Kerala Tours | Ayurvedic Healing

Ayurvedic Healing

Introduction

Ayurvedic Healing is for those wishing to undergo intensive preventive and curative Ayurvedic treatments as well as glimpsing Kerala’s ancient cultural heritage and diverse landscapes. This tour begins in Fort Cochin, a trading port on the historic Malabar Coast. Journey onto Kumarakom, an island on the magnificent Vembanad Lake, followed by a tranquil journey through the backwaters in a traditional Kettuvalam (reconverted rice barge). The final two weeks will be spent at the Travancore Heritage hotel on the south-west coastal town of Kovalam immersing yourself in the healing touch of Ayurveda.

Travencore Heritage is set on a 120ft cliff above the Artabia Sea and is surrounded by nine acres of greenery This heritage hotel unfolds within a 19C Chettinand Palace surrounded by ancient Keralan cottages. The hotel’s Anandam Ayurveda Centre is well known for its relaxing and curative treatments and is headed by an experienced Ayurvedic physician. Following an initial consultation with the physician on your first day at Travencore Heritage, a wellness treatment plan is formulated and is caringly implemented through out your stay. Treatments are provided here for a stress relief, weight loss, reducing of diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure and a range of other medical problems.

Ayurveda is a natural and holistic healing system which promotes general well-being and seeks not only to cure disease but also to rejuvenate the body. Hence, you don’t have to be sick to benefit from this ancient healing wisdom. The common medicinal ingredients used in Ayurveda therapies are herbal teas, powders, oils, herbal wines and pastes made out of local medicinal plants, fruits and vegetables. There is an in-house Ayurveda restaurant serving vegetarian meals that complements the Ayurveda therapies offered at the Anandam Ayurveda Centre.

Holiday Highlights

	Fort Cochin’s intriguing blend of Colonial and Indian cultural heritage
	Portuguese and Dutch period churches and palaces of Cochin
	Tranquil backwaters edged with lush green paddy fields and rural villages
	Cormorants and Brahimini kites swooping down into the waters in search of their prey
	Mind and body wellness through Ayurveda and Yoga
	Sumptuous Syrian-Christian, Keralan, and Ayurvedic cuisine
	Spectacular Kathakali dance and traditional Indian music
	Kalaripayattu – an ancient form of Keralan martial arts and healing
	Two nights stay in a traditional Kettuvalam house boat in the backwaters of Kerala
	Kovalam’s sun-kissed beaches and turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea
	Museums and art galleries of Trivandrum


Day 1 & 2Upon arriving at Cochin International Airport, transfer to the Old Harbour Hotel situated in the heart of Fort Cochin. Stay two nights in this peaceful boutique hotel housed in a refurbished colonial-period mansion. Experience Fort Cochin’s cultural and architectural heritage. Visit the Mattancherry Palace, once occupied by the local Verma Kings and now a museum. Verma Kings of Malabar were tolerant of other faiths including the Jewish and Syrian Christians that arrived on this coast in the 15C. Explore the Jewish Town with its narrow cobbled stone walkways where wayside shops overflow with antiques, silk shawls and Kurtas. The beautiful 16C synagogue with intricate chandeliers and porcelain tiled floors stands in a corner of Jewish Town. The Santa Cruz Basilica built by the Portuguese in the 17th century, the Dutch Palace and the St. Francis Church are all well worth a visit. Stroll down to the Vasco da Gama square, a narrow promenade that parallels the beach where huge Chinese fishing nets are tended by fisherman. Traditional Kathakali and Bharathanatyam dance performances are held at the Greenix Village down Kalvathy Road. Old Harbour Hotel, Cochin Old Harbour is a 13-room boutique hotel in Cochin Fort. It is steeped in history. Originally known as the Old Harbour House, this ancient Dutch-period mansion was the very first hotel in Fort Cochin and is now an enticing blend of colonial design, ethnic influences and modern comforts. ...(More)
Day 3 & 4Journey south along the backwaters on a Kettuvalam until you reach Kumarakom, an island on the magnificent Lake Vembanad. Spend two nights along the way on your houseboat. The Backwaters of Kerala consisting of lagoons, lakes, canals and a network of 41 rivers meet at specific estuaries leading to the Arabian Sea. Over 900 kms of this massive water body can be explored by boat. Views change constantly: lush green paddy fields and coconut groves, tranquil waters momentarily disturbed by cormorants and brahmini kites diving down in search of their catch, fisherman tending to their Chinese nets, and villages passing by in canoes filled with coir and vegetables. Stop enroute and explore rural villages, Hindu kovils and churches. At 6.00 pm the houseboat will moor up and the staff will cook a sumptuous traditional feast. Dine on the helm under a starlit sky with the sound of crickets in the background. Sleep contentedly in your cabin overnight. House Boats, Kumarakom Kerala’s tranquil backwaters, the setting for Arundhati Roy’s Booker prize-winning novel `The God of Small Things’, offer a true experience of India’s enchanting natural landscape and rural village life. These shimmering waterways are edged with dense tropical greenery and rural villages where daily life unfolds at an unhurried pace. ...(More)
Day 5, 6, & 7Once you arrive in Kumarakom, check into Coconut Lagoon - a backwater resort that captures the essence of Kerala: Pearl Spot fish cooked in a banana leaf, sounds of the sitar resonating from far, the smell of oil lamps as they glow in the dark, the healing touch of an Ayurveda therapist, and the sight of a fisherman in his Kettuvallam as he meanders along the backwaters are all a treat for your senses. Coconut Lagoon represents is a treasure trove for naturalists. Explore the Vembanand Lake and its profusion of fish and water birds, the extensive resort gardens scattered with fruit and medicinal trees, the butterfly garden, and the adjoining Kavanar bird Sanctuary. Village expeditions past paddy fields, waterways and village homes are organised by the resort accompanied by the in-house Naturalist. Spend three nights here. Coconut Lagoon Coconut Lagoon is an architectural triumph, a boutique hotel cleverly crafted from the fragments of ancient village homes and palaces. The result is the ultimate backwater resort, where fine traditional craftsmanship exists in stunning natural surroundings. ...(More)
Day 8 – 21Head towards the south-west coastal town of Kovalam and check into Travancore Heritage where holistic wellness is achieved through the ancient philosophies of Ayurveda, Yoga and meditation. Stay two weeks here and give into this world of tranquillity and healing. Travencore Heritage is one of Red Dot's favourite beach properties in Kerala, offering comfortable accommodation in individual Keralan heritage cottages. Enjoy traditional dance and music performances including Bharathanatyam and Kathakali dance held regularly by the poolside. Several recreational activities are offered by the beachside especially during the season when the stretch of beach in front of the Beach Grove extends almost 7 kms. Visit the Napier Museum and the Sree Chithra Art Gallery in Trivandrum, Kerala’s capital city situated 15 kms away. Travancore Heritage, Kovalam The Travancore Heritage is one of Red Dot's favourite beach properties in Kerala, offering high-end accommodation in individual Kerala heritage cottages. These beautifully reconstructed timber village houses complete with wood carvings and timber roofs, were originally built about 80 to 100 years ago before being painstakingly transplanted to their new location. ...(More)

Package price includes:

	19 night’s BB hotel accommodation on twin-sharing basis
	2 night’s full-board accommodation on houseboat