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 Kalari
Kovilakom is the Palace for Ayurveda, perhaps the first and only one of
its kind. Its face is the face of the warrior-king, elegant and
expansive. But its heart is that of a sage, offering a deep healing, a
doorway to the union of the mind, body and spirit.
If the old legends are to
be believed, healing is part of Kalari's very soul. Stories are told of
a Prince who came to the foothills of Kerala's Annamalai Hills around
the 10th century. It seems he was afflicted with a particularly
troublesome skin ailment. So he came to cure himself in the healing
spring waters of this land. Possibly, he also sought the medicinal Venga
tree that grew here in profusion.
Dharmavarman stayed on to
found a kingdom, Vengunad, 'The Land of the Venga Tree'. And for all the
days to come, his descendants held sway over these silent and green
foothills.
It was in the 19th century
that they built Kalari Kovilakom.
 A
new life
Today, Kalari Kovilakom
has been restored and recreated into a unique experience in wellness.
Combining the healing experience of India's ancient medicinal system,
Ayurveda, with the grace and scale of
palace living.
So is it a spa? A Palace
hotel? An ayurvedic hospital? An ashram? Kalari is beyond these simply
because it is a little of all of these.
The intent and purpose of
Kalari Kovilakom is to give you a chance to start your life all over
again. Ayurveda, if correctly followed, promises not only a new body and
mind, but a deep connection with the spirit.
To the ancient Indians,
this was a cosmic connection. A chance to be reborn in this life itself.
Shoeless indulgences
To stay true to the
traditions of the palace, no meat, leather footwear or alcohol are
allowed at Kalari.
You will see echoes of
Ashram-like austerity. Yet, enjoy a rare level of amenities and service,
part 21st century comfort, part 19th century romance.
The
original dwellings of the lords and ladies of Vengunad are still
yours to delight in, unchanged from times past.
We restored them as
authentically as we could. Then added as many modern facilities as we
dared, without compromising the Palace's original character.
The air-conditioning, the
luxury bath fittings and the four - poster beds will certainly lull you,
but they shouldn't mislead you. For Kalari offers unvarnished ayurveda,
administered in its purest form, in accordance with millennia-old texts
and traditions
The healing touch of pure Ayurveda
At Kalari, every therapy
is personal. Our treatments are customised for you by our doctors, often
combined with yoga and other methods to provide deep healing from within
and without. Every treatment is based on your needs and your ayurvedic
body type. Even the food you're served is individual, with health drinks
and herbal preparations that vary with your treatment.
The result is nothing less
than a return to the womb. There are no game rooms, no shopping
expeditions, no television sets. The evenings are alive with chanting
and hymns, unsullied by the sounds of the city. In fact, apart from
these post-dinner gatherings where guests and staff alike participate,
there is nothing, absolutely nothing, to disturb your new-found inner
silence.
You are in a space like no
other on earth that we know of. An atmosphere that makes you conscious
only of the potentials within, being slowly unlocked as your therapies
progress.
 The
Princely Path
Kalari Kovilakom offers ayurveda
unveiled in its most authentic form.
The herbs used are pure and freshly picked, usually from the herb
gardens maintained on Kalari Kovilakom's own extensive grounds.
All food is prepared in a full fledged ayurvedic kitchen, using
pure spices and ingredients to create simple, yet delicious vegetarian
meals that form an integral part of the treatments.
And the therapies are in strict accord with the ancient texts of
Ayurveda.
Through a combination of massages,
herbal treatments, medicines, diet and purifying baths, the Kalari
experience promises you a chance to see the world afresh, to be twice
born.
10 therapy and massage rooms offer a complete range of treatments.
Expert masseuses and therapists work with you from head to toe, bringing
new life to tired muscles, bones and tendons. The healing continues at
our Yoga and meditation centres, and even at the dining table. And of
course, hovering protectively over your whole treatment are Doctors
Shreelatha and Jain, qualified ayurvedic physicians with years of
clinical experience.
Want to learn more about
Ayurveda in general and our treatments in particular? Read our
Doctor's briefing.
 Yoga
and Pranayama
Yoga is the ancient Indian
mind-body-spirit discipline, said to have originated in the 'sutras'
(philosophical verses) of sage Patanjali, millennia ago.
The word is from the old Sanskrit, and means 'union'. While there are
many different forms of Yoga, the purpose of all of them is the same -
to achieve oneness with the cosmos. For the serious Yogi, the ultimate
aim is to attain 'moksha', or liberation from the karmic cycle of birth
and death.
The form of yoga that's most widely known in the West is 'Hatha Yoga', a
system of 'Asanas' (postures) meant to perfect and discipline the body,
and its accompanying breath exercises, called 'Pranayama'.
At Kalari, we use the Bihar school of
Hatha Yoga, a gentle, yet powerful form that combines particularly well
with other therapies.
Afternoons in the Yoga Centre are reserved for 'Yoga Nidra', a special
meditative technique that brings about deep relaxation in the
individual.
Like everything else here, yoga therapies too are personal and focused.
You'll be guided through a routine that's designed for your age,
ailments, body type and general condition.
 Kalaripayattu
Kalaripayattu is one of the oldest
martial arts traditions in the world.
In fact, many historians
believe that it was the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma ( Daruma to the
Japanese), founder of Zen, who first took it to the Far East. Over the
centuries, the form was expanded and developed, finally becoming the
basis for Kung Fu and other martial arts.
'Kalari' means school or arena, and 'payat' is skill training, exercise
or practice.
Kalari aims to create the most
proficient warrior. and so fits out the body and the mind with an
elaborate repertoire of movements and exercises:
There are four basic types of Kalari
training, viz. body control exercises, training with wooden staffs, the
use of weapons such as swords and shields, and unarmed combat.
There is also training in
the use of a unique Kerala weapon, the lethal flexible sword, called the
'Urumi' that can be concealed as a waist belt.
Another special feature of
Kalari is training in 'Marma', the art of knowing and activating the 107
energy points in the body.
Theses are vital points for correcting the body's energy flows and
replenishing its resources. Kalari therefore aims to make the
practitioner not just a warrior but a self-healer, and one who can also
help others with his healing powers.
At Kalari Kovilakom, there
are regular training sessions in Kalaripayattu, held in a traditional
covered pit arena on the grounds .
So not only can you watch the experts at play, you can even take a crack
at Kalaripayattu yourself! Simple Kalari movements are great exercises
for strengthening and toning the whole body, and can make your
treatments that much more beneficial.
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Ayurveda
treaments offered include: |
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Rasayam Chikitsa (Anti aging) |
28 days |
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Manashanthy (Stress relief) |
14 days |
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Pancha Karma (Rejuvenation) |
21 or 28 days |
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Sthanlyakina Chikitsa (Weight Reduction) |
21 or 28 days |
Getting There
Surrounded by paddy fields and the hills, Kalari Kovilakom is in
Kollengode, Palakkad, Kerala.
The heartland of Ayurveda, picturesque Kollengode is a pleasant
two and a half hour drive through the countryside from the Cochin
International Airport. And an hour and a half away from the Coimbatore
Airport.
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