A Healing Retreat with the Embrace of Family: Where the Last Name is Dharana.
- Dr. P V
- 8 hours ago
- 5 min read
At Dharana at Shillim luxury is not just its design but its deliverance of inner calm. Read on to know more of my first hand experience.
ARRIVAL
At the heart of the captivating Sahyadri mountains lies a unique wellness retreat. Dharana at Shillim was a four hour drive from Mumbai airport. I was received by the chauffeur Navanath and by my namesake Priya. Priya’s presence, like other stand out aspects of my experience, was a most thoughtful gesture on the retreat’s part and a commonplace one when receiving solo woman travellers. As we approached Shillim, crepuscular light turned into latherings of burnt wine and turmeric butter on the bread of sky.
At Dharana I was received by the Guest Experience Team with a Tulsi Mala Bead. The Tulsi plant’s healing vibrations are rooted in ancient Indian spirituality and bears direct reference to the most enchanting of Indian Gods, Lord Krishna. Then I set an intention or sankalp to the reverberating sound of the Tibetan Gong.
Monkeys were my 5am wake up call the next morning and they became my dependable morning alarm while I was at Dharana. They would serenade me by their acrobatics between my balcony roof and the lush green surrounding trees. Once in a while, they would curiously lounge on my balcony couch. Watching their adorable antics brought an indescribable joyful calm.
The villas are expansive with a lot of glass that allows an immersive experience into the encapsulating nature. There is an outdoor shower that complements the indoor one. However, my daily routine or dincharya was so all encompassing between the retreat’s different centres – The House of Healing, the House of Knowledge, Dhyana (the meditation hut) and the restaurants, that besides early mornings in my balcony, I would only return to my villa to sleep!
THE BODY SPEAKS
My first morning involved some new age, non-invasive diagnostic tests that included a Styku 3D Body Scan (regarded as accurate and comprehensive for body measurements of fat and lean mass) and an Ayurvedic Dosha test using Nadi Tarangini technology – a diagnostic tool that reads the pulse to detect imbalances in the body. Indepth consultations with an Ayurvedic specialist and nutritionist followed.
Food, depending on the programme of healing and rejuvenation one chooses, is either based on menu options or Ayurvedic meals set to your body type. My diet chart included cooling foods to calm a Pitta Dosha imbalance.
The highlight of my treatments was an Abhyanga massage with Ayurvedic medicinal herbs by my therapist Poonam. It was followed by a 10 minute body steam session in a wooden box (svedana). The morning was still nippy and the steam session felt wonderfully cocooning. Throughout it all, Poonam’s attention to every detail and to my comfort, was meticulous. I was also recommended an Oxygen Therapy session by Dr. Lata from the House of Healing. I was told it can induce deep rest and relaxation and put me to sleep – and lo and behold it did!
THE INTELLIGENCE OF SOIL
One of my favourite activities was the farm visit. Lal Bahadur Shastri (he takes his name from India’s erstwhile Prime Minister), the retreat’s gardener who weaves his magic on all the organically grown fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, mesmerized me with his knowhow, passion and humility. Traipsing between harvesting carrots, sweet potatoes and turmeric to tasting strawberries, peas and broccoli, and smelling carom (ajwain) leaves, cinnamon leaves (they smelt just divine) and betel leaves – I felt like Alice in Wonderland. The vegetables and fruits were super sweet and juicy. I was most struck by the bedrock of formulas used for their organic farming. As fertilizer they use a mix of honey, jaggery (gur), clarified butter (ghee) and cow manure. And their pesticide formula is - chillies, garlic, ginger and neem leaves ground together. All these ingredients are so safe that they are edible, save for the cow manure. This is what genuine goodness of soil, and food looks like. And inevitable byproducts are nutritious meals and good health.
On my farm visit I also got to meet the retreat’s beautiful white stallion, Ollie.
ART, SILENCE AND RETURN
Warli Art and pottery making and painting sessions at the retreat’s House of Knowledge were a second favourite. Immersed in strokes of paint on ceramic with the surround sound of birdsong was a deeply tranquil experience. Madhubala (the artist in residence) introduced me to the captivating art form of Warli. Originating more than 10,000 years ago in Maharashtra, the tribals depicted all of life using symbols from nature. Central to Warli art are triangles (representing the mountains of the Western Ghats) and circles representing the sun and the moon. I loved the Warli art session so much that I’ve bought myself books Madhubala recommended. I know my love affair with this art form will continue bringing alive the memory of the ‘voices of the hills and birds’ where it all began.
I also enjoyed the bird sighting experience with the in house naturalist Prahlad and the trek to Pawna Lake – throughout I was enthralled by the capture of the magical Sahyadri mountains. They just quietly seep into heart and soul and the phone and city noises become like bygones. There’s no drama, no pressure to be stern with yourself in any way. Yet the presence of nature is such, that notifications get quietly forgotten and gadgets get ‘kept away’.
On my last morning, a session with the physiotherapist Dr Shraddha gave me helpful insights into my posture and how to keep it in fit shape for later life.
At Dharana at Shillim I leant into the whispers between the trees and the chatter of birds with the skies. In so doing, my mind revealed itself to my soul. And vice versa. Bringing alive the daily evening prayer ritual (aarti) at the retreat’s Green Table Pond that appeases the five elements around and within us (fire, air, water, earth and space) to create ease and peace. I left with a deeper connection with myself; and with the embrace of a family – the last name of this family was Dharana.
This article was written by Dr Priya Virmani - who is an award winning author, travel expert and well being therapist.
