3 Days At Kairali - The Ayurvedic Healing Village

Last week I spent 3 days at Kairali - The Ayurvedic Healing Village in Kerala. Nestled amidst the lush embrace of nature, this place of serenity promises a transformative experience that goes beyond mere relaxation. After a hectic few weeks at work, I was really looking forward to a relaxing weekend, and that was exactly what I was in for. 

DAY 1

I flew down on a 6.30 am flight from Mumbai, which was delayed by 2 hours. So after the 2-hour struggle, the sweet driver who picked me up from the Coimbatore airport, made me forget all the stress of a delayed flight. You just need that one nice simple person with a warm smile to change the vibe of your day, and this person did that for me. 

After around a one-and-a-half-hour drive, I arrived at Kairali. It is an entirely green, quiet, and peaceful place. The only sound you hear is the birds chirping. Since a lot of people come to stay here for at least a week and more, they kind of develop a bond with each other. They will smile and wave every time you see each other, in my opinion, it’s really cute. 

One of my primary questions was, does Vodafone or Jio work well in Palakkad, Kerala? And glad to report it works fine. So if you want to work from here, you absolutely can. Kairali also has WiFi so you are sorted. 

They serve only Satvic vegetarian food and no tea or coffee.  While I was apprehensive about how I would manage this, since I barely ever eat vegetables, let me assure you that the food is really tasty. As per my caffeine dose, well I managed to survive for two days. Any longer would have been tough since my cravings began early on the 2nd day. 

After a hearty lunch, I spent the afternoon in the treatment room. I first had a one-on-one doctor consultation where we discussed my problem areas and which treatment (massage) would be ideal for me. 

I was recommended, Abhyanga, Potli, and Shirodhara.

Abhyanga is known to enhance blood circulation and detoxification, fostering balance. 

Potli Massage's herbal pouches alleviate muscle tension

Shirodhara's rhythmic oil flow calms the mind, promoting relaxation and mental clarity.

The Abhyanga massage was relaxing. They follow the ancient traditional massage practices, which also means that you are practically naked during the massage. Every massage starts with a head and shoulder massage, followed by a body massage, and then the treatment begins. 

After the Abhyanga massage, I was in the steam room for about 5 minutes, ensuring that all the oils penetrate my skin and I get all the goodness. 

After that, I headed for a shower. Here too, they give you their in-house shampoo which is quite potent and quickly removes all the oil from your hair, without drying out your hair. I have frizzy, curly hair and I generally need a conditioner after every hair wash. However, here, the shampoo did the job of the conditioner too and my hair was just fine after. For the body, you do not get any soap, instead, they give you Green Gram (moong) flour. It not only removes all the oil in an instant but also cleanses your face well, leaving you with a good glow. 

I have honestly made some Green Gram flour at home also now and use it every alternate day. 

I was so relaxed after the massage that I could think of nothing else than a quick nap. After the nap, it was time for meditation. The hour-long meditation was pure joy, while I am not sure how well I did, but the few moments of nothingness that I felt were magical.

Post-meditation, it was time for dinner and bed. 

DAY 2

The day begins with Yoga, the morning stretch amidst nature and serenity felt amazing. After an hour-long Yoga session, it was time for breakfast and then my treatment for day 2. 

One thing I should tell you about the food here, not only is it Satvic yet yumm, but they also do give smaller portions and encourage you to eat slowly. Yes, they will give you more food if you want, but the point here is to not just mindlessly eat. The point is to eat slowly, chew every bite, and focus on the various flavours. This way, when you eat intentionally, it benefits you better. Every meal begins with warm water, soup and salad. Breakfast begins with a healthy portion of fruits and juice. 

I felt hungry twice in between meals once on Day 2 and then on Day 3. So I ordered some fresh fruits, which were fresh, juicy, and oh-so-sweet. Honestly, half the reason why I called for fruits was because my sweet cravings were making a comeback.

Anyway, after my Potli massage, I went back to my villa. Speaking of villas, every room/villa here is unique, they are named after star signs and you can avail one (if available) the one that aligns with your star sign. A stream of water flows through the entire place so each villa has a water element right outside the villa. The gentle sound of the stream is quite calming, I spent some good time reading in the veranda outside my villa, quietly serenaded by the water. 

We headed to the Palakkad market for a bit to buy some banana chips and Kerala handloom sarees.

After returning, I called it a day and returned to my room to sleep a bit. I only emerged in the evening to swim for a bit and meditate, followed by dinner. 

They had arranged for a small Shadow Puppeteer programme which was quite entertaining. I got to speak to the performers later and learn a trick or two. 

DAY 3

I was leaving on day 3, so morning meditation, breakfast and Shirodhara was all I could manage.

I would like to share that the staff made my 3 days here absolute bliss. Warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely caring - they made me feel like I was part of their extended family. They took the time to explain the philosophy behind Ayurveda and answered all my curious questions with patience. They also plan little activities like a farm trip, and a lesson on Vata, Pitha, and Kapha—I learnt so much about my own body from this small little presentation!

One thing I would like to point out is that for the 3 days that I was here, I didn't use any skincare. The oils, Green Gram flour, and their in-house moisturiser was more than enough for me. I came back to Mumbai with visibly glowing skin (my friends and family noticed it too!). So I am glad that on my way back I picked up some oils from them. If you too are interested in trying them out, you can buy them from Amazon or their website. 

While the days seemed to melt into each other in the best way possible, the farewell wasn't easy. Leaving Kairali was like bidding adieu to a world where time slowed down and stress evaporated.