The Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort, New Chandigarh

The sojourn at Sukhvilas was the second stop on a curated visit to India organised by Sunit Mukija, the GM of Wildflower Hall, to a selection of Oberoi properties. Here are the key elements for future travellers to consider:- 1) The flight with Air India from Indira Gandhi IA was effortless and executed perfectly. Chandigarh Airport was highly efficient, and my driver was visible on exiting the airport within minutes of arrival. 2) My induction at the hotel was perfect with my Guest Relations Co-Ordinator on hand and the GM. Check-in was another effortless experience. Most exciting was that Chef Rajiv Vatsyayan was on hand to begin to steer me on a journey of curated meals. 3) The tented villa was exquisite, full of charm and romance and set in discreet surroundings. The main room felt like a Bedouin tent, maybe that echoed the Moghul tradition, and the Bathroom was the last word in luxury. 4) Restaurant Kaanan, like the rest of the hotel, is steeped in the design traditions of the Punjab. The brass work and the plaster carving, and the window sets all echo centuries-old traditions. It gives the sense that you are stepping into real India, but at the highest level of craftsmanship. The musicians playing, the flute one night, and I believe a Sarangi, the third night, added to the sense of authenticity. The taped music was music, not muzak. The dishes I ate there on the 1st and 3rd nights were perfectly judged and offered a real insight into local Punjabi food. Punjab is the breadbasket of India, and so the ingredients are teeming with taste. On the second and fourth nights, the meals, though entirely different, were the perfect answer to my requests, and it was so sensible to go Asian on the middle night. 5) Breakfast, this hotel boasts as good a selection of hot dishes served at to table as any hotel I have stayed at. I am always banging on about how five-star operations should not put hot food in a kaddish and leave it to stand for minutes on end. Sukhvilas exemplifies how to serve breakfast. 6) The excursions to Chandigarh and Amritsar were more than a tick box; they were a combination of a highly educational eye opener (Chandigarh) and profound and deeply moving (Amritsar). I was also blessed to be accompanied by a very knowledgeable and dedicated guide, and both drivers pursued the task of driving through the unique experience that is India with great skill and care. TripAdvisor encourages special mentions. I only have one. The entire team. Every single exchange was imbued with a sincere desire to support my comfort and enhance my stay, and each request was dealt with in a timely and appropriate manner. My sincere thanks to Rathijit Dutta and his team. Context I began staying at Oberoi properties in 2013 with the Oberoi Mauritius and am a paying guest who is part of the Oberoi One program.

From the moment we arrived at The Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort, New Chandigarh, everything felt seamless and magical. The welcome and check-in were incredibly smooth, setting the tone for what turned out to be an unforgettable stay. We were whisked away in a golf cart through lush greenery to our luxury tent with a private pool — and honestly, it felt like stepping into another world. We reached by evening, and the first thing we did was take a refreshing swim in our private pool, followed by an intimate dinner by the poolside under the stars. The night ended in the comfort of our lavish tent, where luxury meets nature in the most elegant way. Morning came with the singing of birds — a gentle reminder that this retreat is tucked away in the Kerkar forest, at the foothills of the Shivaliks. A serene walk in the forest trails followed by a wholesome breakfast spread made us feel completely recharged. The highlight of the day was the world-class Oberoi spa — a sanctuary of Ayurveda, hydrotherapy, and pure relaxation. By the end of our stay, it truly felt like an experience out of this world ✨ Whether you’re looking for a weekend escape, a wellness retreat, or just pure luxury in the lap of nature, The Oberoi Sukhvilas is where you’ll find it.