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POSTCARDS ARE SELECTED SHORT STORIES & MEMORIES
Kayal Retreat Island is the ode to slow living and simpler times created by Maneesha Panicker. Staying true to the spirit of the island, she adds her own charm, brings in her love for movies, theatre, art and design to the place and creates unique private boutique healing experiences.
Have you wondered how many chemicals are in your shampoo?
Every time I am looking for a more wholesome natural alternative to chemical convenience, I look to the wisdom of our ancestors. I asked my mother what she used to wash her hair, or what my grandmother did to wash her hair, as a young girl. I looked at the ancient hair routine followed by the women on the island. Turns out the secret to their dark lustrous hair is washing their hair with a pulp of bright red hibiscus and its deep green leaves. I have been following the same routine and am happy to report that it’s working. It makes my hair soft, lustrous and adds a sparkle to my eyes. It’s also a great morning routine for me. I walk through the island in the gentle morning sun, listen to the birdsong and pluck a handful of hibiscus.
MANEESHA'S HAIR ROUTINE
Oil hair and leave on for 30 minutes. Wash hair with chick-pea flour. Massage hair with a paste of fresh hibiscus flowers and leaves. Rinse thoroughly. Get on with your day. Go on and try it, and let us know how you feel.
Fresh! That pretty much sums up every dish and meal at Kayal. Made with locally sourced ingredients, authentic recipes and new age sensibilities, the flavours of Kayal will stay with you long after your vacation.
Meen curry is a staple in Kerala. Every household has its own recipe, varying the spices a dash here, a pinch there. Want to try ours? Make a lunch date with us, and we’ll treat you to the freshest fish, cooked the Kayal way.
Tring, tring! Some mornings, we follow the bell of a bicycle to find the toddy tapper on the island. We watch him swiftly go up the coconut tree and collect sap into earthen pots. If we are lucky, we get a tumbler full of toddy. We gulp it down. It’s sweet, refreshing, and mildly alcoholic, leaving us with a happy buzz.
Coconut toddy is a staple drink in Kerala. Locals drink it to take the edge off their day. Communist workers devise their protest plans over a glass of toddy. We even mix it in rice dough to make vellayappam - a light, fluffy rice hopper we eat for breakfast. What’s not to like, this natural drink is filled with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
In another life, she was no different from you. She lived in New York, worked in the bustling, mega metropolis and loved every moment of it. But home was Kerala. Kayal, Her latest project, is a boutique island retreat in the backwaters of Kerala.
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?
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.
A collaboration of Vimal Chandran with Ajay Menon and a tribute to Avial. These series of films, photographs and illustrations we made inspired from Kerala, they celebrate Kerala’s unique landscapes, art and culture.
