[8] Some years ago, given the impetus on health and rejuvenation in the world and after an exhaustive search located a site for a destination spa, Ashok Khanna,[12] discovered the Palace of the Maharaja at Narendra Nagar, Tehri-Garwhal.

Narendra Nagar was the summer capital and the Palace, where the present viceregal suite of Ananda in the Himalayas is situated, is the official residence.

[14][15] Ananda has been frequented by many famous guests, including Chris Froome and his wife Michelle Cound,[16] Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Hall, Bill Gates and Melinda Gates, Kate Winslet, Frederick Forsyth, Deepak Chopra, Nicole Kidman, Jeremy Piven, Ricky Martin, Macklemore, Bharat Kavitha Golecha, Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

Ltd.[23][24] Ashok Khanna, the managing director of the company, is the grandson of legendary hotelier Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi.

[26] The Ananda spa institute, located adjacent to the Ista hotel in Hyderabad, admitted its pilot group of students in the summer of 2008.

The institute plans to lead spa education in South East Asia and maintain high standards throughout the region with international cooperation.