Words : Prasad Ramachandran
Photos : Jamesh Kottakal

ShinShiva Ayurveda Resort
                A holiday resort for holistic health

For one whole day we were taken back to a time, when people used to rely on only one source to overcome ailments - the all-encompassing Ayurveda. Yes, on Nov 02, 2009 we were on a mission to explore the age-old wisdom of this system, governed by nature’s law. And our target was none other than the man who introduced Ayurveda into the field of tourism, Dr Franklyn, the Founder-Director of ShinShiva Ayurveda Resort and Spa. I passed more information to my team members on our host, as we crossed the first road-sign to our destination. Dr. Franklyn hails from a family which has been into the practice of Ayurveda for more than 4 centuries. The awards he won, including the Tourism Man of the Year Award, proves his mettle.

'From the balcony we could see the source of that sound as well. From beyond the coconut groves a stunning panoramic view of the sea kissing the shores…' As the evening set in, we reached our destination after a five-hour long drive from Cochin. Passing the wonderful wooden gates, we entered into the parking ground. An 8-foot tall sculpture of goddess Saraswathi (the Goddess of education and knowledge as per Indian mythology) overlooking the garden, greeted us. The traditionally built in the'Padippura' style reception area, with consulting rooms, was seen in the background. At the same time, we could hear the rumbling sound of the sea. The check-in was over within minutes and we hastily moved towards our deluxe rooms allocated on the second floor. From the balcony we could see the source of that sound as well. From beyond the coconut groves a stunning panoramic view of the sea kissing the shore, greeted us.

The resort, located on a small hill near the seashore, gave us an uninterrupted sea view. Near the distant red horizon we spotted some huge vessels. Surprisingly the cool sea breeze didn’t smell salt. “Since the resort is placed atop a knoll nestled among the swaying coconut palms overlooking the vast expanse of the Arabian sea, only the cool air brush the resort area,” explains the Operations Manager. More over, the wall of coconut trees downhill filters the salty winds,he added.

After a quick shower, we were at the restaurant from where we could have an incomparable beach view. Most of the guests under treatment were at the restaurant, sipping herbal water or fruit juices. Fresh breeze from the sea patted us from head to toe. We spent more than 45 minutes watching the sunset. The garden lights were all lit by 7 pm and the life inside the resort became very lively.

After an exquisite vegetarian dinner, complete with fruits and salads, we moved back to our rooms, 305 and 307, with a heavy stomach. The deluxe rooms were spacious enough for two, and had a large balcony and a well equipped bathroom with a dressing table. We sat in the balcon, which furnished with cane chairs, for another half an hour.

The next day morning, we started our endeavour to learn about the resort inside-out. Our first destination was the Yoga Centre. Located at the western tip of the hillock facing the beach, it was positioned in a way where healthcare is in tune with nature. There we met the internationally acknowledged Yoga specialist Soorya Ravi, the owner of few Yoga Centres in Japan, Germany and Singapore.

The guests at ShinShiva can also opt for Soorya Ravi's yoga session. Going by its sheer quality it’s highly unlikely that the guests will prefer to give it a miss …we watched a perfect yoga session and realised that even watching a high quality yoga session could stimulate the senses.

Our next destination was the Ayurveda Center, which provides treatment for arthritis, Oestio Arthritis, paralysis, rheumatism, joint stiffness, spondylosis, sport injuries, Muscular Atrophy, degeneration of bones, Bronchial Asthma, nerve disorders and stress related ailments. Here we met Ms. Anja Wollin, a Pharmareferentin, who flew all the way from Berlin to get authentic Ayurveda treatment. After a treatment session of 30 minutes, Anja came back from the treatment room, with a radiant smile. She seemed more composed and relaxed. “Each morning, the doctors check the condition of patients and evaluate the improvement. Apart from the pulse and the heartbeat, they check eyes, ears and the skin tone” says the German lady. She then moved towards one of the hammocks at the beach front to enjoy a book in peace and comfort.

' Taking a holistic approach, Ayurveda treats a patient’s body, mind and soul rather than the disease' This is the spirit of this Ayurvedic resort . Apart from the happiness associated with holidaying, it rejuvenates your mind and body. ShinShiva is fully equipped with facilities to make one’s stay relaxed and comfortable. ShinShiva has independent thatched roof cottages and fully furnished rooms. Spacious wood panelled deluxe cottages are also available for accommodation. Besides, the resort has an open air Yoga Centre, Ayurvedic Restaurant, Treatment Rooms, nursery for medicinal plants, medicine store, library, all the modern communication facilities, 24-hour room service and Travel Help Desk.

Then we had a soothing sunbath which relaxed our senses. We got the call from the restaurant at 12 noon. This time the menu contained a great variety of dishes prepared in Ayurvedic style including farm fresh Matta Rice and more than 6 varieties of mixed vegetable curries. Besides the vegetarian dishes, a special fish curry and fish fried in very little oil were prepared for us. “At Shin Shiva, food is also your medicine”, says the Chief Chef. Taking a holistic approach, Ayurveda treats a patient’s body, mind and soul rather than the disease, and aims at restoring the natural harmony and balance of the individual. Herbal remedies, external therapies, diet control, Yoga, meditation and life style adjustments form part of Ayurvedic healing.

According to this ancient Indian science, everything that exists is a combination of five elements - Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. An imbalance in the combination of these elements causes the three doshas or bio-energies in living things. Ayurveda considers these three doshas as the root cause of all ailments and the restoration of their balance as the only effective treatment. Yes, a stay at the ShinShiva helps to restore balance, reinstate physical, mental and spiritual well-being, and enhances life-expectancy.

We then spent almost two hours at the restaurant and at the beach side garden before going back to our rooms to pack up our bags. Our one day experience there taught us the possibilities of this branch of medicine in the field of tourism. We learnt how life was closely related to nature and how natural an Ayurvedic resort at the beach-side can be. It was tough to return from there, but we had to…

Like Anja Wollin, we hope we will return next year to ShinShiva for a wonderful Ayurvedic holiday…

© travelbird