Spashram RiverMountain Retreat’s Silver Sands on the Ganga! "Your ideal getaway!"
Menu
Spashram RiverMountain Retreat’s Silver Sands on the Ganga! "Your ideal getaway!"
To be the national leader, and exemplify best practice in micro-landuse management in the field of eco lodge tourism in India.
“Ramana’s, Spashram RiverMountain Ganga Beach Retreat” (also known as Spashram Retreat), in the Uttarakhand Himalaya, is estate custodian, Inder Jit Singh’s quarter century experiment in establishing best practice in quality eco conscious tourism.
Blending outdoor adventure and sustainable eco tourism with traditional yoga, Ayurveda and wellness lifestyles, and working with rural folk, Spashram Retreat is a wholistic, holistic and nature driven experience. A place to retreat and reheal, with something for all who love nature, solitude and the outdoors.
Rishikesh is an important halt on the time immemorial pilgrimage route leading to the source of the Ganges, Gangotri, which lies in the higher Himalayan altitudes. The site also lies directly across the river from the ancient foot trail that pilgrims took and some still do, to the source of the fabled Ganges. We are also 30 kms or an hour away from the other temple town of Deoprayag (confluence of the Gods) as the mighty Bhagirathi and the Alakananda each with their distinct colorations, merge here to form the true Ganges (Ganga).
Situated on the sparkling upper Ganges at the gateway to the Gods, as local Hindu legend terms it, wonderful Himalayan treks, village explorations, yoga retreats, riverboat exploration, and more, are all possible. We at Spashram believe that the Goddess or Mother (Ma) Ganga protects us, and governs our lives and actions. For she is the consort of Lord Shiva himself, and together they can reflect many a mood, sometimes calm and serene and sometimes raging. Mendicants, adventurers, artists, families, couples, executives seeking challenge or time out, all find their way here for physical adventure, meditative environments, tradition and culture. Bird watching, wildlife excursions to the National Parks, and exploring old British Raj hill stations like Mussoorie, are other attractions.
Whether you are a single female traveler, couple, family or solo male, seeking mountain adventure or intense yoga, there is something for all here. A venue for the international and domestic visitor on a holiday experience offering international standards in a uniquely Indian rural Himalayan setting.
The Spashram Retreat aims to help redefine luxury to a certain extent by balancing rugged grandeur, with lifestyle and wellness for the new age traveler,. Rather than yoga in a room, at Spashram Retreat you can do yoga on a beach, or on a cliff top, in the great outdoors. We replace electronic music and television, with birdsong, open space, Himalayan forest and , dramatic riverine and mountain landscapes.
On special occasions on full moon nights , we arrange riverside performances of song and dance, not with electronic music but instead with natural mountain acoustics, an entirely different feeling and the most powerful stereophonic effect in the world! Dining alfresco under a full moon, with entertainment, sounds echoing naturally, and the landscape and silver beaches shimmering, are easily provided here. Come fall 2023 Renowned Artistes, Dancers and Chefs will cast their programs live from our unique settings. Chefs already serve regional Indian and some international fare.
The Yogic Spashram menu will be separate to this on a daily and nutritional basis. Our dietician can design personalized diets based on the Yogic category type. Home baked breads with coarse and other flours ground from traditional water and stone mills are featured, as are grains and vegetables cultivated without pesticides as is also the norm in these mountains. These specialties are available on advance notice before your visit. The Spashram and RiverMountain brands offer organic food products, true Himalayan spring water, training and guide services, and treatments in Ayurveda, and alternative healing, to name a few of our services. More maybe seen on www.executivegurukul.com besides www.spashram.co.in
The cottage bungalows feature a verandah sit out where you can have a private bonfire (dead drift wood sourced only) and private dining. Attention to detail and quality, even while the ambience and setting is wilderness, has been aimed at. The construction displays a high quality of traditional craftsmanship in stone and woodwork, showcasing the charms of these elements. Along with access to unique sky, river, mountain views and natural sounds whether of water, or birdlife ,each room has a river and mountain valley view, and some have a beach view in addition.
Experience here, the life that makes locals hardy, healthy and stress free, and learn to ‘give up addictions” whether these be tv or pulsating music or foods and drinks that do not suit your body and mind.
The site is spread over an an exclusive 3 acres .The mountain landscape allows for many platforms and terraces to be tucked in, each with a unique vantage point and view, lending themselves to the perfect sit out, whether for al fresco dining, tea, or simply enjoying a read or the view.
We are situated on the riverfront upstream of Rishikesh – literally “sage’s locks”, in the direction of Badrinath and 32 kms away or an hour’s drive. Rishikesh , the ancient Indian town well known for its age old traditional style religious retreats and ashrams of various Gurus and Yogis that operate even today, needs no introduction. The town continues to retain its natural and spiritual charm and character.
The region is renowned for its Himalayan splendor. Rishikesh and Spashram are flanked at the Western end by the Rajaji National Park home to the Asian elephant and further East by the Corbett National Park, home to the Indian tiger and erstwhile to the legendary Jim Corbett, hunter, conservator and wild life photographer.
The normal classifications found in many other hotels do not apply at Spashram. For example you can raft in or out! Depending on your fitness and vigour, rock climbing, rafting, kayaking, fishing, trekking, with yoga, meditation, Ayurveda are all possible. The natural outdoors is our gym and the river is our pool (under supervision /for experienced swimmers).
Nature will be experienced here directly, by way of bird and animal calls, vistas, and sunrise and sunsets, as well as verdure, river scenes and mountainscapes.
Spashram RiverMountain Retreat is an Eco-Lodge which is the ideal Family Adventure Getaway or the escape for Romantic Couples. Situated 32 kms past Rishikesh (a 45 min drive in good conditions) enroute to Deoprayag, the drive up affords grand vistas and views of the majestic and pure Ganges to the right, below one, flanked by verdant hills. You are now in Dev Bhoomi, the Land of The Gods.
The Retreat is both an experiment in reforesting a riverine escarpment comprised largely of sandy soil, and a stellar example of Eco conscious tourism and as you enter its portals through is gate which unobstrusively blends into the landscape and begin to meander down, savouring majestic views of the Ganga, its silver beaches and its mountains guarding it, you will feel the sense of wonder as you come ever closer.
Flowing from the glacial waters of the Cow’s Mouth (or Gaumukh) Glacier in the high Himalaya, the river inspired the creation of this unique microbiodiversity of pristine glade and forest, rich underbrush and small orchard plantation, all of which provide safe haven to a variety of birds and small wildlife.
With roots in award-winning adventure training, sport, team-building and leadership programs for myriad organizations (from the British Army and RAF, to universities and international blue chip companies like American Express and HSBC), the site is renowned for water rafting, rock climbing, kayaking, fishing and trekking.
We boast a wide variety of birds and butterflies which are a marvel to behold BIRDS include Mrs Gould’s Sunbird, Leaf Warblers, White Crested Laughing Thrush, West Kalij Pheasant, Red Vented Bulbul, Blue Rock Thrush, Green Pigeons and the Mottled Dove, to name just a few along with lapwing and cormorants by the river.
A range of butterflies too, abound and our 3B’s Birds Butterflies and Bees Park is an ongoing effort on our part.
Our organic produce includes home grown bananas, mango, guava, custard apple, jackfruit, amla, bamboo shoot, and other produced sourced locally for example milk, pulses and whole grains.
A few additional produce includes strawberries, chillies, lime and lemon, lemon grass and kari patta.
Today, Spashram RiverMountain Retreat also specializes in yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, and plain old rest, relaxation and connection with nature. We welcome those seeking physical adventure, meditative environments, dietary and lifestyle changes, and beyond. Indeed, adventurers, artists, families, couples, solo travelers and corporate executives all find their way here to unplug and heal.
In addition to yoga and yoga retreats, meditation, ayurveda, fishing, rock climbing, hiking, kayaking and river rafting adventures, Spashram is the perfect jumping-off point for Himalayan treks, village and river exploration, bird watching, wildlife excursions to the National Parks, exploring old British Raj hill stations like Mussoorie or Dehra Dun, or visiting Rishikesh, Devprayag, Badrinath and Hemkund (and the Valley of Flowers) which hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for Hindus and Sikhs.
From mountain adventure to intense yoga, there is something at Spashram just for you! We do not fit inside a box, and thus the normal classifications found in many other hotels and lodges do not apply here. For example, depending on your fitness and vigour, you can raft or zip line, in or out! The natural outdoors is our gym, and the river is our pool (under supervision / for experienced swimmers).
The three apartment style cottages which offer space as one of the luxuries in this compact mountainscape, sleep a couple, with an extra bed, if needed.
Wi-Fi is available via dongle’s on security deposit. There is some open Wi-fi at some spots on the estate.
We do not keep televisions in the rooms and electronic music in the outdoors is not allowed in order for guests to enjoy the sight and sound of bird life which is abundant as also the presence of barking deer, whose alarm calls you can hear when the leopard is across the river.
Our meals are home style with as much organic base as we possibly can include and sourced from as close to us as possible to support the local economy. Western (some continental and some Italian items, Indian(including north Indian or southern Indian, Local Garhwali and Chinese meals are served.
Spashram is a place to engage with harmony and inclusiveness, and with the natural and rural human biodiversity of the surroundings. It is beloved by discerning travellers seeking adventure, healing, solitude, natural sounds, a really bright night sky, and driftwood bonfires on the beach.
The entrance to the property is designed specifically to:
Afford the grandest views of the Upper Ganges, silver sands and mountain forest.
The path is a gentle meandering path designed to walk in slowly and appreciate the unique topography.
It is the discerning visitor who takes in the majestic aerial views rather than rush down (or up!). It is approximately a 6-8 minute walk to the Longhouse and thereafter another 4-6 minutes to the beach area and cottages above it either by a walking ramp or a set of 30+ stone steps gently paced. Please take this into account before booking . Our venue does not suit seniors over 65 or for the unfit. However we have had 80 year olds visit without a problem. It is really mind over matter!
We have parking facilities near our gate as do all other neighbouring hotels, this being a mountain setting.
Cars are watched and quite safe as we are off shoulder .
A gentle and safe walking path which is also lit at night which affords beautiful and dramatic views of the silver sanda and mountains opposite and below gets you to the first arrival platform in about 8 minutes. The beach cottages take another 5 minutes.
The trails are designed for gentle walking and for the lower section a walking ramp is available also besides gentle natural stone stairway steps.
This is via a short flight of natural rock steps.
Regrettably those with walking debilitation cannot access the site but on advance notice manpower can be arranged for portering invalids on a wheel chair / similar subject to our discretion.
We are a purist style eco wilderness lodge.
We are not a HOTEL.
The star ratings of most hotels do not apply to us
We define our own brand of luxury and offer a real starlit night sky which hotels normally do not!
Yes. Covid Vaccination Certificate is required at the time of Check-in.
Only if you have significant experience of swimming in large moving bodies of water and used to rip tides.
Dining is in a beautiful tent or al fresco, in one of our many hideaways, or the Tea Marquee. The three cottage apartments sleep a couple each and can accommodate an extra bed.(More unique accommodation is upcoming), Tents are available on notice. No Television (we provide a Wi-Fi connection inside premises) to allow you to enjoy birdsong and wildlife calls including the alarm call of the barking deer when the leopard is about across the river. We do not fit inside the box and are for the eccentric and discerning traveller seeking solitude or natural sounds, and a really bright night sky, drift wood bonfires on the beach or in the Bungalows.
The overall construction follows uses our own evolved code which includes Use of many local skills which are a dying art and which have a near non replaceable cost; Partnerships and two way mentoring for artists, where modern artisans give due recognition to rural, besides vice versa; Traditional knowledge which is also nearly impossible to replace or locate easily in modern media; Community entrepreneurship ;Careful clearing and building around trees for integration, rather than clearing and replanting; Local materials; Recycled local materials, no longer available; Recycled outstate and difficult to replicate materials; Micro siting for micro biodiversity and eco zoning; Alternative technology and balance of aesthetics; Guest and Staff code of conduct; Policies on waste disposal; Policies on managing artificial sound and artificial light.
Due to the abandonment of farmlands on account of real-estate offers as also the monkey and wild boar menace and lack of interest amongst youth to pursue the toil of agriculture, the hospitality industry is generally constrained to source largely from Rishikesh 30 kilometers away.
BREAKFAST ITEMS:
✔ BREADS: Now earthen baking oven with drift wood fire positioned
✔ JUICES: BANANA, LEMON, LIME, GUAVA – Choices offered previously, reduced in order to produce juices locally without packaging
✔ JAMS & PRESERVES: Guava
✔ RELISHES AND PICKLES: Lime, Lemon, Mango
✔ EGGS: Locally Sourced 3 Kms Away
✔ CEREAL GRAIN FLOUR: Locally Sourced 1 Km Away
✔ MILK: Locally Sourced 1 Km Away
✔ TEA / COFFEE: Locally Sourced 1 Km Away
LUNCH ITEMS:
✔ BREADS AND LENTILS: GRAINS, LENTILS, FLOUR: Sourced Locally
✔ VEGETABLES: Locally Sourced 3 Kms Away
DINNER ITEMS:
✔ FOWL: Sourced Locally
✔ BREADS AND LENTILS: GRAINS, LENTILS, FLOUR: Sourced Locally
✔ VEGETABLES: Locally Sourced 3 Kms Away
KITCHEN AND ROOM PRODUCTS:
✔ BROOMS / DUSTERS: Sourced Locally
✔ VINEGAR: by product – Glass Bottle
✔ BAKING SODA: by product – Plastic Packet
✔ TOILET PAPER: These have to have the plastic cellophane tape, to be removed each time; as manufacturer supplies it this way
ITEMS REDUCED / SURCHARGED:
✔ CANNED MEATS AND FISH
ITEMS NOW PRODUCED INHOUSE TO AVOID PACKAGING:
✔ CREAM
✔ STEWED CANNED FRUIT
Spashram RiverMountain Retreat (Inder Jit Singh’s lodge) has under his motivation to both:
(i) reduce non degradable waste arising out of packaging,
(ii) the quantity of waste and
(iii) to source as much as possible locally, embarked on a re design of its food menus and operational supplies in order to source locally.
It has also begum working with local shopkeepers to share its requirements so that they can source the same from them.
This, inspite of challenges such as lack of ability to extend credit, which Rishikesh suppliers offer.
This mission, has also meant, internal capacity building so that fresh products are produced to the extent possible, for the table in house.
WASTE AND GARBAGE
Please be prepared to pack and carry your own non bio degradable waste in your own disposable bags. We expect that you will dispose this offshore, rather than enroute in the hills and the Ganges Valley.
ELECTRONIC MUSIC
We do not allow loud electronic music which can be heard in the outdoors as this disturbs birdlife and wildlife and their bird song is an attraction which we wish for all our guests to enjoy.
ALCOHOL AND MEAT CONSUMPTION
Should you desire alcohol, you may bring your own as we do not have this available. Also, those consuming alcohol are expected to be conscious of health and safety and not be a liability to themselves, their companions or other guests and staff. They need to be aware that undulating ground, river currents and such natural hazards are part of their surroundings and terrain and be careful of introducing additional impediments brought on by alcohol consumption. Those who are not availing ayurvedic or special diets and desire and teetollaing programs, may ask for non vegetarian diets.
RESPONSIBILITY and SAFETY
Visitors need to bear in mind they are far from the city and normal services and supplies. Also, Spashram RiverMountain Retreat cultivates and maintains a fine balance between wilderness and tamed landscape, in order to provide the best nature getaway experience to the visitor. As such undulating walking surfaces, birdlife, small wildlife eg monkeys and in the warm weather insects are not uncommon. Also, there is a safe section on the waters edge which is app 3 feet wide. Beyond that you are not expected to wade in without supervision of one of our staff, unless it is proven that you are a highly experienced swimmer used to deep water and strong currents.
CONDUCT
This being a personal home, normal good manners and conduct is expected of visitors while staying at Spashram RiverMountain Retreat.
TARIFFS
Tariffs might be found to vary on certain booking engines. You may therefore check with us first before making a booking.
Individual meal rates are also quoted even while our rates are inclusive of meals. This allows proper billing in the event of a late arrival/departure check in/out.
BEFORE YOU COME:
Before you come you will be provided with a suggested packing/carry list based on the time of year and activities you choose to book.
You will also be provided with a Risk Release and Liability Waiver Form.
Should you wish to call for these prior to booking, kindly enquire.
We look forward very much to your visit, to our unique homestead.
FOLLOW Spashram on Facebook
