Every once in a while when you feel the need to take a few days off, de-stress, rejuvenate – you don’t need to take away to a far off hill station or a beach resort! Respite is near by. A place called Ayurvedagram about 7 kilometres from Brindaban (Sai Baba’s Ashram) and 8 kms from ITPL.

I was out with Usha the other day and she took me to a place called Radiant Retreat on Bannerghatta Road (she promised to write about it sometime soon!). That’s when I remembered Ayurvedagram and thought that I have to write about it, since I usually recommend it to anyone who’s interested!

I first visited the place in 2003 and stayed at the centre for the weekend. Starting from the early morning yoga session, with the sun filtering into the hall, to the caringly cooked meals, I was quite impressed with the whole-set up. The Ayurvedic massage put me completely at rest and I spent a nice quiet evening sitting outside my cottage reading and relaxing. I took a walk around the spacious compounds of the wall, admiring the architecture and the beauty of the place. The peace and quiet is a much needed break from the noisy life in the city.

Built in the traditional Kerala architecture style, Ayurvedagram has these delightful cosy cottages that you can stay in. They have painstakingly transplanted traditional Kerala homes, brick by brick, giving it an authentic feel of the state’s architecture. As you walk in, there is a beautiful lotus pond, and overlooking it is a structure that houses the restaurant, which serves up delicious vegetarian meals. The main office that houses the reception and the doctor’s chambers, is apparently a 165 year old palace!

There’s enough to keep you relaxed. You can choose to do whatever you want, but the massages are of course, highly recommended. Besides yoga, there’s also pranayama, walking and therapy that are all a part of a day at the centre.

They have specific treatment packages for ailments like stress, spine and joint problems, obesity and also wellness programs. The prices have (like everything else) gone up considerably since I last visited. But if you’re looking for a weekend filled with rest and relaxation and a way to get away from the world, a weekend at Ayurvedagram is much recommended!

(*Pics from the Ayurdevagram website)