Have you been there and done it all when it comes to spas? Think carefully before answering that one. For, the global Big Daddies in the game have just landed in India to take your spa experience many notches higher — into a whole new realm of indulgence.

The new spas are sprawling like never before — one spreads out over a giant 70,000sqft. You can almost cleanse your soul in shower stalls fitted with rosewood and amethyst and bathtubs with over 270 jets in 10 massage sequences. Alternatively, shake off the cares of the world in a rocking lounger or hire your own spa suite for complete privacy.

The Leela Kempinski spa in Gurgaon spreads over 10,000sqft and comes complete with treatment rooms that are fitted with state-of- the-art equipment

Once upon a time you’d have been forced to travel all the way to France or Brazil to be spoilt silly by a signature treatment at one of L’Occitane’s spas. Now you can travel a shorter distance to the 18th century Devi Garh Palace Hotel near Udaipur where Ayurvedic recipes combine with the best ingredients from the Mediterranean to complete your Spa L’Occitane experience. In Bangalore, holistic indulgence at its best is yours at Angsana Spa in a sprawling resort near the city. So forget about flying to an Angsana Spa in Phuket.

For a different sort of experience, make your way to Serai, a luxury tent resort in Jaisalmer, that now houses Raison d’Etre, a leading Swedish spa. Or head to the Northeast, in Sikkim, where Mayfair Spa Resort Gangtok has partnered with Pevonia Botanica, a leading American natural skincare brand that uses organic products to introduce treatments for anti-ageing.

The spa at the Angsana Oasis Spa & Resort in Bangalore follows a high-touch, low-tech approach with an emphasis on traditional Asian healing therapies

There’s more coming up. An ancient Balinese healing touch is on offer at Mandara Spa in the yet-to-open Pullman Gurgaon Central Park. The Pullman is Accor’s upscale hotel brand and the Mandara Spa, is one of Asia’s largest spa chains. And if your tired feet long for a luxurious footbath and your dehydrated skin needs a renewing treat, you can head for the Six Senses Spa, no, not in Koh Samui, Thailand, but at the Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort in Greater Noida that is slated to open by July.

Also in a few weeks the Leela Palace Kempinski in New Delhi will spread out the red carpet for spa lovers with British brand ESPA.

Could life get better than this?

“It’s time India got its share of high-quality spas. The new league of spas will set international standards in service and treatments. Also, it’s great timing as the tribe of spa-goers is on the rise,” says Darpan Sanghvi, 31, the Indian master franchisee for L’Occitane spas that are running in over a dozen countries. Scott Davies, general manager of Pullman Gurgaon Central Park, says: “This will be a huge leg-up for the industry, bringing training, career and development opportunities for local people.”

At Udaipur’s Devi Spa by L’Occitane guests can indulge in treatments that combine L’Occitane’s organic products with flowers and fruits from Rajasthan

Fateh Jung Singh, managing director of Pevonia Spa Care and who runs Pevonia Botanica spas in more than five resorts across the country (including the Leela Kempinski Gurgaon, Mayfair Spa Resort Gangtok, Hotel in Pune and the Vasant Continental in Delhi), says: “In India, we don’t have an organisation that monitors spa standards. These brands will help structure the industry and improve the quality of our offerings.”

All these hotels are hoping to entice customers with extras like branded spas. “A branded spa gives guests a compelling reason to choose a particular hotel,” says Charles Morris, general manager of The Leela Palace New Delhi.

According to Rajnish Sabharwal, president, Boutique Hotels India, which owns Devi Garh, the new brands that have entered India could help to re-position the country as a spa destination. Last year, Devi Garh opened the first L’Occitane spa that’s been christened Devi Spa by L’Occitane.

The Mayfair Spa Resort Gangtok offers treatments and anti-ageing portions courtesy American brand, Pevonia Botanica

So, what else do these branded spas bring in? Says Sanghvi: “They bring in variety and innovation.” Trained staff is a also crucial element. Training and recruitment was done by the L’Occitane team from their Hong Kong office. And now trainers from Hong Kong and France are scheduled to come in for regular training sessions that will be followed by refresher courses every four to six months.

Sanghvi says setting up the spa involved complex logistics. “Not only did people from L’Occitane come to identify the location, they set up the R&D for the spa treatment where Indian ingredients were used in combination with L’Occitane’s natural products,” he says.

It’s easy to figure out what must have prompted Jaisal and his wife Anjali Singh of Serai to partner with Swedish spa company Raison d’Etre. “They’ve developed products for our spa with the Forest Essentials’ line,” says Anjali Singh, creative director, Sujan Luxury Hotels. Anjali says they chose the brand due to its vast experience in creating and running the best spas around the world. So, their guests can expect world-class treatments in the middle of a desert. At Serai, the After Sun Treatment is 30 minutes of indulgence (priced at Rs 2,750) that’s proving to be a hit. This aloe vera treatment is crafted to rejuvenate the skin after prolonged exposure in the sun.

Fateh Jung Singh, who first brought Pevonia Botanica to India in 2007, says one of his biggest investments lies in inculcating product knowledge in his staff. “It’s important for the staff to know the components of every treatment and how much to use when treating clients,” says Singh, who sends four people each year to the US to upgrade their skills. They in turn train the other Indian staff.

Get pampered in the middle of a desert at Raison d’Etre, the Swedish spa at luxury tent resort, Serai, Jaisalmer

The global chains have worked hard to offer treatments specially for the Indian market. At Devi Spa by L’Occitane the company’s organic products are paired with flowers and fruits from Rajasthan. In fact, guests are allowed to pluck flowers and herbs of their choice from the resort’s garden that are then mixed with L’Occitane products for the treatments.

The Leela Palace New Delhi meanwhile has tied up with ESPA, a leading British spa brand that uses natural products and is present in five continents. ESPA already runs the spa at the Leela Palace Udaipur.

Cut to India’s first Angsana Spa in Angsana Oasis Spa & Resort in Bangalore. Owned by the Prestige Group, a prominent Bangalore-based construction firm, the spa is managed by Banyan Tree Group, an international hospitality brand that manages and develops premium resorts, hotels and spas. Angsana Spa is a sister brand of Banyan Tree Spa that was set up in Phuket in 1999. There are 41 Angsana Spas in Angsana resorts across the world and standalone spas in 22 countries. Thai therapists have been brought in to train the Angsana Spa therapists who undergo over 300 hours of theoretical and practical training.

Tucked away amidst bamboo groves, the sprawling 5,000sqft spa follows a high-touch, low-tech approach. “We stress on the human touch and use of natural herbs and spices in the therapies,” says Kanthima Thorahod, spa manager. Their signature treatment, Angsana Massage, is a two-hour session created to work on the body’s key pressure points.

If you find yourself in Sikkim, make your way up a hill in Gangtok to the secluded Mayfair Spa Resort Gangtok where you can indulge in Thai and Ayurvedic treatments and anti-ageing potions courtesy Pevonia Botanica. “Having the only branded spa in the Northeast has been our strength,” says Pradipta Mohapatra, general manager, Mayfair Hotels & Resorts.

Space is the ultimate luxury at many of these spas. Devi Garh has five treatment rooms and a sister concern, the upcoming Jaipur’s Devi Ratn (a 60-suite and three-villa property) will have 10. The spa, which will open later this year, will be spread across 20,000 sqft.

And when Jaypee’s super luxury Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort opens in Greater Noida, it will boast of one of the largest spas in India. India’s first Six Senses Spa will sprawl over a breathtaking 70,252sqft. The resort will be set over 60 acres and will sit cheek-by-jowl with the international championship 18-hole Greg Norman Golf Course.

At The Leela Palace New Delhi guests can try the Marble Stone Showers, a fancy shower fitted with rosewood timber to add to the touch of luxury. The ultimate, however, are the Private Spa Suites that come with their own treatment space and soothing steam shower, a jet bath and a changing and vanity area.

The Leela Kempinski spa in Gurgaon that spreads over 10,000sqft offers an Alpha Lounger where guests can unwind after a massage. The Lounger is a remote-controlled, boat-shaped seater that rocks gently and even plays soft music to special lighting effects at the push of a button. The treatment rooms come with state-of-the-art equipment by German brand Geo Spa. The Advanced Hydrotherapy Bathtub is another attraction here. This bath is equipped to massage 20 body zones from a total of 278 jets in 10 massage sequences.

So, what are you waiting for? Go indulge!