Kerala Spa Break: Niraamaya Surya Samudra, Kovalam BY ALICE REVEL
"Overlooking the Arabian Sea, Niraamaya Surya Samudra's luxurious spa relaxes and revives with holistic East-meets-West treatments."
The goal
Complete and total relaxation. After a particularly hectic working period in London and a few days surfing up the coast in Varkala, chilling out and switching off was exactly what I needed. And with its breathtaking cliff-top location, tranquil private beaches and Ayurvedic spa, Niraamaya Retreat was the perfect place to recharge my batteries and indulge in some much-needed "me time". Goodbye tension, hello time out.
The treatment
The Niraamaya spa offers a wide range of healing Ayurvedic treatments, based on 5,000 years of ancient Indian tradition, with qualified doctors on hand to consider guests' individual needs and to suggest the most beneficial treatments. Proceedings at the Niraamaya are unhurried and the staff attentive.
Set apart from the main hotel area, the spa is a tranquil space, shaded by swaying coconut palms. Among lush gardens and mellifluous fountains, the spa's eight treatment rooms are decorated in traditional Keralan style with modern touches here and there.
Alongside the traditional holistic therapies are a selection of signature treatments, drawing inspiration from both Asian and Western wellbeing to soothe away strains and stresses. The resort also offers all-encompassing wellness retreats lasting anywhere from two to 28 days, with comprehensive programmes including a personalised selection of healing or weight-loss therapies as well as yoga classes and detox menus.
I chose the 90-minute Spice Magic treatment, recommended as an aid to detoxification. It includes traditional massage using aromatic oils to activate lymph drainage and help channel toxins out of the system. Heated compresses are gradually placed on the body and used to deeply massage tight muscles and ease away tension from top to toe. It is a blissful journey to deep relaxation mixing the best of Indian and Western methodologies. On a hot day, the scent of the fragrant spices used within the herbal compresses, redolent of ginger, cardamom and cinnamon helps you breathe more deeply and begin to unwind almost instantaneously.
The treatment is designed to help guests attain the state of niraamaya, meaning freedom from ailments. You'll certainly feel aches and pains dissipate with the intense, deep strokes of the massage, soothing tight muscles and easing knotted shoulders. I'm not sure if I attained niraamaya, but I certainly felt more relaxed than I have in a long time, with loosened muscles and a sense of physical reinvigoration.
The location
Overlooking the Arabian Sea, and with its own secluded private beach, there's no doubt that Niraamaya Surya Samudra enjoys something of a paradisiacal location. And with its accommodation options limited to the 31 traditional Keralan cottages dotted amongst the greenery, the resort feels intimate and exclusive. Brightly-hued tropical blooms and polished wooden cottages with ornate carvings only add to the experience, while beautifully-appointed interiors with four-poster beds and vast open-air bathrooms are sure to please honeymooners.
With sweeping vistas over the ocean, the infinity pool, cocktail bar and two restaurants provide endless Instagram opportunities. There's a real sense of peace and calm to the Relais & Chateaux resort – partly because of the Niraamaya's location, and undoubtedly thanks to its diminutive scale. Neither the restaurant, pool nor spa felt crowded at all during our stay – it really seemed like we had the resort almost to ourselves. And no, we weren't staying in an off-season period either.
A few lost-in-translation moments aside, the Niraamaya's staff are an absolute asset to the resort – welcoming, attentive and unfailingly friendly without being intrusive. The resort is mainly frequented by well-heeled Brits, with a smattering of Americans and the occasional Indian here and there. We only encountered a handful of children during our stay – adults in search of unadulterated calm need have no concerns on that score.
The food
While guests can opt for detox menu options, it would be a shame to miss out on the Niraamaya's authentic Keralan dishes. Ingredients are locally sourced and fish caught daily – the gigantic lobster and prawns were some of the most impressive I've ever seen, or tasted. There are also traditional options for the less adventurous, of course – think club sandwiches, salads and burgers. The breakfasts make the most of delicious seasonal fruits, plus the usual eggs and cooked options made to order. And nothing will make your soya flat white pale into insignificance quite like the fragrant mix-your-own coffee with coconut cream and jaggery (unrefined cane sugar). Apart from that incredible view, perhaps.
(ALICE REVEL, THE TELEGRAPH, DECEMBER 29, 2015)
