The Leela Coorg Forest Sanctuary, where the forest becomes the spa
High in India’s Western Ghats, 71 private villas sit among ancient forest and coffee plantations, with forest bathing, Aujasya wellness and a coffee trail from bean to cup.
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A wellness holiday used to mean a massage and a few quiet hours by the pool. Today travellers want more: real time in nature, meaningful rest and the chance to properly switch off. Hidden high in India’s Western Ghats, The Leela Coorg Forest Sanctuary brings these ideas together in a retreat shaped as much by its surroundings as by what happens inside the spa.
The resort spreads across 76 acres of ancient forest and coffee plantations, set within one of Coorg’s oldest coffee estates. Its 71 private villas are surrounded by lakes, waterfalls and dense greenery, and the property is IGBC Platinum certified.
When the forest becomes the spa
One practice drawing particular attention here is shinrin yoku, or forest bathing. Born in Japan, it has little to do with hiking. The idea is simply to slow down, spend time among the trees and notice the sights, sounds and sensations of the forest. Studies have linked it with lower stress and anxiety and a reduced heart rate.
The forest is full of life, home to hundreds of indigenous species including the Indian giant flying squirrel, the Malabar gliding frog and the Indian bark praying mantis, while an aviary lets guests feed rare and beautiful birds.
Aujasya by The Leela
The brand’s signature wellness concept, Aujasya by The Leela, occupies a 27,000 square foot wellness centre with outdoor treatment spaces and a Vinyasa yoga deck overlooking the lake. Personalised therapies draw on Indian traditions and are guided by the Trinity of Balance: Shakti for energy and vitality, Shanti for inner peace and Soumya for inner beauty, whether through science backed experiences, ancient Indian rituals or thoughtfully crafted meal plans.
From bean to cup
Coorg’s coffee heritage runs through the stay. Guests are introduced to the stages that turn the coffee cherry into the bean, a process of craft, patience and precision, before a tasting at the 92 Degrees Artisanal Coffee Lounge and Library connects the land to the cup.
It is a fresh expression of luxury: less about what a hotel can fit within its walls, and more about the experiences that lie just beyond them.