Stay Well In Delhi With These Healthy Things To Do

Health and wellness may not be the first things that spring to mind when thinking of India’s capital city Delhi – yet there are a variety of ways to stay fit and healthy here.

Delhi’s obsession with health and wellness has been growing steadily over recent years. Now, with a wealth of wellness activities to explore, clean living seems to be a trend that’s taken hold in India’s capital city. Here are a few things to try once you’ve overdosed on the Mughlai kebabs and butter chicken the city is famous for.

Fill your tummy with fresh, local and organic ingredients

Delhi has recently seen a host of health-conscious, farm-to-table style restaurants pop up, that only use fresh, local and organic ingredients. Try:

2. Caara at Ogaan

Restaurant, Healthy, Vegetarian

Ambika Seth and Alice Helme opened their first restaurant in 2018. Caara – a catering service which also runs cooking classes – now has three branches across Delhi. From the catering service and culinary classes to the restaurant, the ethos has never wavered; nutritious, tasty, fresh food. Using organic, and natural ingredients sourced from local farmers and their own organic farm, the food here is as good as its quality ingredients. “People are well travelled, they know what they want and question where their food comes from. That is why Caara is very sensitive about the source of its ingredients; be it chemical-free produce from our own farms or supporting local artisanal suppliers.” says Ambika. Try the pesto burrata salad, or the eggs benedict.

3. The Prodigal Farms

Farm Shop, Healthy

“Since the inception of the farm, our aim has been to create a community space where local practices and art forms flow along with traditional and lost food recipes and produce,” says Neha Bhatia, the founder of TPF. The Wellness Experience: Yoga & Brekkie, includes an hour-long yoga session taught by a certified instructor, after which guests dig into a scrumptious breakfast prepared with the finest farm-fresh produce. Other experiences include a guided farm tour where you can get your hands dirty and experience life as a farmer, picking your own fresh fruit and vegetables, before trying a four-course menu and detox beverages. The farm focuses on growing seasonal local produce, farm-to-table menus and curating sustainable farm experiences.

Try an alternative fitness class

Tired of taking a car or metro everywhere in a city where walking isn’t always appealing? Rock climbing, pole dancing and boxing are just some of the ways in which you can stay fit while in Delhi.

4. Boulder Box

Gym

You’ll find state-of-the art facilities and indoor walls spread over two floors at Boulder Box’s air conditioned gym. Bouldering is a superb full-body workout that involves problem solving, strength and persistence. For those who haven’t climbed before or are looking for a refresher, there are classes available with the seasoned and friendly instructors.

5. Vesna’s Alta Celo

Fitness Studio

As the push to make pole dancing an Olympic sport continues apace, try your hand at this challenging workout at Vesna’s Alta Celo Studio in Kailash Hills. “In the last 15 years Delhi has seen a great increase in the number of gyms as well as sporting and skill-building activities as an alternative to a regular gym. Pole fitness is just starting to make its presence known, thanks to the global rage and popularity of the discipline. It focuses on the physical aspect/skill development rather than exotic aspect of the pole art, making it a perfect conditioning instrument while still learning a new and fun skill, plus it looks really cool. So it’s a win-win,” says Vesna Jacobs, founder of this pilates and pole studio. You may experience some head-spinning moments, but the sensuality and thrill of swinging your body weight on the pole is tough to beat.

6. BoxFit

Gym

With two prominent locations in Delhi, Boxfit has a range of workouts that’ll improve strength and technique, and is a heavy-hitter on the calories burned. The uplifting playlists here keep the sweat levels high and the temperature up. A true test of your stamina and endurance, this is a workout for a stronger mind and body. “People are not only looking for physical fitness but have also started seeing fitness as a way to beat stress and improve their mental wellbeing. For them, fitness is as much about building mental strength as it is about building physical strength,” says Rahul Kaul, the founder of Boxfit.

Explore Delhi’s green spaces

7. Sunder Nursery

Market, Park

Sunder wala Tomb at Sunder Nursery compound

This heritage park was built by the Mughals back in the 16th century, and it’s back on the map after extensive renovations in 2017 transformed the space. Spread over a massive 90 acres (36 hectares) and containing more than 15 Mughal monuments, it’s an ideal place to visit on a sunny winter afternoon. On Sundays, pop-up organic market The Earth Collective sets up stalls piled with fresh produce, homemade pickles, artisanal cheese and traditional Indian home remedies

8. Zorba The Buddha

Sports Center

One of the largest spiritual centres in the world, the director Ashwin Bharti thinks of Zorba as “a cultural village where people from all walks of life come to find peace, creative expression and freedom”. Workshops range from yoga to sound healing, and dance festivals to meditation. This is the space for free-spirited souls searching for more on their visit to Delhi.

And finally, pamper yourself with the Luxe Pass

The Luxe Pass gives visitors access to amenities at some of Delhi’s best hotels, including gym, spa and pool services, without paying for an overnight stay. For a day when you want nothing but pure relaxation, pick your favourite hotel and indulge in a massage, or a steam and sauna. This is the perfect pass to de-stress and relax.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.