Welcome to my India Travel Diaries, a series of personal posts about my travels through India. Everything written here, including recommendations, are based on my experiences. 

One of the best things that I did while in India was treat myself to a luxurious stay at an Ayurveda resort. While there are many affordable Ayurveda hospitals and resorts in India, I wanted to splurge and do something really nice. It was going to be my first time staying at an all-inclusive after all, and I wanted it to be amazing; a place where I could fully relax and get the best Ayurveda treatment. 

After doing some Googling, I came across the beautiful 16 acre beachside Nattika Beach Ayurveda Resort in Thrissur, Kerala. After reading the reviews and looking at the photos, it was the proximity to the beach that ended up being one of the main reasons why I decided to stay here. I didn’t want to leave India without swimming in the Arabian Sea and that ended up being one of the highlights of my trip!  

If you’re thinking about visiting an Ayurveda resort in India and want to learn about what it’s like to stay at Nattika Beach Ayurveda Resort, keep reading!

What is Ayurveda? 

Ayurveda is India’s traditional medical system and one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems, developed more than 3000 years ago. Ayurveda’s main purpose is to prevent disease in the body before it happens and it’s regularly used to treat ailments like diabetes, digestive issues or allergies. In short, in Ayurveda it’s believed that each person is made up of five elements: space, air, water, fire and earth and these combined create doshas (components) in the body. The doshas Vata, Pitta, and Kapha perform specific functions in the body and need to be balanced for good health. If there’s an imbalance, an Ayurvedic doctor can treat this with herbal remedies, yoga, meditation and making dietary changes. 

Most commonly, people do a Panchakarma, five procedures used to ‘detoxify’ the body. This process requires at least 14 days and is offered at all Ayurvedic hospitals and resorts that you’ll find in India. 

Why I chose Nattika Beach 

The main reason I chose to go to Nattika Beach was because of the reviews I read online and because of its proximity to the beach. I also had a limited amount of time left in India so the dates I could go were available here.  

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time or budget to do a traditional Panchakarma treatment, so I opted for the Seven Night Rejuvenation Package. The main purpose of Ayurveda is Panchakarma, so it is recommended to plan your stay for 14 days. 

Before you go and best time to visit 

The best time to visit is September-May. They will give you a pre-arrival checklist after you book your stay there, and I recommend following what they suggest. I would also recommend that you pack extra sunscreen, mosquito repellent cream and bathing suits. Please also bring some extra cash so you can leave tips for the wonderful staff that you’ll meet! 

Day In The Life

When I arrived, I was welcomed with a coconut water and a Tilak (a mark placed on the forehead made of sandalwood paste). I was then taken to meet my Doctor for the week for my consultation. We discussed my health for about 20-30 minutes. After learning about my health history and concerns, checking my tongue and eyes (the standard in Ayurveda) and checking my weight and temperature, he determined my Dosha to create a treatment plan. Since my stay was only for seven days, the goal was to make sure I got the most relaxation out of my time there. My treatment plan included two daily Ayurveda treatments like Shirodhara (head oil treatment) and Udwarthanam (body massage with oil and herbal powder). I met with another Doctor for a diet consultation and a meal plan was created for me based on my Dosha. I was also given medicine, which I had to take before and after meals for the duration of my stay. 

My days usually went like this: 

6:00 a.m.

The first thing I would do after waking up is head to the beach. It was about a minute from my villa. I walked on the beach every morning that I was there. Listening to the waves and smelling the fresh ocean air was a meditative way to start my mornings.

7:30 a.m. 

After the beach, I would come back to my room and get ready for my treatments, which meant changing into the cozy robe that they provided. Then, I would go meet with my Doctor for a quick consultation to see how I was doing before starting the treatment for the day. 

8:00-10:00 a.m.

I had two wonderful Ayurvedic practitioners who worked on me during my week there. They were very kind and made me feel comfortable. These treatments will require you to be nude, so it’s something to be aware of! My treatments included Shirodhara, Udwarthanam, and even some skincare! As I mentioned, I didn’t have enough time to do a full Panchakarma, but the treatments that I did receive were very nourishing for my mind, body and soul. Udwarthanam is a unique experience. Using a concoction of herbal paste mixed with medicated oil, two practitioners vigorously rub it all of your body in a rhythmical manner. Not only will it shake you up, but it will lull you into relaxation. This treatment promotes blood circulation and detoxification and will have your whole body scrubbed clean!

10:00 a.m. 

I would be in a zen state after my treatments and would head back to my room to take my medicines for the day. Then, I would go have breakfast at VaPiKa, the restaurant at the resort. The food here was some of the best Indian vegetarian food that I have ever had. Organic, fresh, and healthy. Most of the fruits and vegetables are grown in the gardens at the resort. They had a unique assortment of options everyday, including fresh fruit juices and coconut water. Everything is labeled as per what Dosha it is for, so you can follow your diet plan given to you by your doctor and eat accordingly. There is also no coffee readily available, as Ayurveda says no caffeine, so I ended up detoxing from caffeine for a week which went surprisingly well! One day, I couldn’t decide what I wanted to eat from the buffet and one of the staff asked if I wanted to have a ghee roast dosa. I love dosa, so obviously I said yes! It was crispy and delicious, served with fresh coconut chutney and a rich sambar. I absolutely loved it and ended up ordering it for breakfast every day after that for the rest of my stay! I would also get a plate of fresh fruit packed up to eat later on. If there’s anything you need, they’ll do their best to make sure you can have it. 

11:00-2:00 p.m. 

With my fresh fruit plate and coconut water in hand, I would head over to the beach to lounge in one of the many beach huts and go swimming for a few hours. Life felt like a dream while I swam in the tranquil water, collected seashells on the seashore and walked on the white sandy beach. There’s also a dolphin pod that is a regular in these waters and I spotted them on my last day! 

2 p.m. 

Lunch time means some more delicious food! 

4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. 

There’s nothing more peaceful than doing a Yoga Asana practice while you hear the ocean waves in the background. The Yoga Masters here are skilled and knowledgeable about their practice and lead easy to follow basic and intermediate classes. All classes run in the morning and evening and they also have meditation and pranayama classes. This was special for me, as it was my first time doing an Asana practice led by an Indian teacher. Their energy is infectious making daily yoga classes here a must do! 

6 p.m. 

Up for sunrise and back for the sunset. When you experience this, you’ll understand.

After standing in awe of Mother Nature in front of me, I would take my medicine and head to dinner. Dinners here were lively as the restaurant would be buzzing with all of the guests while one of the chefs would make fresh naan in the tandoor oven. I got garlic naan every night (going against my Ayurveda diet plan for the week, but I had to indulge!) along with more delicious food. Some options included Potato Capsicum, Kadai Vada, and Vegetarian Mappas, a Keralan dish of coconut curry and vegetables. There was also a lovely Sitar performance one evening which set a lovely ambience for dinner. 

8 p.m. 

After dinner, I would head back to my room to relax. I loved the fact that there was no Wi-Fi available in the villas (unless you request it, but I would highly recommend not to), so every night I would get comfy in bed and watch a movie which I had downloaded on my phone and then have a restful sleep before doing it all over again the next day. 

Cost 

My stay for seven nights during peak season in November was around $1600 CAD. This included: 

• Luxury Villa Accommodation

• Doctors Consultation and Daily Ayurveda Treatments

• Ayurveda Diet Consultation and Meal Plan

• Daily Yoga Sessions

• Full Board Ayurveda Vegetarian Cuisine

• Cochin Airport Pickup and Drop

• Daily activities 

• Access to all our resort facilities such as Swimming Pool, Tennis Court and guided tours of the premises

Would I go again? 

Yes! I had a blissful week, it was something which I’ve always wanted to do and I would definitely visit here again. On my next visit, I would invest the time and money to do Panchakarma. If you’re looking for a luxurious, beachside Ayurveda resort and hospital in Kerala where you can have a relaxing stay, get excellent Ayurveda treatments and eat delicious, healthy food, I highly recommend Nattika Beach Ayurveda Resort. 

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