One thouroughly dependable mid-scale centre worth singling out, both for the standard of its practitioners and overall ambience, is Amrutham,(9447856461) tucked away on the edge of Venganoor village, 4km inland from Kovalum. Equipped with traditional palm-thatch, mud-walled huts, as well as an open-sided yoga hall where clients may attend free classes, it offers the full gamut of ayurvedic treatments at fair prices. Phone ahead for directions, as not even the local rickshaw wallahs know where to find it.

This beautiful centre is elegantly placed in a traditional rural village giving the authentic taste of India, alondside all modern comforts. The garden of the guest house provides an idyllic resting place with a large swimming pool. The downstairs rooms open directly into the garden. The upstairs rooms are situated in a lush canopy of trees and the rooftop terrace looks out over the valley with its typical view of Kerala's coconut palms.
The house is built with natural materials and provides a lovely homely atmosphere with many places to sit and relax. when we drank the fresh coconut juice from the nearby palms upon our arrival we felt immediately re-hydrated and acclimatised. We felt so welcomed when we saw the beautiful flower arrangement on our bed, and had a truly wonderful experience staying at Amrutham.

I recently stayed for 3 weeks at Amrutham with my wife and 4 daughters (ages 8-14). The early morning yoga lessons were wonderful, with an experienced and nurturing teacher and a very peaceful setting. For anyone wishing to study or practice yoga, enjoy wellness from ayurvedic treatments or just relax in a glorious location, Amrutham is an undiscovered gem. With Kovalam Beach only 5-10 minutes away, the location offers a great combination of peaceful ambience, but with proximity to shops, restaurants and nightlife. The staff at Amrutham are friendly, the rooms are large, well-maintained, with king-sized beds, plenty of hot water, and doors opening onto the fabulous gardens and large swimming pool. We enjoyed our time immensely and look forward to coming again!!