I stand with my eyes closed. The wind blows gently, I can hear the calls of the pond, a stream gurgling when a butterfly caresses me. I am at Kairali—The Ayurvedic Healing Village in Palakkad, Kerala. The 50-acres resort with 30 villas is built on the fundamental principles of vastu and harmony amidst a thick foliage of native trees like the coconut, neem, mango and teak far away from the city life. The wellness retreat is set amidst the natural surroundings of a tropical world of flora and fauna and is about 17 km from Palakkad train station and 72 km from Coimbatore airport.
Ayurvedic Retreat, Kerala: Vastu-Inspired Spaces
Guests reside in villas that are assigned to them as per their zodiac signs. Each villa houses the rare valambari conch, which induces positive vibrations in the body. Extensive use of red oxide in the flooring helps create cool interiors. Each villa is unique and designed as per the age-old tradition of vastu. Heavy usage of the locally available laterite stones, red tiled sloping roofs and less usage of cement in the villas, dining area and treatment centres are noticeable. A stream flows through the 50-acre resort with a 15-acre built-up area, thus bringing harmony to the surroundings rich with birds and about 48 species of butterflies.
Ayurvedic Retreat, Kerala: Holistic Treatments
The retreat offers guests various Ayurvedic treatments like abhyangam, shirodhara, panchakarma and more after having consulted with the in-house team of experienced Ayurvedic doctors. The treatments focus on weight loss, eye care, bronchial issues, preventive and regenerative treatments, rejuvenation and detoxification, hypertension, arthritis and many other conditions. Daily classes of yoga and meditation help balance and heal the body. My days at the retreat started at 6:30 with an hour's session of yoga followed by breakfast, ayurvedic treatment and lunch. Most evenings I would sit curled up in the veranda of my villa with a book in hand, watching the stream flow and the 48 odd species of butterflies fluttering around. Soon it would be time for pranayam and meditation around sunset.
Ayurvedic Retreat, Kerala: Healthy Menu
The guests at the retreat are served traditional sattvic food that is vegetarian and prepared with organic fruits and vegetables cultivated in its organic farm. The nutritious food helps bring about a balance in the doshas (vatta, pitta and kapha) of the body. At the restaurant, I would sip umpteen glasses of water boiled with the wonder antioxidant pathimugam or sappan wood with numerous health benefits. My meals comprised light and clear vegetable soups with lentil curry, seasonal vegetable stir fries, phulkas, green gram dosas, finger millet dosas and lip-smacking desserts made with seasonal fruits and palm jaggery. Food was light and wholesome and tasted just like a home-made meal. The caffeine, tea and sugar detox ensured good sleep and better energy levels through the day.
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