South Kerala
Varkala
A small town in South Kerala: a red cliff above the ocean, a long beach and an easy pace. This is where the school's panchakarma takes place.
The place
Varkala sits on a high red cliff above the Arabian Sea, a rarity on Kerala’s flat coastline. Below is a long sandy beach; above, a clifftop path with cafés and palm trees. The town is small and calm: people come here for quiet, not nightlife. See Varkala in pictures in the school gallery. If you’re looking less for treatment and more for time to recover, the same program is described from that angle as an Ayurvedic retreat.
The Ayurveda Heritage center
The school’s panchakarma in Varkala takes place at the Ayurveda Heritage center near Odayam Beach: about 800 meters to the sea and around twenty minutes’ walk to Varkala cliff. It is a family-run clinic that has been operating since 2010. The program is led by Ayurvedic doctors Dr. Abdul Rasheed and Dr. Jamsheena, both BAMS graduates, and treatments are given by the center’s therapists. The buildings and cottages stand in an acre of garden among coconut palms, with a yoga hall, an open-air restaurant overlooking the rice fields and a library: a quiet place where it’s easy to keep to the routine.
You can stay in a standard room with a garden view and a balcony, or in a cottage with a veranda, alone or as a couple. The rooms are simple and clean: a double bed with a mosquito net, a private bathroom with shower, a fan, and air conditioning in some rooms. Prices by room type are on the Panchakarma in Varkala page.
Nearby
- Janardana Swami Temple: Varkala’s main temple, more than two thousand years old.
- Paravur backwaters: mangrove channels and kayaks, gentle activity on recovery days.
- The beach and the cliff path: for morning and evening walks.
Getting there
The nearest international airport is Trivandrum. From there it’s about an hour to an hour and a half to Varkala by car. Message us and we’ll send a detailed route and help with the transfer.
Getting there
Getting there
The easiest way to Varkala is via Trivandrum. We'll help you plan the route and arrange a transfer.
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By air
Trivandrum Airport (TRV) is about 50 km away, with connecting flights via the Gulf hubs (UAE, Oman) or via Delhi and other Indian cities. From there it's an hour to an hour and a half by car.
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By train
Varkala Sivagiri station is right in town, with trains running along the whole Kerala coast.
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Taxi and transfer
We'll help you book a transfer from the airport or station straight to the center.
Once you message us, we will send you the route from the airport. Open in Google Maps
What happens here
Message us
We reply personally, tell you more and help you choose the program and dates. The message is pre-filled — just press Send.
We usually reply within a few hours.