The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) has launched a new luxury property in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.

The Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa, Uttarakhand has opened 25 rooms and a café as part of a soft launch ahead of its official opening in November.

When complete, the property will boast 79 rooms and villas, as well as a comprehensive Jiva spa and three restaurants, including an all-day diner, a speciality restaurant offering local cuisine and an open-air pizza bar.

The Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa - the group’s third property in the state - is located 30km from downtown Rishikesh, a city renowned as a centre for yoga and meditation due to its proximity to the river Ganges, which is considered holy. The resort is spread across 12.5 acres of terraced gardens which also sit along the river, with all guest rooms offering panoramic views of its waters. 

Puneet Chhatwal, managing director and chief executive officer of IHCL, branded the opening “an exciting new addition to IHCL’s expanding resort portfolio”.

He said: “With its idyllic setting and unrestricted views of the Himalayas, the resort is well positioned to tap into the growing potential of the wellness and spiritual tourism market. This is consistent with our commitment to offer global travellers new and unique experiences in hospitality.”

The hotel’s general manager Devraj Singh added: “Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa is ideally located to enjoy nature while also staying connected to the pulse of Rishikesh. I am looking forward to welcoming our guests to this spectacular new resort with its exclusive villas and secluded beach.”

Taj is the luxury brand of IHCL operating 47 hotels in 34 locations. Other brands under the IHCL umbrella include Vivanta, Ginger, SeleQtions and The Gateway.