For years, the Indian real estate sector measured progress in familiar metrics, units launched, inventory absorbed, and price appreciation achieved. Wellness rarely featured in that conversation beyond
landscaped lawns or gymnasiums in premium projects. That is now changing.
Across metros and small towns, a new category of housing is getting in vogue: Homes designed not just for living, but for long-term physical and mental well-being. Referred to often as ‘wellness housing’, these residential projects prioritise cleaner air, natural light, green spaces and a relaxing atmosphere.
As per the Global Wellness Institute report, wellness real estate has globally expanded, growing into a $438 billion market by 2023. Long-term projections point toward a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity by 2035. Currently, India’s contribution, even though modest at present, is expanding faster than anticipated. As a result, the domestic wellness housing market has risen from just over $6 billion in 2019 to about $13 billion in 2024, supported by changing lifestyle preferences, higher disposable incomes and a focus on health, especially after the pandemic.
Shyamrup Roy Choudhury, founder and managing director of Aura World, said, “One of the clearest signs of maturity in India’s wellness housing narrative is the growing intersection with senior living. Even though wellness as a concept is age-neutral, we believe that for senior citizens, it has emerged as a pressing need. The homes not just need to promote healthy living but also have to be designed to fulfil the particular needs of the aged as well, and focus on dignity, independence and active ageing. Another notable fact is that while location remains paramount, buyers are now willing to trade a few kilometres of centrality for healthier surroundings and better-designed communities.”
India’s senior living market is projected to reach $7.7 billion by 2030, reflecting demographic realities that developers can no longer overlook. Projects catering to this segment are moving beyond basic healthcare support to create socially engaging, walkable and mentally stimulating environments. Importantly, many of these features are now influencing mainstream residential design as well.
B K Malagi, vice-chairman of Experion Developers, said, “Luxury housing continues to lead in wellness innovation. Premium buyers are increasingly indifferent to headline extravagance. Advanced air filtration, thoughtful master planning, lower noise intrusion and access to nature are becoming decisive differentiators in the luxury segment. What matters is not how large a home appears on paper, but how comfortably it supports daily living over the years.”
Gautam Kanodia, founder of KREEVA and Kanodia Group, said, “Wellness-centric developments and amenities have taken centre-stage across luxury housing in the country. Today’s buyers are conscious of their lifestyle and seek homes centred around wellness-living aspects. In cities such as Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru and Pune, wellness-oriented housing is particularly gaining traction. These include elements focused on improved AQI, low carbon footprints, green spaces, wellness amenities, etc.”
These concerns cut across age groups, but are particularly prominent among younger professionals, returning NRIs and families planning for the long term. Urban stress has played its part as well. Thus, India is likely to witness an unprecedented boom in wellness housing over the next few years, while it will be interesting to see how these evolving trends will define the sector’s growth in the future, he added.
Several developers acknowledge that buyer education remains incomplete, particularly outside prime micro-markets. Not every project branded as “wellness” delivers meaningfully on its promise, and the risk of dilution is real as volumes grow.
Ashwani Kumar of Pyramid Infratech said, “From a pricing standpoint, wellness homes typically command a 10-30% premium over comparable conventional projects. As awareness deepens, buyers are beginning to prioritise such homes, particularly in the premium and luxury residential segments. Technology is also strengthening this shift. While cities such as Gurugram, Pune, and Bengaluru currently lead in adoption, the influence is spreading outward as developers are innovating with wellness principles where land availability allows more holistic planning.”
Most projections suggest India’s real estate sector could evolve into a trillion-dollar industry by 2035, driven by urbanisation, capital inflows and regulatory maturity. Wellness housing is expected to account for a meaningful share of that growth, influencing both value and global perception. India’s role in the global wellness real estate narrative may extend well beyond numbers, shaping how urban living itself is reimagined.
