“THERE’S A LOT OF TRAFFIC on the way to the centre,” says Sunil Dasan, our yoga instructor, when people don’t make it in time for the 6:30 pm meditation session. One would think a massive 16-acre, lush green wellness retreat set in Palakkad, Kerala would keep these city hassles at bay. I, too, walk to the refurbished yoga hall at a snail’s pace—but honking cars aren’t to blame here. I stop on multiple occasions to listen to the calls of crickets and croaking frogs, to literally smell the bright red flowers and the countless medicinal plants that call Kairali — The Ayurvedic Healing Village home. For the next three days, I’m a small part of this community.
My days start early—unusual for a late riser like me. Unusual still is being woken up by squawking peacocks. As I groggily make my way to the centre for morning yoga, I meet a young lady from the Czech Republic. “I’ve come to India just for an Ayurvedic detox,” she reveals while helping me navigate through the winding paths. “I visited seven years ago, and I loved this green oasis.” At the yoga centre, guests from the United States are already waiting. As I twist and turn during the surya namaskar (sun salutation), I notice guests from the United Kingdom trying to keep up with the asanas. Further ahead, a sari-clad local is breezing through the postures with ease, while Dasan calmly orchestrates the poses against the backdrop of cooing birds.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2023-Ausgabe von Travel+Leisure India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2023-Ausgabe von Travel+Leisure India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
The Abode Of Gods
Paphos, the ancient home of Aphrodite, is steeped in folklore. A walk around the old town can turn into a journey to the past; all you need is a little imagination.
Chasing Joy On Rottnest Island
Blue waters, shimmering sandy beaches, and historic sites-Rottnest in Western Australia is the quintessential island getaway. But what truly captivated our cover star Rashmika Mandanna is the happy and laid-back life that the island offers.
AS TIME GOES BY
A decade and a half after a life-changing sojourn in Vietnam, a writer returns to track the country's transformations-and his own.
PARIS MATCH
Royal roots and boho cool, French trad and cosmopolitan flair: Thomas Chatterton Williams visits the Marais and finds the perfect mix.
Spotted in the Wild
Tracking down a creature as evasive as the cheetah is never guaranteed. Jeff Chu treks to southern Africa to find big cats and fulfill a long-held family promise.
Tastes Like History
With a lineage spanning millennia, Armenian cuisine is an alchemist's dream. Veidehi Gite samples iconic dishes that evoke memories of home.
Secrets of the Happy State
A road trip from Aizawl to Champhai along the Indo-Myanmar border leads to many revelations for Florina Soren.
Championing Cheer
Fostering mindful atmospheres within corporate environments, Dr Sharon Rajkumar stands as a beacon of positivity, guiding others towards a more fulfilling and balanced life. In a candid chat, the TEDx speaker shares her journey with Kiara Sengupta, on how serendipity led her to become the first happiness evangelist in India.
Doodling Up Joy
Turning embarrassing moments of daily life into comedic relief comes naturally to Neha Sharma. The CA-turned-doodle artist now harnesses the power of her paints to create relatable comics that mirror the everyday. In a hearty chat with Bayar Jain, the self-taught artist and storyteller outlines her journey and underlines the importance of art in bringing happiness.
A Novel Take On Happiness
With his 90th birthday on the horizon, India's most beloved author Ruskin Bond, talks to Eshita Srinivas about love affairs on ships, the excitement of train journeys, and his new book that he hopes will inspire young readers.