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AYURVEDA TRAILS KERALA : FORT COCHIN - MUNNAR - BACKWATERS - VARKALA - TRIVANDRUM
Departure from Vienna
Thera are not so many places in the world where the monsoon winds and the spices aroma have been bringing more ships because of the sea trade than Fort Cochin. It is a place where more than 50 different communities live together. There are Hindu temples, the oldest Jewish synagogue, the first mosque and also the first Christian cathedral in India. The oldest encyclopedia of herbs in Asia „Hortus Malabaricus“ was written here. Vasco de Gama, sage Francis Xavier and traveler Niccolo de Conti found their home in Fort Cochin for a short time. The last of them said, that China is a great place to earn money and Cochin is the best place to spend it.
So, let’s check it! In the afternoon we will take traditional auto-rikshaws and visit Mattancherry - a Portuguese palace and the kitchen of Maharaja, where they cooked according to the rules of Tamil Brahmins, the Jewish town with the oldest synagogue in India, the Muslim part with the spices shops, the colonial part of Fort Cochin with the Portuguese, Dutch and British architecture and the oldest Christian cathedral in India. In the evening we will watch the sunset over The Bay of Malabar near the Chinese nets and fish market.
After breakfast we will move to the mountain area called Munnar, which is a part of the Western Ghats. It is one of the most beautiful nature sanctuaries in India with tea plantations, picturesque lakes and a cool climate, which create very good life conditions for exotic animals and birds. We can even see elephants living in their natural environment, if we are lucky.
In the afternoon we will take a walk with a local guide to the mountain village to see exotic plants, spices and local traditions. We will take a cooking lesson where we will learn how to prepare some local dishes, curry, spiced with local spices and humor. You will be introduced to the basic principles of an ayurvedic cooking, which is based on the knowledge: „As the food, so the mind and as the mind, so the life.“
We will start our day very early. We will get to the foot of the second largest hill Chokramudi (2045 m) before the sunrise. We will literally start climbing above the clouds and welcome the sunrise there. Climbing up and down will take approximately 5 hours but it will leave an unforgettable experience and a picture of small villages in the valleys of Western Ghats. If the weather is good, we can see all the Bay of Malabar. (In case of a limited entry to this area we will go to the area of Lakshmi Hills).
After late breakfast we will take a rest and in the afternoon we will go to explore green tea and coffee plantations dotted with small Hindu temples and Christian churches. Our local guide will initiate us into the secrets of the Lord Shiva and Vishnu cults which have their origin there. Later we will visit the town of Munnar and the Tea Museum. We will spend the evening watching the Kalari Payattu performance, which is supposed to be the oldest in the world.
After breakast we will move to so called „backwaters“ area at the Vembanad Lake. According to the legend, the god Parasurama threw his axe to the Arabian Sea and where the sea retreated, there Kerala was born. The salty sea was mixed with 40 freshwater rivers and created a dense network of channels and lakes connecting the labyrinth of 1500 km of water ways in the area of backwaters. This is the place where Arundhaty Roy praises but also curses „The Gods of the small things“. Days are passing slowly here, the traditions are caught in the fishing nets and the gods are laughing from the mountains of Western Ghats. Only visitors floating on houseboats are disturbing this calmness.
We will also board the traditional houseboats and start our cruise with lunch, which we will prepare together with the crew on the boat. After lunch we will continue in our cruise and watch the beuatiful scenery. During a few stops we will see the everyday life of local people, we will walk to the village and visit a traditional market. We will also use small boats to get into the narrow parts of the river. We will be cruising until the sunset and spend the night on houseboat.
The morning houseboat cruise is one of the most unforgettable moments during the stay in India. Life awakens on the shores of the rivers. Fishermen are coming back home from the night fishing, women are washing the dishes after the breakfast in the river and children are going to school by small local ferry. The life flows slowly here, as does the flow of the rivers.
From the port of Allepey we will go to the southern part of Kerala. Aproximatelly after 3 hours drive we will have a stop in Varkala, a pilgrimage place with the famous Papanasham Beach. It is believed that dip in waters of Papanasham Beach washes away all the sins in one’s life. Varkala is situated on the cliff, with many restaurants, cafes, shops and with an amazing view overlooking the Arabian sea coast.
We will spend our last days on Chowara Beach, near the city of Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala. I tis near a fishermen village, where the life reminds the time of hundred years ago. Men go fishing every day and women take care of the family. The long sandy beach, the local traditions and hospitality will be the best experience for you. We will visit the local fish market on the beach, také part in the ritual of hauling the fishing nets and fish auction. We can explore the neighbourhood by walk or we can take auto-rikshaws. We will try the traditional ayurveda. Except ayurvedic massages you will be initiated into the secrets of an ayurvedic cooking, which can be useful for you after coming back home. As they say in India „Let the kitchen be your pharmacy.“
Airport transfer, departure to Vienna.
Dedicated to everyone, who is searching answers to these questions: What is ayurveda? How is this ancient medical system connected with yoga, meditation, healthy food, relaxation in nature and modern life style?
Founder & Director of Ayurveda Trails, healing collection of (extra)ordinary people and their stories, whose experiences are transferred into various trails shared by travelers.
VISHU FESTIVAL
NEW YEAR IN KERALA
The Malayalam word kani literally means that which is seen first. The traditional belief is that one's future is a function of what one experiences, that the New Year will be better if one views auspicious joyful things as the first thing on Vishu.
10 REASONS WHY AYURVEDA TRAILS ARE DIFFERENT
Ayurveda trails is using the symbol of mudra as reminder, healing is in your hands. We are creating a small collection of highly specialised ayurveda resorts run by passionate ayurveda experts, who want to keep authentic healing knowledge for modern world.
What is ayurveda? How is this ancient medical system connected with yoga, meditation, healthy food, relaxation in nature and modern life style? Ayurveda Trails is dedicated to everyone, who would like to travel and search answers to these questions.
NAVARATRI
Festival of Nine Goddesses
Navaratri is a nine night festival that honors the Mother Goddess in all her manifestations. The worship, accompanied by fasting, takes place in the mornings. Evenings are for feasting and dancing. Each day has a different ritual associated with it.
ONAM
The Harvest Festival in Kerala
Onam is the most popular festival in Kerala. It can be traced to the primitive harvest festival and also to the myth regarding King Mahabali - the benevolent asura ruler who brought peace and prosperity to his country. It is celebrated in August and September.
The importance of the feast to the Kerala's Onam celebration culture is captured in the famous Malayalam proverb: Kaanam Vittum Onam Unnanam - which means: One must have the Onam lunch even by selling one's property, if need be.
MANALTHEERAM AYURVEDA BEACH VILLAGE
Manaltheeram Ayurveda Beach Village, gives you an opportunity to pamper yourself with a heavenly experience. Enter the world of holistic healing and let Ayurveda and meditation restore your physical, mental, spiritual and emotional equilibrium.
MANALTHEERAM
Dr. Hemalatha Manoj
In Manaltheeram, we believe, that Ayurveda is a divine science of life, our hands should be pure to treat a patient. Sometimes we are not able to cure every one but it is important not to make any mistakes from our hands. We pray to God.
Somatheeram, the world’s first Ayurveda hospital set in a resort ambiance to provide Ayurveda healing and treatments programmes. With its exotic tropical beauty and tranquil hospitality, this getaway is the perfect place for relaxation and rejuvenation.
The World’s First Ayurveda Tourist Resort: Baby Mathew, in 1985 together with his brother Dr.Pauly Mathew, has founded the world’s first ayurveda tourist resort Somatheeram in Kerala. How has this journey started?
Cliff View Ayurveda Retreat is built in the Bauhaus style, which aims to reunite fine art and functional design, creating practical objects with the soul of artworks. The resort embrace the philosophy of traditional Ayurveda in modern style.
HARIVIHAR HERITAGE
Dr. Sri Kumar
Harivihar, abode of the divine, is a 170 year old painstakingly restored royal heritage homestead located in Calicut. It offers unparalleled experience of staying in a heritage ambience and benefit from the goodness of Ayurveda and Yoga, two great contributions of India to mankind.
I hesitated for publishing this story quite late, but there’s a beauty in rewinding. Makes me appreciate how all those days have become of me. The clever fall of dominoes of life events that led me to still standing. A very happy new year to all!
SwaSwara means your inner voice, this is a place of natural harmony to release, refocus and recalibrate the self. Inspired by the first sound of creation, the resort in Gokarana on Aum Beach is a perfect setting to enable one to hear the voice of the inner self.
Green gram is a powerhouse of nutrition. It has high nutritive value and can be consumed by anyone for improving health. Hence, this superfood is one of the most vital detoxifying agent as well as an energiser that helps to enhance the immunity of the body.
KAIRALI - THE AYURVEDIC HEALING VILLAGE
There is no better place to get inside nature and rejuvenate with natural medicine than the sweet scented forests of Kerala's Pala trees. Time spent at this jungle paradise will allow you to experience the authentic healing practices of India.
