Panchakarma
Panchakarma in India: Kerala and Rishikesh
A cleansing and restoration program prescribed and guided by an Ayurvedic doctor. Two locations: Varkala on the Kerala coast and Rishikesh in the Himalayan foothills. From one week to a month, with accommodation, meals and treatments included.
Panchakarma in Varkala
A cleansing and restoration program prescribed by an Ayurvedic doctor. Accommodation, meals on your personal diet, daily treatments and personal support, all included. Start any day you like.
Panchakarma in Rishikesh
An Ayurvedic program in the Himalayan foothills, within walking distance of the Ganga. The doctor assesses your condition and draws up your plan, while accommodation, vegetarian meals, treatments, yoga and consultations in English are already included in the price.
What is panchakarma
The word means “five actions”. In the classical texts it refers to cleansing procedures preceded by preparation, oleation and heat treatments, and followed by a gentle return with a diet. In a modern clinic, the doctor builds the program: the full set is rarely used, and treatments are chosen for the individual.
The program takes place at an Ayurvedic clinic by the ocean in Varkala or at the Shanti Makaan Ayurvedic center in Rishikesh. Treatments are given by doctors and therapists for whom this is everyday work: the doctor examines you on day one, draws up a plan and looks after you throughout, so you are in safe hands from the first day to the last.
Panchakarma is often called an Ayurvedic detox. There is more to it than cleansing: a routine, a diet and treatments under a doctor’s care that restore digestion, sleep and energy. How it differs from detox programs is explained in Ayurvedic detox: what it really is, and how the stages work in Panchakarma explained in simple terms.
How to choose the length
- 7 days: the preparatory stage and gentle treatments as prescribed. You complete the return phase at home, following the doctor’s advice.
- 14 days: preparation, the main procedures and the start of the return phase under supervision.
- 21 and 28 days: the full cycle without rushing, with more time for preparation and for recovery, which Ayurveda considers just as important as the treatments themselves.
The final length and content of the program are set by the doctor after an examination.
Panchakarma as a retreat
If you’re looking less for treatment and more for time to recover away from everyday life, it’s the same thing, only under a doctor’s care: an Ayurvedic retreat in Kerala. What a retreat is in general, and the different kinds, is covered in What is a retreat, in simple terms.
Before the trip
Send us a list of your diagnoses and medicines so the doctor can review it in advance. Don’t stop any medicines on your own. Who the program doesn’t suit is covered in Who panchakarma suits and who should avoid it. Answers about visas, payment, accommodation and health are on the Questions and Answers page.
Frequently asked questions
How is panchakarma different from a spa program?
Panchakarma is prescribed by a doctor after an examination, and it includes a diet, a daily routine and cleansing procedures, not just massages. It is work rather than a holiday: on some days you may feel weak or have ups and downs in mood.
Can I combine panchakarma with training?
Yes. On the school's courses the daily schedule has slots for personal treatments. Treatments are prescribed by the doctor and paid separately.
What language do I speak with the doctor?
English: the doctors consult in English. A school coordinator is also on hand to help, from planning the trip to your last day.
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.