Aavya Rise launches 'Tapas: Fire & Ice', bringing Rishikesh's first dedicated contrast therapy circuit

Rishikesh, August 18, 2026: As recovery takes centre stage in the global wellness movement, Aavya Rise, a boutique creative wellness retreat in Upper Tapovan, Rishikesh, has announced the launch of Tapas: Fire & Ice, the city's first dedicated contrast therapy circuit. Now open to the public, the immersive experience brings together sauna, cold immersion, guided movement and restorative soaking in a thoughtfully designed recovery journey, where mountain air, ancient forests and flowing water become as restorative as the practice itself. 

Designed as a complete recovery ritual rather than a spa treatment, the experience unfolds through four deliberate phases. Guests begin with guided breathwork and movement in an open-air studio before stepping into a traditional sauna crafted from deodar wood and basalt stones. The journey continues with cold immersion before concluding in a warm soaking pool finished in Ganga river stone with copper accents, allowing the body and mind to gradually return to balance. Every stage has been intentionally designed to slow the body, sharpen the mind and cultivate a deeper sense of restoration.

The name Tapas comes from the Sanskrit word for heat and, more broadly, the idea of transformation through disciplined practice. For centuries, it has symbolised the belief that growth begins when we consciously move beyond comfort. Tapas: Fire & Ice draws on this philosophy, reinterpreting it through the modern language of contrast therapy, where heat and cold become tools for cultivating resilience, clarity and presence.

Commenting on the launch, Ashish Khandelwal, Founder, Aavya Rise, said, "The essence of Rishikesh has always been the journey inward. People travel here from around the world not simply to rest, but to reconnect with themselves, with nature and with a different way of living. That has shaped every decision we've made at Aavya Rise, and Tapas is a natural extension of that belief. It's about embracing both comfort and discomfort, and discovering the clarity that lies on the other side. We wanted to create an experience that reflects the spirit of this place while introducing a recovery practice that feels deeply relevant to the way people seek wellbeing today."

Since its inception two years ago, Aavya Rise has emerged as one of Tapovan's most distinctive creative wellness spaces. Bringing together yoga, Ayurveda, movement, art, music and nature, it creates experiences that encourage reflection, creativity and meaningful human connection. From introducing the city's first pottery studio and recording studio to now launching its first dedicated contrast therapy circuit, Aavya Rise continues to expand the ways people experience wellness in Rishikesh.

As conversations around wellbeing increasingly shift towards recovery, longevity and nervous system regulation, contrast therapy has emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing wellness practices. With Tapas: Fire & Ice, Aavya Rise brings this global movement to Rishikesh, where well-being has always been understood as a journey inward.