The scarlet sun seeping through distant mountains, the formidable wilderness of the Western Ghats and the bewitching sight of a serene and sparkling rivulet — it’s nature at its pristine best. Welcome to Ayursoukhyam Resorts, a scenic retreat located at the banks of Athirappilly Falls in Kerala. The resort run by the famed Kandamkulathy Vaidyasala is the perfect hideaway for the urban nomad who wants a tranquil break from the suffocating hustle of metros.
Nestled in between the nutmeg trees are 14 twin cottages with all the modern amenities including air conditioned interiors. The resort has an unadulterated ambiance as you will find each and every element in complete sync with nature. The architecture adds to the scenic elegance and the alluring landscape next to it is something to behold. The unique feature of the resort is the nearby boulder-studded brook set against the stunning backdrop of high ranges. Watching sunset and sunrise from the brook is an out of the world experience for true nature lovers. The lush greenery and the cool breeze passing through the herbal garden of umpteen medicinal plants make the place a peaceful green oasis. Another idea to make your stay an exciting affair is a trekking trip to the close-by rain forest. The resort arranges sightseeing trips to the Athirapilly and Vazhachal waterfalls, which would be a blissful getaway for city dwellers.
It is a treat to explore the virginal forest, experiencing the peculiar ecosystem of the place. The evergreen woods, swollen waterfalls and silver streams — the expedition promises picture postcard spectacles throughout. You can also go fishing or visit the two amusement parks nearby.
The highlight of the stay is that you can anytime avail ayurvedic health or beauty treatments. It gives you a chance to pamper yourself with ayurveda, the ancient science of longevity and holistic goodness. The resort has a fully-equipped ayurvedic clinic along with 24x7 in-house doctor service. “A week-long vacation and a couple of rejuvenating ayurvedic treatments will leave you detoxified and stress free,” says Dr Nelson K V, resident doctor. The resort has special packages for beauty, relaxation and lifestyle correction. “There are people coming for ayurvedic massages, rejuvenation therapies, body purification packages, slimming programmes and panchakarma. We also have a separate section devoted to women-related lifestyle diseases. “According to your body type and ailment the doctor will fix the therapy sessions,” says the doctor. Newlyweds can go for the exclusive ayurvedic honeymoon package that includes medicated oil massages and special recipes like madhu malar (prepared with navara rice flakes and bitter honey). Other than the regular packages they also offer the highly rejuvenating rasayana chikitsa and kayakalpaka chikitsa. The resort also has a meditation and yoga centre, library, reading room, multi-cuisine restaurant and jogging track.
The soothing environs and ayurvedic therapies are well complemented by sumptuous delicacies, prepared at the restaurant. Though typical Kerala cuisine is the specialty here, you can also opt for an entire range of other dishes. The homely vegetarian items are cooked using garden fresh vegetables and grains. You can also order non-vegetarian items, but those who are undergoing treatments will have to stick to a strict diet charted by the doctor. For slimming therapy, they give you a medicated diet which stimulates digestion.
Located on the banks of Chalakkudy river in a small hamlet called Thumboormuzhy, the resort is only 35 km from Cochin International Airport passing through winding village roads. For reservations contact 0480 2746580, +91 9645937700, or visit www.ayursoukhyam.com