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Tag: Himalayan mountains

  • ‘Yoga capital of the world’ has caught the eye of luxury hotel groups

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    Nestled at the very north of India in the Himalayan mountains, the sacred Hindu city of Rishikesh is often called the “Yoga Capital of the World.” The city’s history as the birthplace of the spiritual practice fuels its present-day status as a hub where yogis and sages gather to learn and meditate.

    Rishikesh and the area around it have seen rising tourism from those looking to expand their yoga practice and learn about the city’s legacy.

    Amid the broader travel trend of “wellness tourism,” multiple travel agencies have marketed wellness-style trips to Rishikesh. In 2023 and 2024, the number of international visitors to the previously sleepy city neared one million for the first time, per Hotelier India.

    With this growing interest, several hotel groups have set their sights on Rishikesh as the place to open new properties. At the start of 2026, French hotel giant Accor announced plans to open the new 160-room Sofitel Rishikesh Narendra Nagar in 2030.

    Located in the Narendra Nagar town 10 miles outside of historic Rishikesh, the 160-room luxury resort is slated to overlook the River Ganges on over eight acres of land that feature gardens, a river, swimming pools, and yoga rooms for a meditation-inspired experience.

    Related: Mexico just crushed the US when it comes to luxury hotels

    “Sofitel Rishikesh Narendra Nagar will embody harmony and rejuvenation, blending the soulful energy of the Himalayas with Sofitel’s timeless French elegance,” Sofitel Legend CEO Maud Bailly said in a statement. “This extraordinary resort reflects our vision of crafting immersive luxury experiences that connect guests with culture, nature, and wellness.”

    In November 2025, Indian luxury hotel group Empire Hospitality also opened a new Country Inn Premier hotel in Rishikesh. The 31-suite property sits at the foot of the Lakshman Jhula suspension bridge, which crosses the Ganges and is commonly associated with the city.

    The sacred Hindu city of Rishikesh has emerged as a new wellness tourism hotspot.Shutterstock · Shutterstock

    New Delhi-based Oberoi Group is also developing two new luxury hotels in the city. Construction begins later this year on the 80-room luxury Oberoi Resort and the 120-room property under the Trident brand, in partnership with Indian hospitality conglomerate The Ladhani Group.

    Both are slated to open to guests by 2029.

    Travel news:

    “Rishikesh is a destination of immense cultural and natural significance, and we are committed to developing resorts that celebrate its beauty while offering guests world-class experiences,” Ladhani Group Chairman Shri S.N. Ladhani, who passed away in May 2025, said in a March 2025 statement to Constro Facilitator.

    On Jan. 20, the Indian branch of travel company Thomas Cook also welcomed visitors to the new Nature Trails Rishikesh resort on four acres of land next to Rajaji National Park.

    The Nature Trails portfolio already has four properties in Indian cities such as Maharashtra and Goa, among others. In unveiling its expansion plan, the outdoor and experiential hospitality resort brand highlighted the rise in spiritual and outdoor wellness retreat tourism.

    (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a trip.)

    Please make a free appointment with TheStreet’s Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.

    Related: Unexpected country is most luxurious travel destination for 2026

    This story was originally published by TheStreet on Jan 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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  • Seven Italian climbers missing in Nepal as storms, avalanches leave 9 dead

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    Seven Italian climbers are missing in Nepal’s Himalayan mountains after heavy snowstorms and avalanches have killed at least nine people in recent days.

    Three Italian climbers were among five foreigners and two Nepali guides who were confirmed killed on Monday when a huge avalanche smashed through a base camp near the summit of Mount Yalung Ri in Nepal’s Himalayan range, according to reports.

    Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday that local authorities had confirmed the deaths of the three Italian climbers, but there “remains no news of seven other Italian nationals” who have been reported missing.

    “In recent days, several areas of the Nepalese Himalayas have been affected by a series of avalanches that have struck numerous mountaineers, including Italian citizens,” the ministry said.

    “Communication between local authorities, rescue teams, and the diplomatic missions of the countries involved continues to be extremely challenging,” the ministry added.

    Nepal’s Department of Tourism director, Himal Gautam, said there was no immediate information about the fate of the seven people reported missing.

    Nepal’s Himalayan Times newspaper reported on Wednesday that the bodies of an Italian and a French climber were recovered from the site of the avalanche that struck a group of 12 people at their base camp on Mount Yalung Ri on Monday.

    The seven people killed at the camp included three Italians, two Nepalis, a German and a French climber and, according to the newspaper, five others were rescued, including three Nepalis and two French nationals.

    French survivor Isabelle Solange Thaon, 54, who lost her husband, Christian Manfred, in the avalanche on Yalung Ri, told The Associated Press news agency that she was lucky to have survived with another French climber, Didier Armand.

    “We were lucky,” Thaon said from her hospital bed in the capital Kathmandu, adding that she had jumped over rocks and swam in the snow of the avalanche until help arrived to pull them out.

    “Unfortunately, Christian died … because rocks hit his head,” she said of her late husband.

    Mount Yalung Ri, located in the Rolwaling Valley of northeastern Nepal, is a 5,600-metre (18,370-foot) peak considered suitable for novice mountaineers.

    On Friday, in western Nepal, contact was lost with two Italian climbers, who were later confirmed to have died while attempting to scale the 6,887-metre (22,595-foot) Panbari mountain.

    Nepal was hit last week by unseasonal rains and heavy snow due to the impact of Cyclone Montha, which left many trekkers and tourists stranded on popular Himalayan trekking routes.

    Nepalese authorities have issued alerts to trekkers and climbers in the country, which is home to eight of the world’s 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest, and which are visited by many foreign and local trekkers and climbers each year.

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