Announcing the launch of Engel Ayurpura – https://ayurpura.hotel-engel.com/en – in November 2023: a new standalone boutique property for adults in search of the perfect Ayurveda retreat in the spectacular surroundings of the Italian Dolomites.

Situated 20km from Bolzano in Nova Levante (1182m), a charming South Tyrolean village in the peaceful Val d’Ega/Eggental, Engel Ayurpura is a stylish associate of, but a separate entity from, the Hotel Engel – an established favourite for active family holidays. Engel translates as angel, Ayur is an abbreviation of Ayurveda, and the Sanskrit word Pura means house or castle, with an added connotation of purity.

Engel Ayurpura’s interior and external design has been conceived to sit comfortably in its mountain setting, the angular roof line echoing the crags of the celebrated Rosengarten massif. Using reclaimed wood and natural materials, it blends into the landscape and makes the most of a sunny south-facing aspect.

The interior is sleek and sophisticated, with clean lines and natural tones. In addition to 15 guest rooms, including two suites and one loft suite each with a freestanding bath and private sauna, there are 12 Ayurveda treatment rooms, a yoga shala with forest views, a cosy lounge with an open fireplace and library, and the Atelier, where mindfulness or health-themed lectures and a range of courses, such as meditative painting and floristry, are held.

The Spa, complete with relaxation room and tea bar, has a panoramic sundeck overlooking the outdoor salt-water pool, a sauna secluded by trees, and a delightful flower-filled garden with loungers and walking trails. The rooftop relaxation area has infrared heated loungers and is especially inviting at the end of the day when the cliffs of the Rosengarten turn pink in the setting sun.

The restaurant will be run by Claudio Denti, a Sardinian with a passion for Ayurvedic cooking and a love of sharing his skills in classes held in the beautiful show kitchen. Guests can choose between dining in privacy at their own table or joining fellow guests on one of the social tables. Each will receive an exclusively personalised menu, created after private consultation with the medical team. In a departure from the norm, instead of the set dosha menus widely offered in Ayurveda restaurants, meals at Ayurpura are all adapted and prepared individually to enhance maximum positive outcomes during the stay.

Dr Vaidya Swami Nath Mishra, currently the only Ayurveda physician in Italy, leads the highly qualified team of Ayurvedic doctors and therapists. Renowned as one of India’s leading pulse diagnosticians, he specialises in Panchakarma and Ayur yoga beathing techniques. Until he started at Hotel Engel in 2018 he ran the Ananda Ashram Ayurveda School in Milan. Originally from Utta Pradesh, Dr Mishra was a consultant at the New Delhi Anunsandhan Kendra Medical Centre between 1986 and 1993, while simultaneously teaching at Chadra College. He is the author of more than a dozen books on healthy living with Ayurveda.

Engel Ayurpura is the only dedicated Ayurveda hotel in the Dolomites. Each guest can expect to receive an individually created treatment, diet and exercise programme. After their stay, guests will also have exclusive access to the closed online portal for complimentary yoga sessions, cooking classes (and recipes) and the latest relevant information.

The long-established quality and excellence that defines the Engel brand is naturally embodied within Hotel Engel’s new and separate Ayurvedic associate. Hotel Engel grew out of a farm dating back to 1830, the Kohler family entering the hospitality business with the addition of two guest bedrooms in 1862. The property was completely rebuilt after a fire in 1929 and opened with 20 bedrooms the following year. In 1999 the spa, gymnasium and pool were added. Today Hotel Engel has 46 rooms and suites and a Michelin-star restaurant.

The area is a showcase for the arresting mountain scenery of the Dolomites and the South Tyrol at its most charming and natural.

Bolzano Airport is half an hour’s drive and Verona and Innsbruck Airports are 1¾ and 2 hours’ drive respectively. By rail the journey from London St Pancras to Bolzano is 14 hours with a 20 minute electric taxi ride to the resort. The Engel and Ayurpura have on-site parking and electric charge points.

Double rooms from €215 per person per night (2 sharing full ayurvedic board); One-week Ayurveda packages from €2,100 prpn (€300 prpn).