Somatheeram Ayurveda Village: My Experience of a Heavenly & Healthy Getaway

Slow living, travelling, and clean eating – I wish I could do that forever. Some travel experiences are rejuvenating as well as rewarding. My recent staycation at Somatheeram Ayurveda Village was exactly of this kind. It was not just a resort stay or a weekend getaway but a self-pampering staycation that redefined the meaning of wellness for me. Somatheeram Ayurveda Village is not the usual, fancy-looking resort but a traditionally designed and heartfully done place, anchored by a gorgeous location, state-of-the-art amenities, great facilities, and dedicated wellness programs. It draws people from all over the world, who stay over, indulge, get treated, and return with great respect for Indian Ayurveda. It is a place where I truly felt healed, both in the body and mind. The hospitality was impressive and truly sincere. Everyone I met was always warm, helpful, and extremely welcoming. I would not only love to return to this place, but also recommend it to my readers, friends and family for its beautiful blend of nature, wellness, traditions, and tranquility.

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Where is Somatheeram Ayurveda Village? What is it all about?

SOMATHEERAM is located in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. It is a mesmerizing experience, unlike any, where you eat healthy, live healthy, and breathe healthily. And most importantly, it is a wellness center where you learn and indulge in one of the richest legacies of Indian Ayurveda. Somatheeram, AyurSoma, and Manaltheeram, together make up a healing village. When it comes to location, amenities, luxury, and individual attention, each of them outdoes one other. Last but not the least, they have a wonderful team of doctors and therapists who come with years of experience at hand. Whether you’re here for a week or one month, there’s plenty to keep you occupied. From my experience, I can easily say that you need a minimum of a week. Even my 4 nights stay did not feel enough. My body fell in love with the treatments here.

Travelling to Somatheeram Ayurveda Health Resort

I started from Faridabad, took a flight from Delhi to be in Kochi to attend the Kerala Travel Mart 2022 and after that, I extended my stay in Kerala by visiting the capital city Thiruvananthapuram. From the airport, the drive to Somatheeram Ayurvedic Health Resort was smooth and traffic free. This was my first visit to the city and I was excited as well as curious to know more about it. I had 5 days in hand and I was looking forward to exploring the attractions of the city. But once I entered the premises of Somatheeram Ayurveda Village, all my plans when topsy-turvy. I did not feel like stepping out of the calmness and tranquility that prevailed in there. The aura of the place is charming and I fell in love with it, almost immediately. The traditional setup of the cottages, green surroundings, authentic ayurvedic treatments (massages), home-like food, and the heartwarming location of Chowara beach got to my heart and soul. With each passing day, the experience became better and more beautiful.

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Background Story of Somatheeram Ayurveda Village

Somatheeram calls itself the world’s first Ayurveda hospital set in a resort ambiance. It has a rich legacy of more than 30 years. It has many awards and accolades to its name. It has also won the National Award for the “Best Ayurveda Centre of the Year”.

They excel in Ayurveda treatments/programs and have treated patients from all over the world. The essence and soul of Somatheeram Ayurveda Hospital Group is the ancient medical science of ‘Ayurveda’ and the ‘Art of Yoga & Meditation’. It is a certified ‘hospital’ along with a wellness resort. One can book a getaway simply for general wellness or for specific Ayurvedic treatment. When you have no specific ailment, you can simply choose their rejuvenation packages.

Somatheeram – My room and all about my stay

There are 40+ cottages in Somatheeram, divided into various categories like standard room, garden cottage, special cottage, Kerala house standard, Kerala house deluxe A/c, Kerala House Suite A/c. I had a garden room, small and sweet with all amenities intact. There was a bed with a mosquito net, a table and a chair, a television, an air conditioner, and a mini fridge. The room had a cupboard and locker. The cottages are made of special quality wood. The wooden room had a very earthy feel about it. If you love living in the lap of nature, Somatheeram is the place to be. You will have butterflies, and different varieties of birds visit you throughout the day. One day, I had a peacock visit my premises too. You may read a book in your shack and just enjoy the tranquility. Everything about Somatheeram connects you to nature and reminds you of its beauty.

I had planned a solo trip to Somatheeram and I used this time to focus on my mind, body, and soul. In the chaos of the cities, not very often, does one get a chance to clear one’s head and lungs. But here, I was surrounded by an aura of spiritual energy. It felt so good to be in that trance where there was only natural beauty to indulge in. The views of the Chowara beach (also called Somatheeram beach) and the sound of the crashing waves permeated positive energy throughout the wellness resort. I loved admiring it from afar and also spent most of my free time walking around the beach. It was therapeutic.

Restaurant at AyurSoma

The restaurant at Somatheeram was undergoing renovation, thus, I was having all my meals at AyurSoma Ayurveda Royal Retreat, which was simply 5 minutes away from my room, using a lift. The best part about Somatheeram Ayurveda Village is that even though the guests may be staying at any one of the properties, they can use the facilities and restaurants of all the places. Suppose you have booked a room in Somatheeram, you can enjoy your lunch or dinner at Manaltheeram or AyurSoma. If the guest has been prescribed a specific diet, they can inform any of the restaurants and have their meal there. Personally, I felt this is one of the USPs of this place. You have 3 properties to explore and admire.

I was spoiled with fabulously-fresh produce and variety of juices and drinks. Food at AyurSoma was full of green and organic choices, all marked with the name of the dish and the Vaata, Pitha, and Kaafa composition. If you are on a specific treatment (e.g. weight loss, diabetes, high blood pressure), you will be given food as per the diet prepared for you by the Doctors. The food is prepared with minimal oil and spices. There is an abundance of juices, fruits, salads, and seasonal vegetables. Only vegetarian food is served in the buffet but if in case someone needs eggs and meats, the request is accommodated if you inform them beforehand. One had enough to choose from to strike a perfect balance between carbs, protein, fats, and fibers.

Massages and Treatments

The therapists are magicians here. Most of them have experience of more than twenty-five years. Their hands are capable of producing magic when they work on our bodies. They ease off all kinds of pain and uneasiness in the body. Some of the treatments given to me were Potli massage, Milk bath, medicated steam bath, Shirodhara, face cleaning, rejuvenation massage, etc.

On the first day, I was asked to fill out a form and furnish all the details of my body. I had a lovely interaction and discussion with the doctor regarding some of my issues, especially swollen feet on certain occasions. Every day, before the treatment, the doctor initiated a small talk about my sleep, water intake, and overall health. As per my answers, she would assign the therapies and two therapists who would take care of me. Accordingly, the doctor would suggest me some treatments. It was amazing to see and experience how the two of them worked in a very synchronized pattern. I enjoyed every bit of the treatment, massage, and face cleansing. After the massage, they would never forget to apply a paste made from various local ingredients. Everyday, the treatments would go on for a duration of two hours. It ended with a fresh coconut drink. The packs were applied. And after shower, my skin and body glowed and felt better each day.

I also had a temporary swelling issue which they looked into dilgently. I was also advised some medicines during my stay which have been helpful.

Some of the prime body treatments given are Rasayana Chikilsa (Rejuvenation Therapy), Shodhana Chikilsa (body purification therapy), Kayakalpa Chikilsa ( Body purification therapy), Manasanthy, Sidhma Chikilsa (Psoriasis body treatment), Spine and neck care, Beauty programs, Slimming and weight loss programs, Anti-ageing program, etc.

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Things to Know!

• One can wear whatever you feel comfortable wearing during the day, including mealtimes.
• All the three resorts are100% alcohol and tobacco free.
• Daily one yoga session is part of your program.
• Airport transfer from Thiruvananthpuram is taken care of on request.
• One is provided with free medicines during treatment.
• Various cultural programs and events take place during the evenings
• An Ayurveda diet plan is given as per the ailments of the body.
• German, French, Italian and Russian interpreters are also available on the premises.
• Somatheeram also offers some tours to the most fascinating places in Thiruvananthapuram and nearby places on a paid basis or if you live for more than two weeks or more.
• TheTheresortsoverlooks the Chowara beach. One can go for a walk on the beach every day.
• The Azhimala Shiva temple is located 100 meters away.
• The whole setting is extremely picturesque.
• There is an artefacts shop, jewellery shop, medicine shop, boutique, salon inside the premises to take care of the needs of the guests.

This is one of the greenest, refreshing, rejuvenating, calming, and healthiest getaways that I have had in recent times. I would love to go back soon. This is also one of the places where we must send our parents to. This is the best gift we can give them. Somatheeram Ayurveda Village is a haven of tranquility. I had the opportunity to stay in AyurSoma as well. In the next blog post, I will share my experience in detail.