It’s an urban oasis of tranquility. It was my first visit to the Kempinski Hotel in Delhi and I was pleasantly surprised by the expanse, chic decor and design of the hotel. More about that later in a post. The luxury spa at the Kempinski Hotel, Shanaya, which is also open for non-residents- equally evoked awe and surprise.
The spa is located on the fourth floor of the Club Tower of the hotel. Dimly lit, plush interiors and a calming fragrance welcome me at the Spa, reminding me what I first read about it on the hotel website- Shanaya means first ray of the sun. Shanaya spa offers Asian and European treatments, scrubs, wraps and what caught my attention as I flipped through the menu- Turkish Hammam Bath Ritual. The price of treatments varies between Rs 2000 to Rs 7,000.
The erudite Spa manager Jasmine Maan suggests that I go for their signature cocktail treatment which is a mix of dry and oil massage. We all know how humid and hot it is in Delhi right now, so when the spa manager gave me an option to go for a cooling gel instead of oil for my therapy I immediately said a yes. There is otherwise a cooling treatment too that the spa is offering in its summer menu.
The changing area was quite spacious with steam, sauna, shower cubicles, lockers and large dressing area. The highlight was the ice fountain that dispensed crushed ice. So after quick sauna and steam, I cooled my body with crushed ice. My therapist Anu tells me that the hot and cold treatment works well for muscle relaxation. So if you are an avid gym goer this will work wonderfully for you.
Shayana Spa has five treatment rooms including a couple suite. Each treatment room has a different name and purpose. So there is an Ayurveda room, a room which has an onyx Hammam bed for beauty treatments and so on. Each room has some varied features, like the couple suite comes with a gorgeous view while the Hammam treatment room has an experience shower that leaves a misty fragrance. Aren’t the details always interesting?
Room With a View: Couple Therapy Room at Shanaya, the Spa.
My treatment started with a foot ritual. The therapist then gave a dry massage for my back followed with gel massage. She again gave a relaxing 30 minute dry massage for rest of my body followed with gel again. Since she alternated between dry and oil massage, if my body could talk it would have told my therapist Anu how much it loved the rhythm of the treatment. The gel used was a soothing concoction of aloe vera and menthol. My earlier experience with a dry massage has been the Thai massage that I opted for at a small spa in Koh Samui, Thailand. It was undoubtedly relaxing but involved lot of stretching. The dry massage that I experienced at Shanaya however did not involve stretching but medium pressure using thumb, fingers and even forearms on vital points to relax the muscles. It was a complete experience with ten minutes of head massage in the end.
After 90-minutes my therapy came to an end leaving me relaxed and rejuvenated. Knowing that Kempinski is an international luxury hospitality brand and having read some rave reviews about it’s foreign properties, my expectations from the spa were pretty high. I wasn’t disappointed as Shanaya and its staff met all my expectations. The Shanaya Salon that offers various beauty services is located next to the spa.
A pedicure is what you need? Hit the Shanaya Salon
As I made my way from the spa to the hotel porch, the al fresco spaces of the hotel looked beautiful and inviting as it had started raining. With this spa review I am glad I have unearthed a hidden gem in Delhi for readers of The Hotel Explorer. In case you are looking for a day spa in Delhi do go through the offers on their website. And if you are checked-in at the hotel, well I am envious of how much fun you are going to have.
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(Disclaimer: The writer was invited by Kempinski Hotel team to experience their spa. )
Fast Facts
Summary:Located in East Delhi, Shanaya Spa is a hidden gem when it comes to Spas.
