This is the World's First (and Best) Ayurveda Resort
Warm and soothing drops of essential oils—ranging from sesame to almond or coconut—steadily drip onto a patient’s forehead, as they recline on a massage table. The therapist tilts a bronze bowl with a small spout to maintain this gentle flow. In this case, the masseuse is Sara Lasi, working at Somatheeram in Kerala, India: the world’s first (and best) Ayurveda resort. Ayurveda is a traditional medicine with 5,000 years of history, aiming to unify body and mind to eliminate countless ailments.
Here, the Shirodhara massage (shiro means head, dhara means flow in Sanskrit) is performed to gradually "open the third eye" or to reach an enlightened state—making it possible to access inner realms and heightened perception beyond the ordinary. What are the benefits? Beyond physical and mental pleasure, it banishes stress, insomnia, and anxiety, helps memory and high blood pressure, rejuvenates the face, and balances both the nervous system and overall wellbeing.
That's how Lasi explains it while shampooing one's hair after the treatment: "They say it has positive effects on more than 80 diseases, and that if you do it for 21 days, you’re assured success with any problem." Throughout the 50-minute massage, there is only silence and some soft, relaxing background music. Sometimes, birds are heard outside, or a slow Hindu chant resonates through speakers across the resort, adorned with portraits of Gandhi, lush greenery everywhere (from bougainvilleas to towering palms), birds darting about, and countless wooden cottages with palm thatch roofs and verandas. Medical offices, massage, yoga, and meditation rooms, restaurants, the Ayurvedic products shop, and guest rooms all follow a design inspired by traditional aristocratic homes of South India. Between these, you’ll find idyllic swimming pools and even a cricket field by the beach in the distance.
Somatheeram first opened its doors in 1985 on a hill above the Arabian Sea in Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala and the birthplace of Ayurveda in India. Since then, it has received more international awards than any comparable center, and its waiting list for personalized treatment packages (seven to 28 days, with one-week stays from 900 euros) requires booking months in advance—whether for weight loss, recovery from trauma, or relief of stress. That last goal drives regular guest Donosh Oxana, a Russian businesswoman "with a house in Barcelona" visiting for the third time to reset and slim down. "Last time, I stayed 53 days and lost 14 kilos. Now, I’ll stay two weeks—I can’t spare more," she says. "I have 120 employees and four children—I need this..." Madonna, Miranda Kerr, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Miguel Bosé are among the celebrities who have come, as well.
Whatever your reason, every experience starts with a personalized assessment to determine your dosha type (basic elements or temperaments). "There are three, and the goal is to balance them to reach wellness or treat illness in different ways," explains Dr. Jayan, a respected figure in the Ayurvedic world and one of 15 doctors here, supported by 200 more staff including chefs, therapists, and nurses. Dr. Jayan interviews every client (already medically screened) about their "life situation," taking careful notes in a green folder.
Based on the results and any ailments, a program is prescribed, with special attention to diet and yoga. At meals, several buffets divide foods according to the doshas, always seeking balance. Extra activities include excursions around Kerala or wildlife safaris in nearby nature parks—something for every preference.