Kalari Kovilakom, the palace of the ancient Vengunad Kingdom in Kerala now converted into a palace for Ayurveda, offers Ayurveda in its most authentic and substantive form as the Rajas of Vengunad would have had it. Adhering to the strict tenets of Ayurveda as an universal healing art rather than a medical system, the treatment offered is a combination of the physical, psychological and spiritual therapies in our approach to health that is as relevant to the modern world as it was to the ancient world. Nothing has been re-invented, nothing diluted. The Ayurveda treatments are complimented and supported by yoga and meditation practices. Ayurveda works from outside in. Yoga works from inside out. Both in harmony works towards the wholeness of being.
“An ashram is a place you work hard physically and spiritually".
The Palace is by no means an ashram. While living in the comforts of “The Palace", we invite you to have only a glimpse of an experience of a lifestyle that was advocated in the Ancient Indian traditions. This lifestyle helps you to balance your energies, to balance the outer, material world and the inner, spiritual world, leaving you refreshed, energetic and a more whole person.
Amidst green velvety carpet like paddy fields and greener hills is Kalari Kovilakom, Kollengode, Palakkad, Kerala. A 2.5 hours road drive from the Cochin International Airport – this heritage palace turned wellness ayurveda hotel is a welcoming destination far away from the maddening crowd. The palace of Vengunad Kingdom in Kerala is today an upmarket wellness destination in Kerala. This spa like Ayurveda center offers Kerala's best Ayurvedic massages and treatments under the personal care of in-house ayurvedic doctors in aesthetically designed private rooms specially designed to offer you complete privacy. Kalari Kovilakom's ayurveda and complete holistic treatments are fit only for a king! Very royal in hospitality the cordial staff is well trained to pamper and spoil you with choices of relaxing massages. As they would say in Kalari Kovilakom … this is a palace, feel like the king! Integrated holistic approach – a balanced combination of physical, psychological and spiritual therapies as per the ancient Ayurvedic scriptures are followed along with yoga and meditation sessions.
Anti-aging: Rasayana Chikitsa (28 Days)
The programme starts with a two week cleansing treatment to eliminate toxins. Only then do the rejuvenation treatments start, with medicines and diet. The aim is to arrest the degeneration of body cells and increase immunity. In fact, the treatment helps to keep individuals free from diseases even at an advanced age. Based on a person’s constitution or dominant doshas, therapies include pizhichil (massage with lukewarm, medicated oil), pouch massages, different types of uzhichil (massage), and other purifying treatments. The cleansing is followed by a rejuvenation treatment with special creams and oil, backed by a nourishing diet.
Anti-stress Programme - Manasanthi (14 Days)
Kalari Kovilakam’s 14-day anti-stress programme is designed to combat the symptoms of stress, insomnia, lack of concentration, fatigue and headaches that seems to partner today’s hectic lifestyles. The Manasanthi treatment consists of classic ayurvedic treatments, such as uzhichil, sirodhara (pouring oil on the forehead) and nasyam (excess body humours are eliminated through the nose. These are supported by special Yoga therapies, herbal medicines and herbal teas.
General Rejuvenation - Panchakarma (21 to 28 Days)
Pancharakarma is preceded by poorvakarma or pre-purification. The body is ‘readied’ to let go of toxins through swedanam and snehanam. Swedanam means ‘sudation’ or sweating. This procedure liquefies toxins and increases their movement into the gastrointestinal tract. Snehanam, which follows, means oleating the body. It helps toxins to move towards the gastrointestinal tract and makes tissues soft and supple, thus helping to remove stress and nourish the nervous system.The doshas are now active. A particular panchakarma is then given according to the individual’s constitution and disorder.Panchkarma is the classic five-point revitalisation treatment that is gaining worldwide fame these days. Although Panchakarma is often thought of as the entire procedure, it is, in fact, part of a group of therapies belonging to a class of cleansing procedures called shodhana. At Kalari, the Panchkarma rejuvenation process is intensive and closely follows the early texts of Ayurveda like the Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita.
Pradhana Karma - Main Procedure
There are five basic Shodhanas, or cleansing methods.
- Nasyam: Elimination of toxins through the nose
- Vamanam: Therapeutic vomiting
- Virechanam: Purgation
- Vasthy: Enema
- Rakthamoksham: Detoxification of the blood