Coimbatore Taxi News

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India, Feb. 4 -- The southern Indian state of Kerala, popularly known as "God's own country", enjoys its embellishment with tranquil backwaters, tempting beaches and super lush green coconut groves.

"This makes the body more receptive to herbal oils and other ayurveda medicines. Ayurveda believes in the treatment of not just the affected part, but also the individual as a whole. It is considered a natural way to refresh oneself by eliminating all toxic imbalances from the body and thus regain good health," Suresh Kumar said.

C. George, a physician at the Somatheeram Ayurvedic Health Resort near Kovalam, said his resort is geared up for national and international tourists throughout the year.

"Ayurveda is a holistic healing science, which comprises of two words, Ayu and Veda. Ayu means life and Veda means knowledge or science. So the literal meaning of the word Ayurveda is the science of life. Ayurveda is a science dealing not only with treatment of some diseases but is a complete way of life. Ayurveda draws its concepts and practices from Vedas. It is a five thousand years of wisdom distilled into a system of practice. And Kerala has just lapped it up," George said.

"We cater to tourists who come specially for treatment and not just for sightseeing. For those who have a time constraint, we get their medical files early and study their problems in detail even before they arrive. So the treatment protocols are ready when they come here," he added.

Ayurveda offers excellent treatments for skin problems, ailments related to stress and joint pains.

"For skin problems, we generally ask patients to stay back for 28 days. And for people who don't have so much time at their disposal, we give them medicines that they can carry with them and we have constant interaction with them," George stated.

And for those who are on a short holiday, a general oil massage is sure to put the spring back in their step. Five years back, the Ayurveda tourism industry in Kerala saw a mere 20 percent occupancy during the monsoons but in most resorts, it is expected to cross 70 percent occupancy this season. Almost all resorts, whether big or small, now boast of an ayurveda spa. And they all have separate vegetarian kitchens, as vegetarian food is considered a must during the treatment period.

The tariffs for a treatment plan ranges from over 2,500 rupees for a day to over 65,000 rupees for a three-week comprehensive package. This includes food, accommodation and the treatment charges.

But the popular ones are slimming, stress management and beauty packages - all using oils, herbal powders and leaves.

Suresh Kumar, recognizing the tourism potential of ayurveda, says that his department has drawn out the basic standards to be followed by the industry while offering Ayurveda as a product.

"These standards are necessary because ayurveda is a sensitive tourism product. If there are any violations, we might lose tourists forever. The department is trying its level best to ensure that the best is offered," he said.

The state health department has also got strict measures in place to check fraudulent Ayurveda services and products. " Ayurveda is like a gold mine for the tourism industry, so we have to be extra cautious that tourists are not taken for a ride," he added.

According to official records, 598,000 foreign tourists and 7.691 million domestic tourists visited Kerala in 2009.

Kumar said the state government is expecting 15 percent increase in both domestic and foreign tourists this year.