Rest, Recovery and Rejuvenation— these should be your summer mantra. And for this you need to escape to the scenic hills for a tranquil, uncrowded, leisure break.

Forest bathing or the Japanese concept of “shinrin-yoku” in Japanese, emerged in the 1980s. What it does to participants in this exceptional back-to- nature activity is that it allows them to immerse themselves completely in the powerful energy and exquisite calm that permeates the forests in one’s natural ecosystems. This nurturing abandonment to Nature’s healing properties should be definitely on your bucket list in the summer of 2025.

Whether business engagements bring you to India this time of the year, or you are visiting family in the summer holidays we strongly recommend you escape to the generous verdure of Uttarakhand’s hilly expanses, close to the sacred waters of the Ganga, near the yoga hub of Rishikesh.

Nestled in four acres of protected forest, is The Foresterie, lovingly built with great thoughtfulness, to provide a luxurious retreat of calm and healing, far away from the hustle and bustle of the holy pilgrimage town.

Positioned as India's first Activotel, The Foresterie indulges your whims in the most appealing way. If its adventure that gets your adrenaline jumping, or slow travel is your new found passion The Foresterie is happy to accommodate your desires in the most memorable ways.

In The Foresterie you will find the idyllic solitude, privacy and isolation, all the components of the new luxury you seek to indulge body and soul at an unhurried pace. The occasional alarm call of the barking deer, the cough of a wandering leopard, the cry of an eagle, wheeling way up high in a cloudless blue sky— all remind you that it is here you should succumb to the charms of nature in these wilderness spaces. Don’t be surprised if it becomes your special place, as you mark your days here with pearly dawns, vivid sunsets and star-spangled skies.

The residential villas, named after the two rivers, the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi, which have created this beautiful valley, become a world of your own for the duration of your sojourn in these splendid riverside environs. The forest is never far away as the glass frontage joyfully allows the outdoors to come in. Both residences feature three bedrooms each; there’s a master bedroom and two that can transform into two bedrooms. If you have a largish party, the study can transform into a sleep space for two; it has an independent bathroom as well. Nice! You will love the vast sprawl of the living area and the outdoors decks; one even has a shared jacuzzi pool. The dining hall is lovely for gatherings for yummy meals, love, laughter and fun—Great space for some quality bonding. If you have staff travelling with you, they can be housed and taken care of at Aquaterra Adventures’ nearby camp at Byasi, just 1 ½ kilometres away.

What’s also a relief is the excellent connectivity, with 4G available on Airtel, Vodafone, Jio. The Foresterie also offers Wifi services and TVs in the master and living room, in both villas.

You can indulge the adventurer in you in slew of activities revolving around the mountain trails or the river itself. Whitewater Rafting and kayaking on the Ganga, guided treks, hikes and nature walks in sal forests, birding and mountain biking etc— are par for the course. You can follow your footsteps to hidden villages such as Majhli, Sarasu, or Byasi, ambling along jungle trails; these offer you a window to life lived in the rural pockets of these hills.

Looking for a slower pace? Measure out your days with swimming, spa sessions, yoga, sundowners by the plunge pool, star-gazing and camping at nearby sites.

Take a pause— Opt for a total digital detox. Put in a request for a wonderful forest bathing experience, in which you can just amble along a forest trail, soaking in the sights and sounds of your verdant environs at a leisurely pace; let your senses do all the talking— there’s no need to rush, just simply soak that all in; return refreshed and rejuvenated to your villa.

The Foresterie is the dream child of Sid Singh, a professional with over 28 years of experience in the healthcare and consumer industries. It has emerged from his passion for sustainability and living in nature. Helping Sid make his dream come true has been adventure specialist Vaibhav Kala, of Aquaterra Adventures, for whom the Indian Himalaya are the bedrock of his personal passion and work ethic, played out in endless explorations with carefully curated mountain and river trips since 1992.

So, what are you waiting for? Head to the hills and the embrace of The Foresterie, at Atali Dogi, Milestone 30, Badrinath Road, Rishikesh. Time waits for no one!