From Fiona Caulfield, author of the Love India travel guide series:

“Suparna runs a very personal and intimate spa in the basement of her home using only natural products that are hand-made and hand-packed. Tucked into the tranquil residential colony of Nizamuddin, it seems to pick up some of the spiritual energy from the tomb of the revered Sufi saint himself.

As a teenager Suparna spent a lot of time with her grandfather, Satyaketu Vidyalankar, who was the chancellor of Gurukul Kangi, 11 km from Haridwar, one of the largest Ayurvedic pharmacies in the world. Twenty years later, Suparna decided to follow in his footsteps and delve into the ‘magic and power’ of natural herbs and ingredients for beauty treatments and created an Aaveda center.

Indian chants greet you as you enter the simple rustic spa. You are welcomed with a complimentary foot and hand massage before your treatment of choice. Soak you feet in the Cleopatra milk and honey bath with rose petals or smell the freshness of real oranges or lentil paste that used for treatments. Enjoy all of this in soothing silence—the therapists speak quietly and no mobiles are allowed ( a challenge for some of the high-powered Delhi women who are Suparna;s loyal clientele!). Try the facial done with homemade fruit jams.

Browse through take-home products including Ayurvedic oils, delicious smelling scrubs, fruit shampoos and other beauty products. Do make an appointment for a personal meeting with Suparna, who offers holistic health and lifestyle advice and often nips upstairs and grabs some fresh herbs—in my case, lemongrass—to make infusions.”

For more suggestions for days and nights in Delhi, order the Love Delhi Travel Guide, available online at Amazon.