Angsana Oasis Spa & Resort: All for physical and spiritual well-being

Tired of the same old spas? Check out Angsana Oasis Spa & Resort near Bangalore. It offers something called the Thaiyurveda. As the name suggests, it is mix of Thai massage and the traditional Ayurvedic massage with hydrotherapy thrown in. It involves a complete head-to-toe treatment, giving you a feeling of good health and well being. Thaiyurveda works wonders on back pain, insomnia, mental tension, and stiff necks and shoulders. Besides, it improves muscle tone and boosts energy levels. Owned by Nawabzada Omar Bin Jung of the Prestige Group and managed by the Angsana Resorts & Spa (a sister brand of Banyan Tree Hotels), Angsana Oasis offers a range of other massages, including Maui massage and a sensual massage (don't get any ideas; sensual as in of senses). Room fares at the spa-named after a tropical forest tree whose golden flowers bloom and close randomly-range from $110 (Rs 5,280) for an executive room to $215 (Rs 10,320) for a suite per day. These are, of course, rack rates. The spa runs different promotions and schemes, which offer the rooms at more attractive rates. But what's a few hundred rupees when it comes to healing the soul.

For details contact: 080-846 8893; email: bangalore@angsana.com

-Venkatesha Babu

Saravana Bhavan's: Fool-proof recipe

Batter-made

A dosa is a dosa is a dosa, right? Never. Not just because you could easily find more than a dozen varieties of dosa at any decent South Indian eatery. Also because a lot of skill goes into making that paper roast-it's like the McDonald's fries. It's that belief which has made Saravana Bhavan a 24-outlet (five of them in Dubai, Singapore and the US) hotel chain, with more than a hundred thousand customers walking in every day. Now, the Chennai-headquartered chain, which makes 370 different dishes, has come to the heart of Delhi. Founded by P. "Annachi" Rajagopal, a grocer-turned-hotelier, Sarvana is a no-nonsense experience. The food is superb, the service prompt, and the damage reasonable. Does the formula work? Well, consider that Annachi opened his first joint only in 1981, and today it could be raking in at least Rs 100 crore a year (one lakh customers a day multiplied by an average ticket size of Rs 30).

China Town

Kolkatans are fiercely possessive about many things concerning their city. But if there's one thing they're most proud of, it is their opinions. About anything. The general opinion about Chinese restaurants in Kolkata is that the best of them are in Tangra, a Chinese colony in the eastern part of town, dotted with tanneries and, now, nearly a 100 restaurants-from mom 'n pop cubbyholes to golden dragon-festooned plush joints. We checked out one called Kim Fa (there are loads of others to choose from), which a friend described as a speakeasy (the liquor is sold in bottles and don't ask for a formal receipt!). The cuisine's a melange of everything-Cantonese, Schezuan, you name it. So you've got to stretch your notions about Chinese food a bit. But get in there through the meandering lanes and lunatic traffic and don't be surprised to find top-notch lawyers rubbing shoulders with truckers and happy middle-class families. Oh! And if you've a stomach for chillies, that's the place for you.