BY INDER RAJ AHLUWALIA
( THE WRITER IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED , MULTIPLE AWARD – WINNING TRAVEL JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR)
NEW DELHI | 28 MAY 2025
It comes as a pleasant surprise, its myriad charms providing a refreshing break from modern-day hustle and bustle.
Tucked away in Amritsar, Ranjit’s SVAASA is a 250-year-old prime heritage hotel, strong on memories, traditions, and a holistic way of life.
Smt. Rama Ranjit Mehra, is the Proprietor and Mr. Abhimanyu Rattan Mehra, is the CEO of Ranjit’s SVAASA.
Paying tribute to the late Ranjit Rattan Mehra’s mission of promoting tourism to Amritsar, after his demise, his widowed wife,Smt. Rama Ranjit Mehra, took on the mantle of running the old, preserved manor.
The manor was restored and reopened as a boutique hotel of luxurious stays, combined with the concept of wellness to rejuvenate guests.
Desirous of creating a home where people could come to revive and recoup, Rama’s sustained efforts have paid off, and the result is a ‘Heritage Boutique Spa Haveli’, an abode of personalised comfort, peace, rejuvenation and wholesome food. The hotel follows her ethos of wellness and life, and has become a haven of sustainable and earth-friendly efforts that infuse freshness, wellness and a holistic lifestyle. The idea is to cater to and look after, travellers who want to be close to nature, and not locked in air-tight booths. Not surprisingly, guests have described it as ‘a place with a soul’.
True to its meaning of ‘breath of life’, the hotel offers 15 unique, spacious boutique rooms and suites, each with its individual character with breather walls featuring chemical-free paints, cotton tapestry, original flooring, and thick mud insulated walls. All the rooms have their own opening to either a green courtyard, balcony, veranda, or terrace.
Sprawling spaces, gardens, and the backyard with its hibiscus and lilies, lend an ‘oasis’ sort of look, well-backed by caring service in a soulful ambience.
Savour fine dining comprised of ‘farm to fork’, unrefined preparations and organic produce freshly prepared from scratch. The Cafe also serves its own brand of home-made cuisine in the form of tasty snacks.
Svaasa’s authentic Spa uses traditionally prepared therapeutic oils and natural garden products. Vastly experienced masseurs’ therapeutic touch is enhanced by a wide range of therapies the guests get to enjoy in spa rooms with ‘breather’ walls.
They get a combination of both groups and individuals. But largely the individual travelers who wish to immerse themselves in bespoke experience.
Amritsar being a holy city, their guests’ main purpose of visit is the darshan of the iconic Golden Temple. This apart, both domestic and international guests explore the border, Gobindgarh Fort, Ram Tirath Mandir and Durgiana Mandir. Also being a reputed foodie city, travels related to food are also increasing.
Rama feels heritage hotels are ‘real’. They are fine symbols of our past, that enrich the present, walking boldly and gloriously into the future.
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