HARIVIHAR HERITAGE AYURVEDA

Harivihar is a royal manor-house built around 1850 by the Kadathanad royal family, who had ruled the northern parts of Kerala. They had built the house to facilitate their children’s’ education, which was not easily accessible in those days.The house was built according to Vasthu principles in traditional padinijitta (west-facing) style, as was prevalent then. On the south-west side was the family temple with Durga as the presiding deity, and a large traditional pond on the north-west side with perennial water supply, was used for swimming and bathing. The house had a main block, southern wing (thekkini) and northern wing (vadakkini) and there was a central courtyard separating the two wings and the main block.

In the late 1940s, Dr.K.P. Appu Nair, who was trying to establish his medical practice in Calicut, bought the house from the royal heirs. As a family owned business, Harivihar ayurveda resort was formally opened to guests from February 2003 onwards and has ever since been receiving guests from all over the world.

In Harivihar, all types of rejuvenative and curative ayurveda treatments are offered under the aegis of Kerala’s reputed ayurveda group Sakalya, headed by Dr.Manoj Kumar and Dr.Valsala Devi. They are ably assisted by a team of ayurveda doctors and masseurs who are all well qualified and experienced in the field. All the ayurveda services and treatments are certified by The Government of Kerala.  

Regarded as one of the best panchakarma resorts in Kerala, Harivihar does rejuvenative and curative treatments. Various diseases like arthritis, low back pains of different causes, obesity, stress, anxiety, headaches etc are treated here with good results. Various packages from 3 to 21 days are on offer, depending on your requirement. Apart from disease specific treatments, Harivihar also does detoxification and rejuvenation treatments to boost your immunity and improve your vitality.

What we eat and drink plays an important role in our well-being. It is not only what we eat, but the way we eat, the surroundings in which we eat, the internal condition during the time of consumption and even the attitude of the person who prepares the food are significant. According to ayurveda incorrect food habits is the main physical causative factor of diseases

There is no standard diet for everyone, or any minimum daily requirements. Its concern is that the food we take in and the way we take it, are in harmony with our individual body constitution and that it should be adjustable for seasonal variations as well as for various stages of an individual’s life. "We are what we eat" holds a lot of truth here…

Harivihar ayurveda resort is committed to ayurveda wellness and hence the cuisine is in tune with the Ayurveda philosophy.The emphasis is on vegetarian food and we do not serve eggs, fish or meat. Likewise alcoholic beverages are avoided and smoking is discouraged.

Harivihar offers a well-crafted menu that borrows heavily from local cuisine, but with influences from various other states of India as well as from the West. The cuisine is delicately spiced and flavoured and at the same time they are delicious, nourishing and light. Guests have the opportunity to freely interact with our cook in the kitchen and learn from him.

You will never forget evening chanting of Bhagavat Gita in the inner garden of the house, facing Holi Tulsi plants front by Ramani, lady from the neighbour. Traditional philosophy and art is part of the daily life in Harivihar. 

Apart from being a center of excellence in Ayurveda and yoga, Harivihar also does its bit in promoting traditional art forms of Kerala which are facing an existential crisis. We write about them in our blogs and articles so that they get more exposure, we help them in getting clients and we also conduct programmes in house, whenever possible. You can experience Pulluvan Pattu (form of snake worship done either in temples or houses), Kalari Payatu performance (world's oldest martial art), Thiruvathirakali (group dance performed by the ladies on the auspicious day of Thiruvathira, the birth day of Lord Shiva), Theyyams and Thiras (800 year old ritualistic festival performed in a kaavu (grove) or temple premisesbetween the months of December to March), Kathakali (theatre performance synthesizes music, vocals, choreography and hand and facial gestures together to express ideas) or you can meet local artists from neighbour, who will be happily introduced by Dr.Sri Kumar.

If you visit Calicut in January, do not miss Kerala Literature Festival, the second largest cultural gathering and the fastest growing literature festival in the continent.

Set along the shores of the Arabian Sea by the beaches of Calicut, the KLF offers something for just about every age and interest, bringing readers and writers together for inspiration, entertainment, and discussion. Every year, the festival presents an array of the best artists, actors, celebrities, writers, thinkers, and activists closer to people by engaging in meaningful discussions on literature, art, cinema, culture, dance, music, environment, science, and technology. Fireside chats at night with a plethora of the biggest acts and performing artists from around the world make up the cultural nights at KLF. From carnatic concerts to progressive rock bands, from kijote kathakali to larissa, classical and flamenco dance performances, to puppet shows and theatre, the entertainment quotient reaches unprecedented heights at KLF, always. KLF remains open to the public, non-exclusive and open platform for discussions and idea exchanges.