Tours to Kerala: Ayurveda and Panchakarma

There are several airports in and near Kerala: Kochi (COK), Thiruvananthapuram (TRV), Kannur (CNN), Kozhikode (CCJ) and Coimbatore (CJB — technically in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, but convenient for the southern mountain centres). Which one suits you depends on where the clinic is: for the coast south of Kochi it is Thiruvananthapuram, for Wayanad it is Kannur or Kozhikode, for Munnar it is Coimbatore or Kochi. The recommended airport and the travel time are given for every clinic in the catalogue.

It begins with a detailed consultation with the doctor: medical history, background, current complaints, an assessment of your constitution and of any present imbalances. Some clinics additionally perform nadi pariksha (pulse diagnosis — the doctor reads three levels of pulsation corresponding to the three doshas of the body: vata, pitta and kapha) or ashtasthana pariksha (assessment at eight points). Based on the diagnosis, an individual protocol is drawn up for every day of the course — procedures, medications, diet and daily routine. As the course goes on, the doctor watches how the body responds and adjusts the programme.

The standard is 21 days. This is the norm for classical Panchakarma: in that time the body goes through three phases — preparation, the main cleansing procedures, and a gradual exit with recovery. The timing is flexible. People come for 7-14 days for light cleansing, to get to know the method, or for maintenance sessions. For deep work with chronic conditions it is 28–35 days or more. The minimum the clinics accept is 7 days, but the doctors say plainly that the effect will then be superficial.

Besides the five main Panchakarma procedures (vamana, virechana, basti, nasya, raktamokshana), the standard accompaniment to a course is abhyanga — a synchronised massage with herbal oils performed by two to four hands. Where indicated, the following are added: shirodhara (a warm stream of oil poured over the forehead), kati basti and griva basti (herbal oil baths for the lower back and the neck), potali massage (massage with warm herbal pouches), navarakizhi (massage with pouches of boiled rice, milk and herbs), facial treatments (mukhalepa, nalpamaradi) and specialised therapy for women’s health. The doctor decides the composition on the basis of the diagnosis.

Vegetarian Ayurvedic cuisine. The arrangement depends on the clinic: some offer a buffet with an Ayurvedic selection, some a standard menu for all guests, and in a number of clinics the doctor chooses the food individually to suit your constitution and condition. A typical day: porridge and light drinks in the morning, lunch as the main meal with rice, vegetables and dal, and a light, early dinner. Coconut oil is used a great deal and water is drunk warm. Meat, fish, eggs, coffee and alcohol are excluded — that is part of the therapy. When booking, we check the meal arrangement at the clinic you have chosen.

As a rough guide, based on the clinics in our catalogue: from 50 € per day in the economy options up to 460 € in premium clinics; the middle range is roughly 100–190 € per day. The price usually already includes accommodation, Ayurvedic meals, daily procedures and medical supervision. The final sum depends on the clinic you choose and the length of the programme (the standard course is 21 days).