10 Reasons to Visit Sitaram Beach Retreat – An Ayurveda Resort in Kerala

The Sitaram Beach Retreat is a beautiful resort in Kerala, India, and a superb destination for holistic healing. It is one of the best Ayurveda centres in Kerala with a 100-year legacy. We had the good fortune of visiting recently in July 2021 and cannot put in words how much we loved our stay and Ayurvedic treatments. So let us tell you why we appreciated the place so much, and why you will too!

Here is why you should Visit Sitaram Beach Retreat

1. To be surrounded by nature

The Sitaram Beach Retreat is built amidst nature. There are plants, trees and gardens all around the property. So much so, you’ll feel like you’re in paradise when you see butterflies in a gazillion colours flutter around you, birds hop and fly, and coconut trees sway with the wind. And that’s not all. There is a beautiful and clean beach fringed by palm trees just a stone’s throw away from the rooms so rest assured you’ll be peacefully serenaded by the sound of the waves throughout your stay.

The property has an organic vegetable, fruit, and herb garden. The entire property is dotted with a variety of plants and trees that you’ll enjoy guessing the names of. Some of these include Gooseberry, Pomegranate, Mango, Mangosteen, Guava, Fig, Sitaphal, Jackfruit, Chikoo, Papaya, Coconut, Neem, Tulsi, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Coffee and Clove amongst others.

We heard that there are peacocks on the property too but unfortunately, we didn’t spot any.

2. To stay in beautiful cottages

The rooms are actually cottages that are designed to help you (its residents) relax and unwind. The cottages are made with natural materials that ensure they stay cool and ventilated while the warm tone seamlessly blends with the outdoors. The view from the cottage of gardens and the beach can be enjoyed from not only the windows but also the deck chairs outside (our favourite place to sit, relax and enjoy the scenery).

The rooms are well equipped with a table and chairs, a cupboard, a safe, an AC, a fan, a comfortable and clean bed, soft lighting and Wifi (we found the Wifi to be a bit dodgy but hey you’re here to relax anyway).

There are three categories of cottages on the property to choose from: The Luxury Stone Cottages, Luxury Wooden Cottages and Wooden Premium Villas.

3. Enjoy showers in an open bathroom

Bathrooms are super important to us and they can be a deal maker or breaker. Built-in a modern style, the bathroom at Sitaram Beach Retreat is one you have to experience. While the commode and washbasin are totally covered by a roof, the bath area is semi-open. By semi-open, we mean to say that the actual bath area has a roof on top and is open only from the sides. These sides have pots and plants and you can see trees peek through the open roof. The bathroom is most beautiful when it is raining, as you’ll literally have three showers in the bathroom – one man-made and two natural. Haha. We could totally live in that bathroom.

Oh and don’t worry, we didn’t spot any lizards in the room or bathroom. I (Trisha) am scared of lizards and was initially very sceptical as a lot of properties set in natural surroundings have lizard issues. However, Sitaram Beach Retreat gets pest control done periodically to avoid such issues. Such a relief. We could truly enjoy all the spaces without hesitation and fear!

It is worth noting that the open bathroom is present in all room categories though they may look slightly different.

4. Heal the body and mind with a doctor led ayurveda treatment

As we mentioned earlier, Sitaram Beach Retreat is much more than a beach resort. It is a NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers) accredited Ayurveda hospital in Kerala built as a resort in nature so that you not only benefit from the healing efficacy of a doctor-led treatment but also the healing properties of nature. Both work in conjunction to bring the utmost relaxation, peace, and happiness. This makes the resort truly unique and a must experience for the best Ayurvedic treatment in India.

There is a doctor consultation daily so that your treatment plan can be designed per your body and needs and altered per your progress. Treatments are done daily and last from 90 minutes to 120 minutes. What we especially appreciated was the level of care given to each guest and how personalized the experience was. For e.g. we were personally escorted to the doctor’s consultation room and for treatments on our first day; every day we were asked if we were doing okay and had any issues; the medication was sent to our room with a note of when we needed to have it etc.

Wondering what kind of issues does Ayurveda address. Honestly, it could be anything or nothing and you could still go for it. Read here to know what I’m talking about – Should I undergo a Panchakarma Treatment? If you’re hesitant to go for a full treatment, we’d say go for it for a week or so and if you like it, return for a longer period.

We got a short term Ayurvedic treatment for stomach issues, anxiety, pain, swelling, weight loss amongst others. There were oil treatments for specific issues, massages, scrubs, steams, bandaging with herbal concoction, medicines and more.

5. Harmonize the body and mind with Yoga

There are yoga sessions held every morning (before breakfast) and every evening (before dinner) for advanced practitioners and beginners. These Yoga sessions have been incorporated into the routine at this Ayurveda resort in India as they are a catalyst to the healing process of Ayurveda treatments.

We learnt and practised Yoga movements along with Pranayama and meditation during all our morning sessions. The Yoga instructor chose the asanas based on our fitness levels and health issues. These sessions definitely helped us feel energetic and full of life all day every day. So much so that we have come back and started beginning the day with light Yoga and Pranayama.

6. Enjoy healthy yet delicious food

The food is a set vegetarian menu and it is prepared keeping Ayurveda in mind. It is obviously very fresh, easily digestible, nutritious and healthy. But don’t let that scare you. The food is surprisingly delicious. Modi (my husband) is quite finicky about food and I expected him to be very fussy during our time there. However, that didn’t happen. He too enjoyed the food as much as I did so much so that we even asked for seconds sometimes. Guilty!

Here is a general idea of what you get for meals:

Breakfast – A plate of mixed fruits followed by a savoury main course. E.g. Puttu and Chana Curry, Uttapam with Sambar and Chutney

Lunch- Salad followed by the main course. E.g. Sprout salad followed by millets with vegetables (sabzi) and dal

Dinner – Soup followed by the main course. E.g. Spinach Soup followed by vegetable Tikki, chapati, and curry

Oh hey, I missed a very important point. The restaurant is by the sea so while you treat your tastebuds with tasty food, you can also treat your eyes and ears with a view of the vast expanse of the ocean and sound of waves crashing on the shore. Absolutely delightful!

7. Be treated like you should – royalty

The staff at Sitaram Beach Retreat are humble, kind and very helpful. Everyone wants your well-being and everyone treats you as such. There is nothing better than being treated with love and respect. The staff deserve an award for being so genuine and kind. Please give them the same kind of treatment back when you visit.

8. Staycation at a resort that is taking all COVID related precautions

The resort is taking multiple measures to ensure that the property stays COVID free and we really did feel pretty safe. Here are some measures they’re taking:

1. The staff mandatorily wears masks at all times. We think that this is highly commendable because we have never seen the staff anywhere else wear their masks properly – covering the nose and mouth at all times.
2. The staff is vaccinated
3. Most of the staff live on the property itself and are discouraged from going out
4. Guests coming for treatment have to produce a RT-PCR test done within 72 hours
5. There are hand sanitizers and social distancing boards around the property to remind you to stay cautious
6. The resort is faily large and everyone has their own schedules. As such, you will rarely have a lot of people around you while your’e enjoying property walks.

9. See how an eco-friendly and socially conscious property is run

We saw first-hand that the Sitaram Beach Retreat believes in being eco-friendly.

• Water wasn’t served in single-use plastic bottles. We got RO purified water in jugs in our room.
• The toiletries provided had little to no plastic
• Medicines were provided in steel containers and small brown paper envelopes.
• Any plastic generated is recycled with the local government body
• The infrastructure is infused with nature-friendly materials like terracotta and wood
• All veggie waste is recycle with a biogas unit and used as compost too.
• Rain water harvesting is practised

In addition to that, the retreat supports, trains and educates local communities to improve their quality of life.

10. Escape the monotonous work from home life

We don’t know if work from home is still a reality for you. But we do know that the past one and half years have not been great for mental health and outlook in general. The Sitaram Beach Retreat is the perfect place to heal and rejuvenate with Ayurveda, yoga, healthy eating, kindness and nature. We sat on our porch and admired nature during our free time, relaxed on the beachside hammock, took walks on the beach, played in the water, enjoyed the sunset colours and walked around the properties gardens. There are just so many spaces here to admire, enjoy and relax in. During our time here, we felt light, relaxed, and happy living a slow-paced peaceful life.

Here’s the end of our list of reasons why you should visit this wonderful Ayurveda resort in Kerala. We hope we have convinced you to go someday and experience for yourself the peace and healing this wellness retreat in India brings. Trust us, while we were there we slept like babies way earlier than usual, woke up timely and lived the good life – something we have been trying to follow on returning home as well. Such a positive change this Ayurveda retreat in Kerala has brought upon us. We are very thankful and know that you will be too after your visit.

Now, we will answer a few questions that we have been getting on our social media and that might be helpful to you as well when planning your trip!

What does a day Sitaram Beach retreat look like?

6:00 AM-7:00 AM: Advanced Yoga

7:15 AM-8:15 AM: Beginner Yoga

8:00 AM-9:00 AM: Breakfast

9:30 AM-12:30 PM: Treatments/ Consultation/Free Time

12:00 PM- 1:30 PM: Lunch

2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Treatments/Consultation/Free Time

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Beginner Yoga

6:30 PM – 7:45 PM: Dinner

While these are the timings, note that we did yoga only once a day and had doctor consultation and treatments in only one time slot, leaving a lot of the day free to enjoy nature in the property and relax.

How to Get There

The Sitaram Beach Retreat is situated in Thalikulam village in Thrissur District near Kochi. It is easily accessible by public transport. You can hire a cab or Uber from the airport or railway station. Alternative, you can request the hotel for a paid cab transfer. If you’re staying for 7 days or more at the resort then they give you complimentary transfers.

Nearest Airport:
The Cochin International Airport (COK) is 62km away and the drive time is approx. 1 hour 45 minutes from the airport.

Nearest Railway Station:
The nearest railway station Thrissur(TSR) is 25km away and the drive time is approx. 45 minutes from the station.

Contact and Booking Information

Book your stay by submitting an enquiry or calling +91 813 8888 912.

The Sitaram Beach Retreat truly succeeds in its endeavour to make people realise that health is a necessary choice. It is in our hands to heal and maintain our health with conscious effort. Over and above that, a stay here truly heals relaxes and rejuvenates. Whether you come here for a treatment or simply a leisure stay, we are so sure you’ll have a splendid experience at this lovely Ayurveda resort in Kerala.

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Our experience at Sitaram Beach Retreat Ayurveda Retreat in India was complimentary. However, all opinions expressed here are very much our own.