India, Aug. 22 -- Spiritual seekers have been drawn to the Himalayas in India for thousands of years. A visit to a trio of high-end retreats in Rishikesh reveals how they are channelling the region's singular energy in newly sophisticated ways. By Marcia De Sanctis

A few minutes into my pizhichil Ayurvedic treatment at Ananda in the Himalayas, I opened my eyes to get my bearings. Above me, a spa attendant was filling up a brass pot and handing it to a colleague, who then doused my body in a stream of warm oil. Specifically, dhanwantharam oil, which is infused with 28 aromatic herbs-all indigenous to the Himalayas-and is thought to reduce inflammation and stress. "Be relaxed," the second attendant said, directing the contents of the pitch...