To step into the verdant 9000 sq ft haven that is the Asian Woman Spa is to be teleported to the mystical isle of Bali; the ornate stone sculptures of the Buddha and Ganesha set amidst tiny flickering candles and fountains hint at what lies in store at this exclusive getaway located in the upmarket residential area of Koramangala.

Established in July 2007, the spa is a lush sliver of Southeast Asia, merging therapies and design influences from Bali, Malaysia, Singapore and India. It projects the multicultural ethos of its Managing Director Kavita Thulasidas’ hometown Singapore, combining old-fashioned attention to detail with modern technology. Says Kavita, who runs the spa with her mother Huri Baxani, “I have always been inspired by my culture and Asian background. Being Singaporean, I was brought up in a cosmopolitan city with strong cultural roots.” “I wanted a melange of Asian therapies that reflect my mixed upbringing, and have tried to create a sanctuary where women can take a break from their stressful roles,” she says.

Favourites at the spa are natural therapies like ‘Satori’ – the hot stone therapy to stimulate the flow of energy, followed by a Swedish body massage using aroma oils and acupressure – and aroma facials like the traditional ‘Swasti Hastu’. The signature facial of the spa, ‘Swasti Hastu’ has its origins in the customary Balinese greeting that exhorts you to be in touch with your inner self. The ‘Mayathallaso’ aroma facial, where DNA and collagen ampoules are used to stimulate cell renewal and hydration, is a more modern and equally effective masterpiece in the art of beauty.

Asian Woman Spa formulates its packages from the beautification techniques honed over the centuries by the people of South East Asia. ‘Mandilulur’, for example, is a pre-nuptial ritualistic bath of Indonesian royalty. The spa’s clients are treated to a body scrub made from a secret blend of herbs, rice powder and turmeric, followed by a body massage and facial.

The ‘Maharani of the Day’ package is another favourite with the spa’s clientele, along with ‘Princess of the Orient’ and ‘Asian Empress’. All these soothing scrubs, massages and pampering are meant to make every woman look like a million dollars and feel like royalty.

To help clients enjoy the serene ambience, the spa holds its manicures and pedicures in the garden under thatch huts with comfortable silk cushions. Surrounded by statues of the Buddha and Balinese dancers, there are large limestone bowls filled with rose petals. Called ‘Pedihai’, the treatment includes a full spa pedicure replete with exfoliation and masks. Says Kavita, “We are not a predictable spa; we surpass your expectations with the range that we offer and the unique touch that you cannot experience anywhere else.”

To begin with, the immaculately landscaped gardens host more than just the spa. There is a gallery with a tasteful collection of Southeast Asian artefacts. The spa also showcases an open-air exercise area as well as an airy salon filled with natural light and fringed with orchids that churns out the latest beauty treatments, courtesy Schwarzkopf.

Women who come by the spa for pampering are spoilt for choice: They can pick up a fine piece of art, home décor and clothing from the gallery, along with a modish hairdo at the glass-walled salon. Or perfect their power yoga and Pilates with a trainer at sessions held through the day. Kavita launched a fashion label called ‘Asian Woman’ in 2004 in Singapore, and will soon feature it at the spa. Based on the fusion of Oriental cultures, the range features Indonesian batiks, Indian brocades and Vietnamese silhouettes like the ‘ao dai’. The semi formal range is a natural blend of vacation wear and corporate and social attire.

Everything from the ambience to the treatments has been engineered by Huri and Kavita. “The personal touch,” Huri says as she checks in on a ‘Maharani of the Day’ to see that she is well taken care of, “makes all the difference.”