black dal made with yoghurt), a pumpkin halwa and other unique dishes that we had for the first time. A Himachali meal is supposed to begin with something sweet and end with a sweet dish, and the thali made sure we were covered for both!

It is interesting to note, how the Garhwali and Kumaoni thali, its more popular cousin, varied from the Himachali thali, with a completely different flavor profile and grains used. Overall, if you’re looking for a getaway with a bit of history, ambience of the hillside, and pleasant temperatures (not too chilly) and some good food, make Moksha your next destination. I am surely going to head back for the professional spa, and to get a taste of that thali again!

Best time to visit: October to March
Must try: Himachali thali, Kung Pao Chicken, Ayurvedic Spa Massage
For more information or to make a reservation, contact the property directly on the website.