Sustainable luxury travel with Six Senses in India

India has always attracted global travellers seeking wellness, wisdom, and wonder. Now it also attracts those looking for sustainable luxury during their Indian odyssey. Few global brands embody this better than Six Senses, who seamlessly manage to blend indulgence with responsibility at each and every one of their resorts.

They introduced refillable ceramic dispensers for bathroom amenities and replaced single use plastic water bottles with glass bottles way before it became ‘fashionable’ to do so. In fact, they have only ever used refillable ceramic dispensers since they launched in 1995 and their resorts have been free of single use plastic bottles since 2003. But the Six Senses commitment to sustainable practices means that their sustainability journey is far from over as they continue to be “considerate custodians of the places where they reside”. Waste and water management systems have been developed to reduce impact, whilst multiple initiatives have been introduced to protect the surrounding habitat and support local communities. Expansive on site gardens have allowed them to produce fruits and vegetables to be served in their restaurants whilst the excellent ‘Eat with Six Senses’ philosophy places food at the centre of wellbeing with creative and innovative menus that nourish and delight whilst respecting the planet. They are currently working towards 40% of all menus being plant based as part of this planet friendly initiative. Sustainable luxury travel with Six Senses is an ever developing commitment that most certainly leads from the front and continues to set standards for the industry.

Their two unique resorts in India demonstrate exactly how these commitments work in practice. Six Senses Fort Barwara in Rajasthan is a converted 14th century fort that oozes ancient history while offering every modern comfort. Six Senses Vana in Dehradun is a modern sanctuary where silence, trees and stylish design invite guests to slow down and recharge. Travellers often pass through Jaipur on their way to Barwara, and Rishikesh when heading for Vana. Both cities are destinations in their own right, Jaipur with its colour, chaos and bustling streets, Rishikesh with its yoga, meditation and river rituals. Both are truly unique destinations that provide the perfect gateways to these truly distinctive resorts.

Our experience at Six Senses Fort Barwara

We had waited years to step through the majestic gates of Six Senses Fort Barwara. First there was the decade long restoration and development of the fort itself, then our own travel delays around the pandemic. By the time we arrived our anticipation was high but the first glimpse of the monumental walls rising from the landscape did not disappoint. Nor did the warm welcome, complete with a blessing and smiles from the hospitable team. The transformation from ancient fort to luxury resort had clearly been delivered with great care. Original stonework and centuries old domes stand proudly beside modern spaces that somehow blend respectfully. Courtyards open onto quiet corners whilst pools shimmer beneath the arches.

At night the fort glows with lanterns casting shadows onto the ancient walls. Service throughout was professional yet personal, the kind that makes you feel both cared for when required, yet left alone to enjoy the peace at other times. It was easy to forget time here with our days passing way too quickly between pool time, spa treatments, culinary explorations and simply wandering through the fort in amazement. We had expected equal measures of history and luxury, which is exactly what we experienced during our stay at Six Senses Fort Barwara.

Eat with Six Senses at Fort Barwara

Food plays a starring role in all of our vegan travel adventures and that was most certainly the case at Six Senses Fort Barwara. Our days started with long and lazy breakfasts at Cortile with everything from smoothie bowls and coconut chia puddings, to masala dosa and idli that reminded us we were in India. We enjoyed baked vegetables that were rich, smoky, and comforting and pani puri with their crispy shells filled at the table with spiced water and chutneys that were delicious.

Everything was prepared with care with fruits, vegetables and herbs sourced responsibly either from the on site garden or local farmers where possible. We loved that our food was not only about taste but also about reducing impact. Plant based dishes were certainly not side notes, they were front and centre, to be celebrated. Eating more plants is not just healthy for us, it can also be healthy for the planet and this is one of the reasons that Six Senses have committed to expanding their veggie, vegan and plant based options as part of their Eat with Six Senses philosophy.

Farah Condor, director of Eat with Six Senses talked about “menus taking a cleaner and simpler approach to preparation, focusing on quality, balance and fresh whole food made from scratch” and “endeavouring to grow as much produce as we can within the walls of our hotels and resorts, be that through Six Senses’ organic gardens, mushroom huts or using hydroponics.” We never once felt limited by eating vegan food during our stay, in fact quite the opposite with our final night off menu vegan thali platter proving exactly that. It was quite simply one of the finest Indian thali we’ve ever had the pleasure to eat, thank you Chef Charul!

Sustainable initiatives at Six Senses Fort Barwara

Sustainability is not a box ticking exercise at Six Sense Fort Barwara. It is part of daily life at the resort and also in their efforts to support the surrounding villages and communities. Whilst water is purified and bottled on site for guests, water purification systems have also been installed in a local government hospital and school. Whilst organic fruit and vegetables are grown on site, they are also grown in partnerships with local farmers before being purchased for use at the resort. This demonstrates how responsible and sustainable tourism can have multiple benefits for not only guests, but the neighbours and local communities alike.

At Fort Barwara we visited Earth Lab, a space where guests learn, experiment, and talk about how we can collectively reduce our impact on the planet. Here we saw natural repellents and deodorants being made, without chemicals, safe for people and safe for the environment. It was hands on, making it a fun and informative activity for adults and children alike. When asked about Earth Lab, Jeff Smith, Vice President of Sustainability at Six Senses, told us that “finding fun ways for guests to interact with their sustainability and community efforts is an important initiative at each of our locations”. For us, once again seeing these commitments in action furthered our respect for the brand as it felt like luxury with a conscience and without compromise.

Our experience at Six Senses Vana

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If Six Senses Fort Barwara was about experiencing history Six Senses Vana was about enjoying peaceful contemplation. From the moment we drove through the gates, the world outside seemed to fall away. Vana was already known as one of India’s leading wellness retreats for a decade before becoming part of the Six Senses brand in 2023, and it now carries that enhanced reputation with ease. Everything here is designed for stillness and being at one with yourself. Phones are kept away in public areas and all guests wear soft cotton kurta, which makes everyone look equal, free from choices about what to wear and how to appear. It might sound restrictive, but we found it liberating.

Our days took on a rhythm shaped by consultations, treatments, meals, and rest. Kila, the central hub at Six Senses Vana, was where we began and ended each of our days, a striking building filled with light and calm with peaceful relaxation areas and a library packed with inspirational books and publications. The grounds were beautifully manicured whilst the surrounding forest was wild and alive. Favourite spots included the reflection pond where it was easy to contemplate life and our stunning Forest Suite where we could have gazed into the depths of the forest for hours on end.

By the end of our stay we felt lighter, not just in body but in mind, it was as if layers of noise and stress had been peeled away to reveal our inner sense of calm and wellbeing.

Eat with Six Senses at Vana

Meals at Six Senses Vana presented us with two options, choose from the a la carte menu and extensive buffet or follow the dietary plans set following our wellness consultations. When ordering from the menu or selecting from the buffet, the knowledgable staff were always on hand to advise which dishes suited our constitution which meant we rarely ate the same dish. One of us was Pitta with the other being Vata, so every meal began with a curious look at the other plate. Sometimes envy crept in but never disappointment as Chef Rajesh and his team managed to deliver food that was both nourishing and full of flavour each and every time.

The food was quite simply beautiful too, a vegetable wrap served on wilted spinach and pumpkin cream with a vibrant beetroot latte, followed by a small and delicate chocolate dessert that was light yet deeply satisfying. The thali platters were our favourites, the round tray with mini bowls, each of them filled with balancing ingredients in line with what our doctors had prescribed. What stood out most was the attention to detail. Vegan food was not tucked away on a separate page or adjusted as an afterthought. It was part of the fabric of every menu. Even the buffets had clear labels for each dish, something we rarely see executed so well.

The staff knew the answers when we asked about ingredients with no need to check with the kitchen which gave us confidence to simply enjoy our food. Portions were smaller than we usually serve ourselves at home, but strangely we were never hungry afterwards. It made us aware of how often we overeat without realising. Leaving the table satisfied but comfortable was something we wanted to carry back home with us.

Wellness at Six Senses Vana

The wellness programme at Six Senses Vana was wide ranging yet personal. Our first consultations with Dr Jaya and Dr Sopa were thorough and intensive, but for all of the right reasons. They asked questions about sleep, moods, digestion and even things we had never previously considered to connect with wellness. From those initial consultations, our days were filled with yoga, guided meditation, acupuncture, and therapies rooted in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine. Some treatments were gentle, like the muslin potli massages where warm bundles of herbs were pressed into the skin and released tension.

Others, like deep tissue massages, were more intense but left us feeling alive and rejuvenated. The Ayurveda centre carried an atmosphere of calm and quiet respect whilst the Bodhi Tree was the perfect location for yoga and meditation. We found ourselves looking forward to those moments of calm as much as any meal. Wellness here was not something separate from the rest of our retreat, it was a truly holistic approach and it shaped every part of our stay, from the way we moved to the way we ate and even how we rested.

Staying with Six Senses in India showed us two sides of the same philosophy. At Six Senses Fort Barwara, history and heritage were given new life with thoughtful design and mindful living. At Six Senses Vana, silence and simplicity reminded us of what we really needed. During our stays at both of these luxury resorts, healthy food nourished us, holistic wellness guided us, and sustainable practices underpinned our overall experience. Luxury here did not feel excessive, it felt meaningful. For travellers seeking more than just comfort and luxury, but for those who want to care for themselves and the world around them, these two incredible Six Senses resorts in India offer a truly memorable experience.

Paul Eyers

Paul Eyers is co-founder of Vegan Food Quest who write about luxury hotels and resorts in Southeast Asia with a focus on sustainable travel, eco travel and vegan travel. Currently based in Malaysia, Paul also writes about sporting events and some of the finest golf courses throughout the region.