Shirodhara: warm oil pouring from a brass vessel onto the forehead

Panchakarma · Varkala, Kerala

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.

Apply Prices

any day
arrival, no fixed start dates: 7–28 days
program length: from €575
for 7 days with stay and meals: 800 m
to Odayam Beach

Panchakarma in Varkala is an Ayurvedic cleansing and restoration program of 7, 14, 21 or 28 days at the Ayurveda Heritage center near Odayam Beach in Kerala. BAMS-qualified doctors examine you, draw up your plan and look after you throughout. Accommodation, Ayurvedic meals, treatments and personal support are included in the price, and you can arrive on any day.

Who it is for

Who the program is for

An Ayurveda Heritage building among coconut palms

Recover after a long stretch of stress

Routine, a quiet garden and treatments every day: time you take back from ordinary life.
Get your sleep and digestion back on track

The doctor tailors your diet and treatments to your constitution and looks after you for the whole stay.
Experience Ayurveda first-hand

No study or preparation needed: you go through the program, and the doctor explains what is prescribed and why.
Rest by the ocean

Odayam Beach 800 meters away, Varkala cliff and sunsets over the Arabian Sea in your free hours.

How the program works

The program takes place at the Ayurveda Heritage center near Odayam Beach in Varkala. It is a family-run clinic that has been operating since 2010: the doctors examine you on day one, draw up your plan and see you every day until the end of the program, while treatments are given by male and female therapists for whom panchakarma is everyday work.

Panchakarma runs in three stages. How much time each takes depends on the length of your stay and on what the doctor prescribes.

Preparation (purvakarma). A doctor’s consultation and assessment of your constitution. Snehana, or oleation: oil massages and taking medicated oils as prescribed. Swedana: gentle heat and steam treatments. A personal diet.
Main procedures (pradhanakarma). Cleansing and oil treatments as indicated, nasal treatments if needed, shirodhara and others, always as prescribed. The doctor sees you daily.
Recovery (paschatkarma). A gradual return to normal food, supporting remedies as prescribed, and advice on your routine after the program.

What lies behind each stage is explained in detail in Panchakarma: what it is and how it works. The same program also runs in North India, in the Himalayan foothills: Panchakarma in Rishikesh.

How to prepare

For one to two weeks before you arrive, it helps to simplify your diet, cut out alcohol and reduce coffee: the first days will go more easily. What to bring, what a day looks like, and why the first weeks after the program matter even more than the treatments themselves are covered in How to prepare for panchakarma and what comes after.

Some conditions make the program unsuitable or call for particular care. The full list is in Who panchakarma suits and who should avoid it. The decision always rests with the doctor.

Doctors

Who will guide you

The program is led by the center's two Ayurvedic doctors. The herbal medicines prescribed during the program are made to GMP standards.

Dr. Abdul Rasheed

Ayurvedic doctor, BAMS

More than ten years treating patients at this center: consultations, treatment plans, supervising treatments and panchakarma.
Dr. Jamsheena

Ayurvedic doctor, BAMS

Also more than ten years at the center: consultations, treatment plans and supervising treatments.

Daily routine

A day at the center

06:30 Wake up, a glass of warm water.
07:00 Yoga or meditation in the center's hall, depending on the season.
08:30 Breakfast.
09:30–13:00 Doctor's check-up and prescribed treatments.
13:00 Lunch.
14:00–16:30 Rest: the garden, the library, a nap.
17:00 Walk to the ocean, sunset on Odayam Beach.
19:30 Dinner.
21:30 Lights out.

A typical day: the doctor sets your treatment times, and on days of the main procedures there is more rest.

A stone path through the center's garden to a building with terraces

Stay

Where you will stay

Private bathroom with shower
Mosquito net
Fan, air conditioning in some rooms
Balcony or veranda
Free Wi-Fi
An acre of garden under palms

The center from above: buildings and cottages among palms beside rice fields

Standard room: bed with a mosquito net, desk and chair

Cottages among the trees on the center's lawn

Standard room

Double bed with a mosquito net, garden view, balcony, private bathroom with shower.
Garden-view cottage

A separate cottage with a veranda and a fan, private bathroom, surrounded by the quiet of the garden.
Garden and shared spaces

An acre of garden under coconut palms, a yoga hall, an open-air restaurant overlooking the rice fields and a library.

Food

Kerala cuisine tailored to your diet

Vegetarian Kerala cuisine with less oil and spice, fresh salads and seasonal fruit. The doctor adjusts your diet to your constitution, and in season there is an Ayurvedic table by dosha. Meals are served in the open-air restaurant overlooking the rice fields.

Vegetarian
Less oil and spice
Salads and fruit
Dosha-based table in season

Vegetarian lunch: salad, soup, dal and flatbread

Free time

Varkala in your free time

Odayam Beach and the cliff

About 800 meters to the sea and around twenty minutes' walk to Varkala's red cliff: walks and sunsets over the Arabian Sea.
Janardana Swami Temple

Varkala's main temple, more than two thousand years old.
Paravur backwaters

Mangrove channels and kayaks: gentle activity on recovery days.

Prices

Program prices

The price includes

Accommodation. A standard room or a garden-view cottage for the whole program.
Meals. Vegetarian Kerala cuisine on your personal diet, fresh salads and seasonal fruit.
Doctor. A consultation on day one and an Ayurvedic doctor's care throughout your stay.
Treatments. Panchakarma treatments as prescribed by the doctor.
Yoga and meditation. Classes in the center's hall, depending on the season.
Personal support. A school coordinator helps with everything, from planning the trip to your last day.

Flights, visa, airport transfer, insurance and personal expenses are not included.

from €575 for 7 days, standard single room

Reserve your place

A €100 deposit secures your place, the balance is paid on arrival.

Visa / Mastercard
Bank transfer
USDT

We agree the dates on WhatsApp and confirm the exact amount once you have chosen your room and length of stay.

Standard room

Occupancy	7 days	14 days	21 days	28 days
Single	€575	€1145	€1725	€2290
Double	€995	€1995	€2990	€3990

Garden-view cottage

Occupancy	7 days	14 days	21 days	28 days
Single	€715	€1425	€2140	€2850
Double	€1160	€2320	€3475	€4590

Price for the whole programme: stay, meals, doctor consultations and treatments. “Double” is for two guests sharing a room.

India is closer than it seems

We take care of everything that usually worries people

A first trip to India raises questions, and that is perfectly normal. Here is how we make it simple.

Everything in English

Doctors consult in English, and our team helps you with everything before the trip and on site.
Visa made simple

Most nationalities can apply for an Indian e-Visa online. We tell you which type to choose and send step-by-step instructions.
Pay the way you prefer

Visa / Mastercard, bank transfer (SWIFT / SEPA) or USDT. A €100 deposit secures your place.
Safe to travel solo

You live where your treatments take place: doctors and staff are close by, and our team is always in touch.
Your journey planned ahead

Before you fly, we send you the route from the airport and help arrange your transfer.

Gallery

The center in pictures

The center's main building in the garden

Where it happens

Varkala

South Kerala

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.

About the location: Varkala

Getting there

Getting to Varkala

The easiest way to Varkala is via Trivandrum. We'll help you plan the route and arrange a transfer.

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.
By train

Varkala Sivagiri station is right in town, with trains running along the whole Kerala coast.
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

Frequently asked questions

Is this a detox program?

Panchakarma is often called an Ayurvedic detox. In essence it is a routine, a diet and treatments prescribed by a doctor, with the aim of restoring digestion and balance. More in the article "Ayurvedic detox: what it really is".

Who leads the program?

The Ayurvedic doctors of the Ayurveda Heritage center, Dr. Abdul Rasheed and Dr. Jamsheena, both BAMS graduates with more than ten years at the center. The doctor examines you on day one, draws up your plan and sees you every day; treatments are given by the center's therapists.

What is panchakarma?

It is an Ayurvedic cleansing and restoration program: preparation with oiling and heat treatments, main procedures prescribed by the doctor, and a gentle return with a diet. The doctor chooses the specific set of treatments individually after an examination.

How much does panchakarma cost and what is included?

7 days: €575, 14 days: €1145, 21 days: €1725, 28 days: €2290. These are prices for a standard room, single occupancy; double occupancy and the garden-view cottage are in the table on this page. The price includes accommodation, Ayurvedic meals, doctor's consultations, prescribed treatments and personal support.

Which length should I choose?

You decide together with the doctor, depending on your condition and how much time you have. The longer the program, the more complete the cycle of preparation, treatment and return. Message us and we'll help you decide before the trip.

When can I arrive?

Any day: the program has no fixed start dates. We agree on dates when you get in touch.

Who should not have panchakarma?

Pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with acute infections or fever, serious heart conditions, during active cancer treatment, or with severe exhaustion. The final decision rests with the doctor, so send a list of your diagnoses and medicines before the trip.

Should I stop taking my medicines?

No. Don't stop anything on your own. Send the list of your medicines to the doctor before you arrive, and they will take them into account when prescribing.

Message us

We reply personally, tell you more and help you choose the program and dates. The message is pre-filled — just press Send.

Message on Telegram Message on WhatsApp

Or ask about a specific option right away:

We usually reply within a few hours.