Heal yourself from within at Atmantan wellness resort in India
By Giles Hoff
For many years now, I have been interested in alternative medicines and treatments for various ailments, ranging from the common cold to Crohn’s disease. Ayurvedic philosophy has been around in India since 200 BC. The reality then, and up until the late 19th century, was that any cure had to come from natural sources. Nowadays, we tend to get prescribed the latest pharma-bred medication, rather than looking to tackle the problem at the source through natural ingredients.
So, in late 2019, when we had an impromptu visit from a certain Nikhil Kapur, I was intrigued, having tried Ayurvedic plans before, but with no lasting effect. Nikhil explained the principles of the resort he and his wife have created in the lush hills south of Mumbai, taking a prescriptive approach to each individual, depending on their needs or particular health condition. Sadly, world events mean that it has taken me more than three years to make the promised journey, but better late than never….
The resort is the largest 5* retreat of its kind in India, and winner of countless awards, despite, at only seven years old, being a relative newcomer to the wellness retreat world. Its 97 rooms, which are plotted up the hillside overlooking Lake Mulshi, are very large, especially considering most of them are only ever used for single occupancy. The bedrooms are 40 m2 and the bathrooms another 17 m2 or so, and are the standard of any 5* chain you care to mention, complete with a sunken bath and separate shower cubicle. All rooms either have a balcony or a veranda (a word that actually originates from Hindi), leading to a small shared garden. And, aside from the extensive wellness facilities, there is a lovely fresh water outdoor swimming pool, an indoor salt water pool, a yoga amphitheatre, and a very good gym.
However, the key to this resort’s success is in its food and overall treatment planning. The resort decided to go fully vegetarian in 2020 and they grow a lot of produce on site, especially the herbs. Everything here is organic by nature and I found that eating such good plant food daily was key to controlling my Crohn’s disease (while also abstaining from certain substances like coffee and alcohol). Within five days, I had noticed a significant difference, purely though diet, which is as much about abstinence, as it is what you put into you. The key lesson this resort really teaches you is that you are what you eat and drink. Sadly, both alcohol and coffee are very bad for Crohn’s disease but just cutting these (and red meat) out is half the job done. The other half is eating things that are good for gut health and promoting good bacteria. If you stick to the diet and take the supplements (which is not hard) then in theory, your gut will heal itself within 3 – 4 months.
This was my experience, and admittedly it is based around one very particular disease, but they cater for all kinds of conditions, even cancer, where they have had significant results in some cases, whilst never advocating themselves as cancer curers.
Whether you just want to lose weight or tackle other issues, including mental health, Atmantan has everything you could possibly want, from the doctors on site who consult with you every few days, to the 33 treatment rooms (which, included in the price, you will visit twice a day for prescribed or desired spa and ayurvedic therapies).
The food is really excellent and they prove to you it is possible to halve your calorie intake, with no carbohydrates in sight. It is all vegetarian and not only do you feel no hunger, but you are energised enough to hit the gym, go swimming, and do yoga. I’ve always thought that I don’t believe in miracles, but at Atmantan, I do.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
For further information about Atmantan, please visit: www.atmantan.com.
Savile Row Travel offers a range of health retreats and spa holidays worldwide. Contact them via www.savilerowtravel.com to discuss your needs and aims, and they will prescribe the right resort for you.
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