Swiss capsule

Manpriya Singh

As much as the famed chocolate, cheese and Rolex, Swiss conjures up images of the black market (oops, money). It’s an open secret that they hoard (or are believed to) a quarter of the nation’s wealth. Well, after some money, how about some health?

That too a well being and medical health resort for diagnostics, prevention and rehabilitation at that? Foothills of Alps take things to an exponential level.

“Even though a small percentage of our guests are Indians, we are very sure that is all set to increase. Our guests are usually not the first time visitors to Switzerland but given the increasing health awareness, that is all set to change,” Kathrin Boerger Bechtold, director business development, is all hopeful that India is waiting to happen to Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Switzerland. Or vice versa. “We are deeply rooted in health traditions. Thermal water found in the 12th century and used in the resort formed in 1868 continues to be the driving force in all wellness and health programmes,” she adds, while in Chandigarh to promote the five-star property as one-stop holistic health destination.

Authentic offering

One hour away from Zurich and intact with two gold courses and an in-house casino, the place boasts of entertainment as much as wellness. All set to head for Kamalaya Resort in Thailand, after the Indian tour, she talks of alternative health practices.

“We do not see other places and wellness resorts like the Ananda in the Himalayas in competition, rather a step in positive direction if there are more properties dedicated to health and well being.” Nevertheless, there is a beauty in being deep rooted. “For instance, we were once practicing Ayurveda but realised that it could not be followed as a whole. We’d rather focus on what is authentic to us because that comes naturally.”

Guest list

So, no famous Indian guests? She smiles, “Indian guests demand privacy among other things and we believe in and totally respect the privacy of our Indian guests.” Nevertheless, a little insistence elicits only a few names, comprising the likes of, “tennis player Roger Federer, soccer teams like Liverpool, German soccer teams, many writers, scientists and philosophers. Our medical centre is a certified health centre for the Olympic team.”

As for the Indian travellers, well, when it comes to Switzerland, Indian curiosity travels way beyond resort guest list and goes right up till Swiss banks.