Top 5 Reasons to go to Manaltheeram Beach Resort in India

If you've never tried the ancient natural healing system that is Ayurveda, you are in for a treat at this resort. They are extremely authentic with their Ayurveda massages and healing, as after all they are in the birthplace of Ayurveda, Kerala. At Manaltheeram Beach Resort you have the same therapists for each treatment so that they really get to know you and can really work on problem areas or concerns you may have. 

Our trusted Wellbeing Escapes reviewer: I felt very nurtured and enjoyed experiencing the various treatments, some of which were new to me such as Ksheeradhara where luke warm, medicated milk is poured continuously over your body to soften your skin and leave you feeling rejuvenated. 

Every day you have the option to take part in yoga sessions, kindly split into 3 separate classes to cater for all levels, beginners, intermediate and advanced. There is also an open air yoga Shala overlooking the beach, often used for afternoon classes where you can enjoy the swaying palm trees and gentle sound of waves.

Our trusted Wellbeing Escapes reviewer: What I particularly liked was that the morning beginners class was truly for beginners - that is so often not the case! It was gentle but also 'stretching' and there was a full house every day with all shapes and sizes actively taking part. 

The first thing you notice when you arrive at Manaltheeram is the dazzling sunlight every day and golden sand that goes on as far as the eye can see. The beach isn’t crowded and is a great place for a morning or evening stroll. There's a section for Manaltheeram guests with sunbeds and umbrellas and the surroundings give you a slice of local life. 

Our trusted Wellbeing Escapes reviewer: There's a lane between Manaltheeram and its sister resort, Somatheeram, full of shops selling gorgeous pashminas etc and there's tailors so you can have outfits run up.

On your first day at the resort you get a visit from the Ayurvedic doctor to establish your dosha which is basically your body/temperament make up and how you can eat accordingly to best suit your body. There is a freshly prepared delicious buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner and each dish is clearly marked with the dosha that it's suitable for, making it simple to dish up the right foods to keep you in balance. 

Our trusted Wellbeing Escapes reviewer: There is also an a la carte menu with thalis etc so I tended to have that in the evening - it's cooked to order so you just wait around 20 minutes. In addition, there are wonderful fresh juices such as watermelon and pineapple. There's no coffee here (but plenty of herbal tea) so be sure to start weaning yourself off it before you arrive if you have it often!

At the resort the wellness programme options are always very popular and include Abhyangam, which is an ayurvedic massage with oils, Shirodhara which involves the gentle pouring of oils on the forehead, Marma massages, Medicated steam baths and a full Panchakarma ayurveda therapy routine.Wellbeing Escapes offers 2 types of programmes, the Ayurveda rejuvenation which is 7 days and the Ayurveda detox which is 10 days. After the Indian sun sets, it’s time to soak up some local culture with a relaxing and fun evening of entertainment.

Our trusted Wellbeing Escapes reviewer: I loved the Kathakali dancing which originates from Kerala with males playing female roles and wearing bright green face paint and elaborate costumes. It's all about the facial expressions and wait until you see how they move their eyeballs... I also enjoyed the open-air Ayurveda cookery class and came back with some delicious recipes.