With the south west monsoon all set to hit India's southern state Kerala, spa resorts here are gearing up to welcome tourists with a host of attractive offers.
Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of wellness, is a favourite among the tourists as a rejuvenation therapy.
The therapy, ranging from one week to 31 days, includes oil messages, admintering of medicines made of herbs and roots and steam baths.
According to Ayurvedic practitioners, it helps keep the body and mind healthy for long.
Ayurveda centres across the state offer various therapies--'Pancha Karma', 'Pizhichil, 'Shirodara', 'Njavrakizy', and 'Nasayam', to name a few, for the tourists.
"There are packages ranging from a day to 14 days costing Rs 600-Rs 14,000. Customers are also given 'Kazhikada Kanji' (a medicated rice porridge) for body rejuvenation," says Dr D
R Sadath of Kerala Ayurveda (KA).
Apart from these, detoxification packages, wellness and beauty care, migraine management and stress management packages are also offered at various star-hotels and massage centres, sources said.
Monsoons season is one of the most peak tourist periods other than the December-February period.
Seeking to cash in the monsoon rush, the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) has recently announced its monsoon package called "see and experience" rains .
The department plans three schemes under the package which ranges from five to eight days. Tours to prime locations such as Bolgatty in Kochi, Tea County in Munnar, Aaranyanivas
in Thekkady, Kumarakom Waterscapes and Kovalam Samudra are the main attraction of the package.
Besides, basic boarding and lodging at affordable rates,additional attractions like spa treatment and taxi services are also being provided.
Wayanad Tourism Organisation (WTO), in collaboration withthe District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), is planning to organise a three-day 'Splash 2010' from July 9 to showcase rural sports such as biking, trekking, commando walking and crab catching, paddy cultivation, all in the rain.
"Effort will also be on to promote unknown art, which blends with Kerala's folklore and little known artists, as part of the programme", WTO Secretary K R Vancheswaran told PTI.
The Kandamkulathy Ayursoukhyam, an Ayurvedic resort which recently opened at Thrissur, is offering specialised treatment
for various ailments, including rejuvenation packages ranging from Rs 1250 to Rs 60,000.