Rethinking Wellness at the Table
Leela’s Aujasya has set a high benchmark in wellness within hospitality. Its new offering, Sampoorna, could change how you eat in a hotel.
By Suman Tarafdar
Memories! They can be nostalgic—quite unintentionally sometimes. I well remember a breakfast at The Leela Jaipur when I was encouraged to try some wellness focussed dishes—which were to become part of an upcoming menu.
The wellness trend was taking off across the country, and pioneering hotels were ahead of it.
As a long-time practitioner of the poori-paratha-pakoda options at hotel breakfasts, I was cajoled into trying the ‘Aujasya’ menu. A millet dosa was followed by ragi idli, succeeded by Eggcelent Nourishment—boiled egg whites topped with sprouts and microgreens on a bed of beetroot hummus. Beautifully plated. The FAB Pancake (made of a flour of finger millet, amaranth, barnyard millet) followed, living up to its name. By the time The Himalayan Earth Bowl came, the transformation was pretty much complete. Across stays in numerous Leela hotels, the Aujasya menu is now a must-do.
Wellness today has become an integral part of how guests wish to experience their stay. At The Leela this aligns naturally with our philosophy of hospitality, points out Anupam Dasgupta, Senior Vice President–Operations, North and Head of Wellness. “Through Aujasya by The Leela, we approach wellbeing as a holistic journey centred on vitality, mindful movement, nourishing cuisine, restorative therapies and—importantly—the rediscovery of joy. Inspired by India’s timeless wellbeing practices, Aujasya allows us to create environments that feel like serene sanctuaries, even within the vibrant energy of our city hotels. Whether through thoughtfully crafted nutrition, moments of stillness and movement, or immersive cultural and sensory rituals, the programme offers guests opportunities to pause, restore and reconnect within the rhythm of modern travel.”
Journey into wellbeing
Since its launch in 2022, Aujasya has grown from a breakfast menu into a comprehensive programme. Developed by nutritionist Dr Ankita Jalori and brought to life in collaboration with The Leela’s chef and wellness teams, it blends nutritional science with culinary refinement. “Over time, it has garnered several notable accolades and, perhaps more meaningfully, has become a compelling reason for many of our guests to return—drawn by a wellness experience that is both purposeful and enjoyable,” says Dasgupta.
“I came on board in 2021, and we spent months perfecting the menu,” recollects Jalori. “As a lot of Leela’s clientele are business leaders who travel a lot, they often wanted a break from eating out. I was seeing leadership not being able to follow a wellness regime. They wanted something simple—ghar ka khana.”
One of the main challenges was designing the menu. Combating the impression that a healthy menu would be bland was important, says Jalori. “Food synergy, i.e. pairing ingredients in a manner that enhances absorption, was key. If we leaned too much into Indian traditional cuisine, the global traveller would feel left out—and vice versa. Leela is all about Indianness, so we blended Indian wisdom into a global framework. The problem with wellness food is that everybody is sceptical. Making them try a new dish with unfamiliar ingredients is not easy. For example, we had idli or dosa for the Indian traveller, toast and eggs for the international traveller—dishes they were familiar with. If I tell any Indian to have an idli, he won't hesitate. So we made idli out of ragi, jowar and other ingredients. Acceptability—that was our main motto.” Acceptability has come, indisputably. Today, Aujasya breakfast selections and à la carte options are available across The Leela hotels. Guests can also explore zero-proof cocktails and wellness-led snacks, creating opportunities to indulge responsibly while maintaining balance. The use of zero-calorie sweeteners, a range of millets, and both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options ensures a broad appeal.
A recent innovation has been the Aujasya Sampoorna curated meal plans. “Our endeavour is to ensure that we can integrate our offerings into the wellness practices our guests follow at home, even while travelling,” says Dasgupta. “From high-protein and anti-inflammatory menus to thoughtfully designed dietary options, the programme is built around flexibility, customisation and refined service touchpoints.” The programme offers evidence-based, results-oriented menus—including Anti-Inflammatory, Detox and High-Protein Low-Carb options.
FAB Millet Dosa, where the batter is made of a flour of finger millet, amaranth, barnyard millet.
Ragi Idli.
Beyond the plate
Aujasya began with a focus on nutrition, drawing from Indian culinary practices to create meals designed to restore vitality and balance. Over time, it has evolved into a broader wellbeing programme (see box).
The Leela’s spa experience builds on this philosophy, where restoration begins not only with treatments, but with a carefully orchestrated sensory journey. “As the programme continues to evolve, we will also be introducing the Aujasya by The Leela Signature Ritual across our hotels,” reveals Dasgupta. “Rooted in ancient Indian healing wisdom, the ritual brings together synchronised movements with warm herb-infused oils, along with focused face and head massage techniques. Designed as an immersive experience, it aims to release stress, stimulate circulation and guide the guest into a deeper state of relaxation.”
Wellness as an offering within hospitality is one of the fastest-growing segments. The India wellness tourism market size is expected to grow from $28.87 billion in 2025 to $30.95 billion in 2026 and reach $43.76 billion by 2031 at a 7.18% CAGR, according to Mordor Intelligence. Still largely fragmented, the market shows immense potential, and Indian luxury hospitality is well poised to capitalise on this as the number of HNIs grows.
With Aujasya, The Leela has taken an early and considered position in the space. At the annual Jaipur Literature Festival this year, Aujasya had a stall—and was very popular with visitors, says Jalori. “We are thinking of selling items like fruit infusion sachets.” A signature spa treatment is in the works, and Aujasya retreats are in the offing. With several initiatives planned, Aujasya appears set to grow—both financially and as a holistic offering.
Aujasya offers evidence-based, results-oriented menus, including Anti-Inflammatory, Detox, and High-Protein Low-Carb options.
The Three Rs of Aujasya
Aujasya by The Leela unfolds through three guiding pillars—Restore, Renew and Rejuvenate—each designed to nurture vitality while gently rekindling joy.
Restore is expressed through a thoughtful philosophy of nourishment. Cuisine here is guided by indigenous ingredients, time-honoured Indian culinary wisdom and mindful preparation techniques. Guests may experience curated meal programmes—including anti-inflammatory, detox and high-protein options—alongside dishes that celebrate clean, balanced flavours. The intention is not simply to offer “healthy food”, but to create dining experiences that are both nourishing and pleasurable.
Renew brings movement and cultural connection into the wellness journey. From sunrise yoga set against sweeping vistas and guided Pilates sessions to immersive forest walks, each experience is designed to restore rhythm to the body and mind. Complemented by intimate workshops celebrating traditional crafts such as pottery, weaving and Indian toy painting, these moments invite guests to reconnect with movement, creativity and a quiet sense of presence.
Rejuvenate finds expression through holistic spa therapies inspired by the spirit of each destination. The Leela will soon introduce the Aujasya Signature Ritual across its hotels—a multi-sensory wellness journey that weaves together thoughtful service touchpoints, from a welcome elixir and sound healing to targeted therapies, an Aujasya tea experience and a keepsake that extends the experience beyond the stay. Together, these elements reflect The Leela’s belief that true luxury lies in feeling restored, balanced and innately joyful.
The group has approached wellness holistically, including signature spa treatments.
