Kerala is a land known for its natural beauty worldwide. Nature has blessed the land with a rich decoration of a number of beautiful golden beaches, blue and green mountain ranges, historical monuments, lagoons, wildlife sanctuaries, backwaters, temples, churches and mosques. Kerala is a land known as the land of boat races, Kathakali, Elephant shows, martial arts and more. These are the major elements that promote tourism in the land making Kerala, a well-known tourist destination. The Kerala tourism department has played an important role in the development of the tourism sector of the state by establishing tourism as a major development factor in the state. With the rapid development of tourism in Kerala, the state tourism department has a number of different trends in tourism Ayurvedic tourism is one among them. Ayurvedic or medical tourism in Kerala is going through a significant stage of development where the Kerala government with the help of Ayurvedic treatment centres which includes Aura Spa, Arya Vaidya Sala and much more are taking different steps to develop Ayurvedic tourism in the land. Thousands of travelers mainly foreigners trip to Kerala with the local idea of rejuvenation that is incarnated in the Ayurveda system of treatment. One of the major factors that are resulting in the decreasing rates of Ayurvedic tourism in the state is the expensive Kerala Ayurvedic packages which are not affordable for travelers. Taking this difficulty in consideration the Kerala tourism department is now proposing new treatment rates which the travelers would find affordable and within the budget.
For most travelers holidays are the stress-busters. Although the Ayurvedic treatment would last for a minimum of a month there are a number of short-term courses which are particularly meant for tourist who are in a hurry. There are a number of foreign travelers who support Ayurveda and take up short Ayurvedic courses during the holiday that will later help them run Ayurvedic parlous abroad. The minimum time of the stay in the land during the source would vary from one week to fourteen days. Structuring the treatment demands according to the trend in the market the government of Kerala with tourism department and the Ayurvedic treatment centres in Kerala have put in some budget packages which includes treatments like body purification course, rejuvenation, slimming programme, stress management, beauty care, Dhara, yoga and massage combination. With the increase in the demand for Ayurvedic treatments in Kerala, there a number of hotels and resorts offering Ayurvedic treatment with a primary intention to attract tourist. Some of the top five Ayurvedic resorts in Kerala where tourist mostly foreigner could enjoy rejuvenation and reformations with the best packages which are offered under the Ayurvedic tourism are:
Somatheeram Ayurveda Resort: This Ayurvedic resort located on a hillock which is a few km south of the Kovalam beach is said to be the world’s first Ayurvedic resort. Established in 1985, this resort has now emerged as one of the best destinations which help in putting up a tradition of Ayurvedic holidays and medical tours among the travelers. The tranquility of the resort located by the sea, freshness of traditional Ayurvedic treatments and a healthy routine would help people unwind in the place. The scenic beauty of this Ayurvedic resort in Kerala with its treatment facilities made the place one of the best and most visited destinations in most Ayurvedic tour packages. Acute health condition like paralysis, varying blood pressure, arthritis, cholesterol and breathing problems like asthma are first analysed by a team of experts and doctors who then aid the patient with a number of healing exercises and diets.
The massages and treatment offered at the resort serve for more than a short-term purpose some sessions would extend till days while some don’t. Some of the major treatment offered in the land is Pizhichil which is a special message which uses a variety of lukewarm herbal oils which is very effective in treating diseases like paralysis and nervous disorders. Every Pizhichil sessions would last for a minimum of 60 to 90 minutes which would continue for a span of 7 to 21 days. Patients with diabetes and obesity can also choose for the best Abhyangam combination which is a type of massage that would last for another 45 min a day. ‘Nasyam’, ‘Kizhi’ and ‘Snehapanam’ are some of the many treatments offered at the resort which has been proven to be capable of curing a number of skin diseases like leukaemia and sports injuries. Yoga class boat trips are also offered in the place which is added in the Ayurveda packages offered at Somatheeram.
Aura Ayurvedic treatment center and spa: Aura Ayurvedic spa and resort is one of the best and well established Ayurveda center located to the hill stations of Munnar. The place provides the visitors with a refreshing and holistic atmosphere which helps them maintain a positive aura. Located in the misty hills of Munnar the place is one of the Ayurvedic resort in Kerala and a prominent destination in Ayurvedic tourism. some of the major treatments offered to the travelers visiting the Ayurvedic center includes Ayurvedic therapies like Abhyangam with Shirodhara, Abhyangam with Kizhi, Sarvanga choorna mridangam with Abhyangam, Sarvanga Abhyangam with swedham, Siroabhygyam with Mukha Abhyangam, Pada Abhyangam with Siro Abhyangam, Pitta Abhyangam or Back massage, Ardha Abhyangam, Relaxation massage, Pizhichil, Kalari thirumu or Kalari massage, Shirodhara, Mukha Lepam or Herbal Facial, Nasyam, Deep Tissue massage, Pichu, Foot Reflexology and Kizhi. A vacation here in the hills of Munnar will provide you with the best experience of rejuvenation of body mind and soul and regeneration. The place is the best for the travelers to relax. The resort also offers the travelers visiting the place with a number of other facilities which includes multi-cuisine restaurants, swimming pool with kid’s pool, yoga and meditation classes, cooking classes, trekking, nature walk, moon terrace for barbeque, banquet & conference facility, large natural pond with pedal boating, campfire, fishing, bird watching, plantation tour, indoor and outdoor games.
Kairali Ayurvedic Health Village: The enchanting the immense beauty of the Western Ghats and the lush green flora explains the mesmerizing town of Palakkad located in Kerala which houses one of the best Ayurvedic treatment centres, The Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resort. This Ayurvedic healing village offers the visitors with the best treatment and herbal massages at the Ayurvedic resorts and Ayurveda hospitals which are located in Kerala. A highly trained and committed team of therapists and doctors promises the visitors with the best and high-quality treatments. A number of beauty care packages are prepared to treat a number of very common diseases like respiratory problems, skin diseases stress and eye ailments. Some of the main attractions of the place include yoga, yoga training sessions and a number of different and attractive Training & Workshop. This Ayurvedic health village offers a number of treatment packages which attracts the tourist mostly over-sea tourist the most. Some of the best treatments offered by the health village includes Treatment for Sinusitis & Migraine, Holistic Treatment for Rejuvenation & Detoxification, Treatment for Hypertension, Weight Loss Programme, Preventive & Regenerative Treatment, Treatment to Remove Stress & Strain, Treatment for Nervous Disability, Treatment for Arthritis & Spondylitis, Treatment for Bronchial Diseases, Treatment for Rheumatism, Beauty Care & Eye Care, Treatment for Slip Disc and more.
One of the main factors that influenced the development of Ayurvedic tourism in Kerala is the rich history of the land which points towards this ancient treatment method which is used in healing a number of major diseases in the past. Ayurveda is a stream of medication which aims at treating the cause of the disease and thereby re-establishes the balance of the body and the system with a number of remedies, herbal massages, Yoga, Meditation and approaches to a holistic lifestyle. According to Ayurveda, a human body is composed of 3 main elements namely the physical, astral, causal which means the body, mind and soul. keeping in reference of Ayurveda it is believed that during 500-600 B.C, a number sages like Agastya, Kashaya, Charaka, Sushrutha and others had reference to diseases, health practices and medicines from Vedas to Samhitas. It is believed that from the Samhitas the knowledge of Ayurveda has been passed down from generations to generations for a preventative and curative approaches to health. It is to get a flavor and magic of this hereditary treatment that a number of tourists visit the land. The Kerala tourism department combined with the health department of the state put on a number of projects and efforts to develop this trend of Ayurvedic tourism in the land. Ayurveda is not just a method of healing with a number of herbal medicines but is an entire philosophy of life and the health department of Kerala is allowing the travelers from around the world to experience this philosophy of life.