Traditional Ayurveda & Yoga Wellness Retreat in Kerala

Ennakkathara Arya Vaidyasala sits in Chottanikkara, about 15 kilometres from central Kochi and 40 minutes from the city. The town is known for its Devi Temple, which you'll visit during your stay, and the centre itself is steps away from the temple grounds. This is a working Ayurvedic hospital with an outpatient division and pharmacy — yoga retreats are one part of what they do, not a resort add-on.

The programme runs on a predictable daily rhythm. You wake to a morning yoga class covering asanas and pranayama, taught by Jayesh Dhananjayan, who holds a master's degree in yoga and certifications in both Hatha and Ashtanga styles. After breakfast, there's a class on Ayurveda basics and yoga philosophy — useful context if you're new to either discipline. Midday brings your personalised treatment: typically Abhyanga (oil massage with steam bath), though the specifics depend on what the doctor recommends after your initial consultation.

Lunch and dinner are pure vegetarian Kerala meals, cooked by kitchen staff on-site. Past guests describe the food as wholesome and tasty — rice, sambar, vegetable dishes, coconut-based preparations. Nothing fancy, but filling and made fresh. Herbal drinking water, tea, and juices are available throughout the day.

Afternoons are quiet. In the evening, you'll join a meditation session before dinner. One day includes an excursion to the temple, the centre's own Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing unit, and a backwater cruise (the boat trip is optional and costs extra). It's a chance to see how the medicines you're being treated with are actually made.

The medical director, Dr. Nikila Sudheer, has 16 years of experience and trained at the University of Calicut. She specialises in Ayurveda cosmetology and women's health, and her family has run this centre for three generations. Reviews consistently mention her by name — guests appreciate that she takes time during consultations and genuinely listens.

This retreat suits people curious about Ayurveda who want to experience it in a real treatment setting rather than a luxury wellness resort. The accommodation is basic but comfortable, the town is quiet, and the pace is slow. You'll learn your dosha, receive daily treatments, and leave with practical recommendations for diet and yoga practice you can continue at home.

What's included

- 2 nights accommodation in your chosen room type - 3 daily vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Water, tea, juices, and herbal drinking water throughout the day - Personalised Ayurveda consultation with body constitution analysis - Daily Abhyanga treatment (full body oil massage with steam bath) - Morning and evening yoga sessions - Daily class on yoga philosophy and Ayurveda basics - Daily pranayama and meditation sessions - Visit to Chottanikkara Devi Temple - Visit to Ayurveda medicine manufacturing unit - Visit to nearby backwaters - Healthy diet and yoga exercise recommendations - Yoga mat and accessories

What's not included

- International or domestic flights - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Special tours and excursions not listed - Tips and gratuities - Airport transfers (available for €36 per person return) - Optional backwater boat cruise