This is the Rough Guide to Kerala’s write up of Amrutham Ayurvedic Resort:
Mid-range
, Amruthamgamaya (Amrutflam)
- Panagodu, near Venganoor (see map,
p.101), ®0471/645 5423, ®9447 856461,
www.amrutham.in <http://www.amrutham.in/>. A great option if you want to base yourself away from the busy coastal strip, but within striking distance of the beaches. It’s essen- tially an ayurveda centre, but with comfortable accommodation in beautiful, large octagonal rooms overlooking a terraced garden. Home-cooked vegetarian meals are served on a high rooftop overlooking a sea of palm trees, and there’s a gorgeous pool to relax in. Superb value, but tricky to find: phone ahead for directions.
Ayurveda centres
A significant proportion of the northern Europeans in Kovalam are here to receive treatment in one 0f the growing band of ayurveda centres that have opened around the resort. These range from grubby massage shacks in the palm grove behind Lighthouse Beach to fully accredited Olive Leaf clinics in the nearby five- stars – which function more as rejuvenation spas than proper clinics.
When it comes to treatment for medical conditions, only a han dful of places are worth considering.
Foremost among them is Amruthaingayam (ak a “Amrutham”; ®0471/645 5423 or 9447 856461; www.amrutham.in <http://www.amrutham.in/>), tucked away on the edge of Venganoor village, 4km inland from Kovalam (see p.96 for a review of their accommodation),
Warning: swimming is recommended both for the standard of its practitioners and overall ambience. Equipped with traditional palm-thatch, mud-walled huts, as well as an open-sided yoga hall where clients may attend free classes, it has a fully certified doctor and offers the full gamut of ayurveda treatments at much lower prices than the nearby resorts, in a tranquil location well away from the brouhaha of the beachside. The centre is marked on our map on p.lOl, but phone ahead for direc- tions, as not even the local rickshaw-wallahs know how to find it.
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Sunday Telegraph Magazine 18 July 2009
Amrutham Ayurvedic Village Resort – Kovalam
For a friendly affordable retreat that carries out the above ideals in a serious but less intimidating way, Amrutham, situated in a simple farming village a mile inland from Kovalam Beach is perfect. It is run by two friends, locally born Ajith Nr and Londoner Sarah Cohen, and a very nice team of staff. Within pretty hibiscus-filled gardens, you will find a clean spacious guesthouse built in traditional Keralan style, palm-thatched treatment huts, a secluded outdoor yoga sala, a lovely large pool, and an ayurvedic vegetarian restaurant where you can learn to cook.
The beauty of this place is that it can work equally well for those looking for complete immersion in ayurveda, and those wanting to come and relax in the beautiful surroundings, try some individual treatments and to recharge. The serious programs last one to three weeks and include daily morning hatha yoga (including yoga philosophy) and guided meditation.
The details: Singles from £35 pn, doubles from £49; one week ayurvedic programs including daily yoga, excluding accommodation, from £228 per person (0091 9447 856461; sjtcohen@hotmail.com amruthamgamaya.com)
