Wellness Holiday: Kairali

This is a kind of holiday you’d want to take when the everyday stress wears your out. Not the one where get busy clicking pictures and let yourself indulge in gluttony. But the one where you actually take care of yourself and get rid of the stress. A wellness retreat.

You wake up in the morning and witness nature painting the sky in myriad colours and then welcoming the rising sun. The breeze that touches you is unadulterated and the only noises you hear are of the trees swaying and birds chirping around. You then relax on a hammock for a while before you head for breakfast which includes fresh juice and healthy meals. You get back to your room, which is a cottage – each distinct from the other. Then you walk around for a while and then get an Ayurvedic massage. Herbal tea and healthy food become your friends and you do nothing else but relax.

Watching the sunrise while practicing yoga is breathtaking

Don’t come here looking for a holiday where you indulge in sumptuous meals, skip mornings and party all night. Kairali Ayurvedic Healing Village is ideal for someone appreciates health and wellness. Or you could be here looking to cure an ailment you’re suffering from, like arthritis, obesity, sinusitis, skin diseases, et al or simply to detoxify and rejuvenate your senses. Relaxing in true sense comes easily here given the proximity to nature with palm and coconut trees and lush greenery everywhere.

The focus is on complete relaxation of mind

There’s a hammock where you can spend hours reading a book and dozing off; a pool to dip in; a small library (with a lot of German and Russian books indicating that the place gets a lot of tourists from the two countries) and a pool table and carom board (which incidentally brought me a lot of embarrassment since I realized there that I am worse than a 5-year-old at the game).

The treatments include Ayurvedic massages that are recommended according to the nature of elements that define you. According to Ayurveda, every human is a unique combination of the five elements and there are three vital forces of life, namely, vata (ether and air); pita (fire) and kapha (water and earth). A balance of these forces is said to be the solution for a fit and healthy body.

I liked the idea of differently designed cottages so as to not appear monotonous. There are a total of 30 cottages that are apparently designed as per the principles of Vaastu Shastra and you can choose one according to your birth sign. Red oxide used in the flooring keeps the rooms naturally cool but there are air conditioners, just in case. Tooth powder replaces toothpaste and other toiletries too are free of chemicals. I must also mention the truly hospitable staff there for their warm and genuine smiles — be it Rohini, who took us around the area or the old gardener who greeted us every morning.

The food is simple and basic yet quite delicious, though my colleague there didn’t agree! If you are there for a treatment, the doctor will decide your diet. Otherwise too, the food naturally is non-greasy and non-fattening. They will also teach you recipes with a hope that you will continue with that kind of diet. I vowed there to that. But…. nevermind!

Location: P.O. Olassery, Kodumbu, Palakkad, Kerala 678551; Ph: +91-9555156156

Climate: Summer – 20 to 36 degrees C; Winter – 16 to 32 degrees C

How to get there:

Air: Nearest airport is Coimbatore, about 60 kms away

Train: Nearest station is Palakkad Junction Stations, 5 kms away

Road: Well connected by moterable roads with major cities of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Cost: Basic is Rs 9500 per night inclusive of meals. Cost for specific treatment varies according to the package.