Our Land

An invitation to the clinic

From time to time, when the restless pace of city life becomes too much and the chaos of the streets threatens to swallow you up, it is always wise to withdraw. Hidden away in Kerala is the Our Land clinic, a balm for the soul. This place is a quiet island of rest from everyday life. It lies on an island of calm south of Alappuzha, surrounded by green rice fields, coconut palms, bamboo and banana trees that stretch far into the distance.

Set in the heart of nature, Our Land has stayed true to its roots and fits beautifully into the village landscape that surrounds it for many kilometres. The resort’s modern conveniences quietly serve the comfort of guests without compromising the natural atmosphere or our commitment to keeping our carbon emissions to a minimum.

Our Land welcomes guests and reveals its secrets — this hidden island was once the lair of a fearsome bandit, remembered by local people as a Robin Hood! Madhu, the soul of this small hotel as well as its manager and chef, will collect you from the airport in person and drive with you through the lush Kerala countryside to the clinic.

During your stay you can uncover the secrets of this former Robin Hood’s refuge and immerse yourself in its warm and welcoming world.

Climate

The best time to visit is from October to May. The temperature averages 28–32˚C, the sky is clear (apart from a little cloud in October and November) and the air is dry.

If you enjoy the rain, however, visiting us between June and September will show you a completely new side of the backwaters, with a deep silence — broken only by rain and thunder — and every shade of green around you.

What to bring

Light, cool cotton is best suited to the weather. Longer sleeves will keep those pesky mosquitoes at bay and protect you from the harsh sun on walks.

Bring a water bottle (to cut down on plastic), sunscreen and insect repellent. Bring a book or two and a charger for your devices.

Accommodation

This is a home away from home. When you set foot on the island you enter a world far from urban reality, and yet it will still remind you of home.

Stay at this charming resort in one of five rooms — or in the treehouse, for those who want to be surrounded by nature!

All the rooms are built in the traditional Kerala style, in keeping with the spirit of the place. Each bungalow has two rooms and a separate sitting room. The rooms are simply decorated in neutral tones, furnished with handmade wooden furniture and full of clean open space.

You can count on privacy if that is what you are looking for — or enjoy company, if company is what you seek. The bathrooms are kept in clean white tones and reflect the same simplicity as the rooms. Herbal toiletries such as tooth powder and Ayurvedic soap are charming details.

The centre’s original cottage, once the only dwelling here, is larger than the separate bungalows and has a dining room for all guests. The best feature outside is how close it stands to the tall bamboo. The treehouse, the newest addition to the centre, is sure to catch guests’ attention. Built of concrete with a thatched roof, it is hidden from the cottages in the middle of a bamboo grove and perches almost directly above the water.

Ourland Island Backwater Resort is in Alleppey, a few steps from the beautiful and sacred Pamba river.

Mullackal Temple, the Revi Karunakaran Museum and Alleppey beach are 12 km away. Alleppey railway station and bus station are 12 km away. Cochin International Airport is 98 km away.

The rooms have air conditioning and a seating area. The private bathroom with shower comes with complimentary toiletries. Every room looks out over the lake. A writing desk and a fan are also provided.

The resort has a 24-hour reception, a garden and a terrace. There is also a tour desk, luggage storage and an ironing service.

The dining area serves local and Indian cuisine. Room service is available for a private dinner.

Our houseboat!

Our houseboat is moored alongside Our Land when it is not in use. It can be hired for day and overnight cruises, but should be booked well in advance in high season. Do ask if you would like to arrange a last-minute trip and we will see what we can do!

The kitchen

Our Land not only provides ample nourishment for the soul, it also serves food that leaves a lasting impression on your taste buds. We offer a choice from traditional Kerala cuisine to international dishes, prepared the way you like them. And all of it is made with particular care for hygiene and health.

Local delicacies, freshly made, will tempt you at every meal — vegetables, fish and poultry in endless variety, including idli (rice and lentil cakes), dosa (rice pancakes) and puri (puffed wheat bread), which you can dip into a spicy lentil curry or coconut stew. Sharp mango and coconut chutneys (all fresh from the garden) round out the flavour. Madhu has dishes of his own, and one of them is called adda: a cylindrical idli made from a combination of wheat flour, grated coconut, banana and jaggery (unrefined cane sugar), flavoured with cardamom. The whole mixture is placed in cylindrical containers, then steamed and fried.

Lunch and dinner include chapati (Indian bread) and steamed rice with spicy sambar (a hot South Indian lentil curry), beetroot and cabbage fried with coconut and onion, and papadam (crisp rice wafers). Do not miss the delicious pumpkin curry. Non-vegetarians can choose fish — there is a fresh catch of the day — giant river prawns or local free-range chicken. Duck and beef are served on request, cooked in the local style if you prefer.

Finish your hearty meal with fresh seasonal fruit. Some of it comes from Our Land’s own gardens, the rest from local sources. Pineapple, papaya, mango and watermelon, to begin with. And if your heart desires a tender coconut, be sure to mention it.

If you are interested, you can learn how to cook Kerala food from the chef.

Ayurveda

In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means “the knowledge of life”. AYUR means life, and VEDA means knowledge. Ayurveda is a complex system of healing native to India and to Kerala in particular. Some say it was a secret revealed to the sages by Brahma, the Creator. Natural methods based on Panchakarma are used to prevent and treat illness and to slow the ageing process.

Ayurvedic treatments are uniquely designed to detoxify, cleanse and bring balance, well-being and energy to body and mind. They release physical tension, harmonise these energies and deeply nourish your essence, bringing calm and peace to every cell of your body.

Special natural herbal oils are used to correct the imbalances in your body. The aim of every treatment is to restore balance through a gentle rhythmic flow that embraces the whole organism, brings new life and lays the foundation for optimal health. The treatments are chosen according to your individual needs and your dosha.

A holiday is more than fun and rest. It is a fitting opportunity not only to refresh but to rejuvenate mind and body. Traditional Ayurvedic oil massages revive the mind and draw hidden energy to the surface.

Treatment prices

Abhyanga — full body massage (45 min) — 1000 Rs

Abhyanga is a gentle but firm massage of the body from head to toe using warm blended oils. The oil is applied carefully over the whole body while the therapist performs the massage strokes that give you a feeling of deep relaxation. A full body massage properly oils and lubricates the various tissues of the body, which makes the skin responsive, soft and radiant and prevents excessive wear of the body’s tissues. It works well against the ageing process.

Rejuvenating massage — full body + face + steam (90 min) — 1600 Rs

We tend to carry our pain and stress in our shoulders. This treatment was designed to release tension and bring relief through a state-of-the-art massage of the lower back and shoulders, a full body massage and a steam bath that deeply cleanses the skin. Ideal for back pain. A special herbal powder is also applied to the body after the steam bath, removing the various herbal oils applied during the massage. It is an invigorating treatment that relieves everyday stress and muscular tension and improves circulation.

Shirodhara — head wash with a decoction (45 minutes) — 1000 Rs

Shirodhara — head wash with oil (45 minutes) — 1200 Rs

Shirodhara is an important therapy that works at the deepest levels of your being. “Shiro” means head, and “dhara” translates as flow. This flow of warm medicated oil is poured continuously onto the forehead, which helps to connect and activate the various currents that sustain our life. It is excellent for improving circulation, thereby increasing the supply of nutrients and oxygen, which helps to unblock nerve impulses and relieve tension and headaches.

Udvartana — herbal powder massage (45 minutes) — 1000 Rs

The Udvartana body-toning programme is the application of a herbal powder over the whole body (except the face). When this treatment is carried out as part of a programme that includes a strict diet, regular exercise and appropriate internal herbal preparations (all prescribed by your Ayurvedic doctor), it helps to reduce weight, gives you a firm body and refreshes and rejuvenates your skin.

Pizhichil — oil bath (45 min) — 1200 Rs

This is a process traditionally undergone once a year, aimed at maintaining one’s figure and health and preventing premature ageing. It is a treatment unique to Kerala, in which slightly warmed medicated oil is applied over the whole body in a particular rhythmic manner, from a long-necked vessel or from a cotton cloth soaked in oil. This treatment is also very helpful for joint pain, including arthritis, neuromuscular disorders and orthopaedic conditions.

Kizhi — herbal poultice massage (45 min) — 1350 Rs

Kizhi is a therapy in which heated herbs and medicated oils are tied into cloth pouches and placed on the area to be treated. Special massage strokes follow, performed with the fingers or the palm. The pressure varies according to the nature of the condition and the area treated.

Abhyanga & Kizhi — body massage + herbal poultice massage (60 min) — 1500 Rs

A combination of the Abhyanga and Kizhi treatments. Abhyanga is a gentle but firm massage of the body from head to toe using warm blended oils. Kizhi is a treatment in which heated herbs and medicated oils are tied into cloth pouches and placed on the area to be treated.

Nasyam — nasal cleansing (20 min) — 500 Rs

The nose is the door to the brain, the mind and consciousness. Drops of medicated oil are instilled into each nostril and then inhaled deeply. This clears phlegm from the airways, making breathing easy and improving the sense of smell.

The whole body or a particular part of it is made to sweat while being massaged with cooked medicinal navara rice tied in muslin pouches. Warm medicated milk is used to heat the pouches. Navarakizhi is a highly effective rejuvenating treatment intended to restore the whole body. It is helpful in neuromuscular conditions, especially muscular dystrophy.

Chikitsa Thirummu — therapeutic massage (25 min) — 500 Rs

A special massage for a particular area of the body, to relieve muscle spasms, shoulder pain and all kinds of acute painful conditions.

Swedana — herbal steam bath (15 minutes) — 300 Rs

During this treatment you sit in a steam box with herbs. Using heat and steam to induce sweating has long been recognised as a natural and effective way of stimulating the body’s detoxification process. The special herbs help to stimulate the flow of oxygen through the body, while the steam activates the natural process of sweating that is needed to release accumulated toxins. Your skin will carry the gentle sweet scent of the herbs for the next 24 hours or so. It tones the skin and gives it a particular glow.

Shiro Abhyanga — traditional Indian head massage (30 minutes) — 400 Rs

This massage releases muscular tension from the head, neck and shoulders, creating a feeling of lightness and joy. Head massage, a favourite treatment in India, is said to promote hair growth, keep the hair glossy and bring clarity of mind.

Our signature oil contains a blend of the traditional ingredients Amla, Brahmi, Jatamansi, curry leaves and Neem, and offers many benefits.

Mukha Lepam — traditional herbal facial (45 minutes) — 600 Rs

Indian women use home recipes passed down from their mothers to nourish their skin. Following this custom, we use fresh natural ingredients and fruit pulp. Our facial also includes a face massage that tones and nourishes the skin, making it healthier and giving it a natural glow.

Mukha Kanti Lepam — imperial facial (60 minutes) — 1200 Rs

A cleansing facial treatment designed to leave the skin looking healthy, young and clear. A beauty programme that includes a complete cleansing of the face and triple face masks with herbs, sandalwood, fruit and natural oils, which serve to improve the tone and texture of the skin, prevent blemishes and enhance the complexion.

Conditions

Ayurvedic treatments must be booked in advance. Please arrive 5 minutes before your appointment.

Guests with high blood pressure or heart conditions, guests who are pregnant, and guests with any medical complications are advised to consult their doctors before booking any Ayurvedic treatment. Please tell your therapist about any conditions you have. This will help our therapist recommend treatments that will not conflict with your health. We recommend not sunbathing immediately after a therapy. We suggest that men shave a few hours before a facial treatment.

The Ayurvedic centre is open from 8.00 to 18.00, seven days a week.

Valuables

We suggest you leave all valuables in your room; although we do our best to look after your belongings, we accept no responsibility for your valuables.

Etiquette

To keep the atmosphere relaxing, we ask you to switch your mobile phones off. Please remember that there is no smoking or drinking at the Ayurveda centre.

Activities

When you are not exploring the island and its many secrets, you will most likely be resting on the balcony, watching life unfold on the lake.

Relaxing in a hammock (daily; any time)

If relaxation is what you came for, there are many different options, but at the top of the list is resting in a hammock with a favourite book in your hands.

Guided walks through the village and the rice fields (daily; 07:00–09:00 and 16:30–18:30)

Unhurried walks through the village and the rice fields are the best way to learn about the culture and way of life of the Kuttanad region. You will find the traditional village atmosphere quite charming and peaceful. Breathe the fresh air as you walk along the green paddy fields. Step into the water of the fields beside your path. Admire the greenery around you and sip cool tender coconut water. We have arranged a walk for you that takes an hour and a half to two hours. It begins after you cross the backwater in village boats; then you walk through the rice fields and visit local fishermen and farmhouses. The walk takes you from one end of the area to the other in the shape of a letter U.

Please use sunscreen, sunglasses and a good wide-brimmed hat. Sandals or shoes with good soles help on the sometimes slippery paths. Do not forget your camera.

Canoe trips (guided tours — by day 07:00–09:00 and 16:30–18:30; at night 20:30–21:30). (Self-guided — daily; any time)

You can enjoy the beauty of Kuttanad by travelling through the serene backwaters. The great advantage of a canoe is that you can watch village life and its people without intruding on their privacy. In a canoe you can also go down the narrow channels that larger boats cannot reach. You can admire the palm-fringed river banks, the endless expanses of water, the lush green rice fields, local fishermen at work and villagers busy with their daily tasks. You can combine a daytime canoe trip with a visit to the local school and church. Our staff will guide you through the backwaters and steer the canoe for you. If you like, you can join in and take an oar yourself.

Canoeing at night is magical too, and you can enjoy the quiet beauty of the backwaters under a moonlit sky. Stars fill the sky, small houses with flickering lights dot the river bank, and a multitude of fireflies turn the trees around you into Christmas trees. And your personal assistant can accompany you to serve drinks and snacks on board!

Canoes are also available for self-guided use at any time of day or night. (A disclaimer form must be read and signed for self-guided use.)

If you are a weak swimmer or cannot swim, ask for a life jacket. Please use sunscreen (especially on shoulders and arms), sunglasses and a hat. Do not forget your camera.

Fishing (daily; any time)

Sitting in the cool shade of a coconut palm with a rod hanging over the water is a calm and lazy way to spend time on the island. The waters around are excellent for fishing. We have both traditional and modern rods. There are also fishing nets, and our staff will teach you how to use them properly. If you feel more adventurous, you can head into the backwater in a canoe armed with rods. And if you feel this is not for you, simply try dipping a towel into the water or just feeling for fish with your feet. Children can try catching fish with their hands.

Birdwatching (daily; from sunrise to sunset)

Our island is one of the few dense thickets surrounded by kilometres of rice fields. It has become a refuge for birds, and birdwatching is one of the pleasures you should certainly enjoy during your stay. You will find more than 106 species of bird, including several kinds of migratory bird that visit our island and the surrounding waters during the winter season. Among them are Siberian cranes, parakeets, teal, larks, flycatchers and others. You can also spot other local birds such as waterfowl, cuckoos, owls, egrets, herons and ducks. Walking along the island’s paths or drifting through the backwaters shortly before sunrise or sunset, you may find hundreds of birds perched in the island’s trees. Binoculars and several bird guides are available at the retreat.

Games

We have a few very simple games to keep you busy. We have playing cards, a chess board, carrom (a traditional Indian board game) and a number of traditional village board games such as Pallanguzhi. Our staff at the resort will be happy to help.

Other activities

Ask your assistant to hang a hammock and doze in the shade of a tree. Bring your swimming costume and take a dip in the backwater. If you feel energetic, you can even swim across to the far bank of the river.

Local excursions (optional, and can be arranged for an extra charge)

There are many local day trips from our island. Spend half a day in Alleppey, known for its houseboats, lively bazaars and beach. Further afield, you can take a full-day trip to Fort Kochi with its historic quarter full of interesting cafés and antique shops, elegant boutique hotels and ancient churches. If you want a break from the heat, head for the hills to a rubber or coffee plantation near Kottayam. Spend the day learning about plantation work and the processing of rubber and coffee, and enjoy a delicious lunch.

The Ourland Ayurvedic clinic is on an island in Karimbalavavu, only 45 minutes by boat from the centre of Alappuzha, on the shore of the sacred Pamba lake. Most importantly, all treatments and Ayurvedic therapies here are carried out solely by highly qualified doctors from hereditary physician families.

The Our Land clinic is a complex of several buildings. Among them are buildings for treatments, a space for yoga, a dining room serving local Indian cuisine, and several separate cottages (bungalows) for guests. Each of them has two rooms and a sitting room. The rooms have air conditioning; the private bathrooms have a shower and complimentary toiletries, and there is also a writing desk and a fan. Every room has a beautiful view of the lake.

One child under 6 staying in an existing bed stays free of charge.

One child over 6 or an adult in an extra bed is charged INR 1750 per person per night.

The maximum number of extra beds in a room is 1.

Any bed is provided on request and must be confirmed by the management.

How to reach the Our Land Ayurvedic clinic

The Ourland Ayurvedic clinic can only be reached by boat from Alappuzha. You can get to the town itself in one of the following ways:

• 98 km from Cochin International Airport.
• 12 km from Alleppey railway station and bus station.

The airport is well connected to all major Indian cities, with a number of domestic airlines to choose from. It is also served by numerous other carriers flying from Europe, the Middle East and Colombo, and connects with flights from the large Indian cities. From Cochin airport you can take a taxi or book a transfer to the clinic in advance (3 hours).

From the railway station you can hail a local taxi or book a transfer in advance (45 minutes).

Other questions

Air conditioning

If you use the air conditioning in your room, please keep the windows closed to save energy. Let us know if you need any help.

Alcohol and soft drinks

We do not have a licence to keep alcohol at the centre. You are welcome, however, to bring your own, along with soft drinks (fizzy drinks, tonic and so on).

Bathrooms and hot water

The hot water tap is on the left-hand side. You will need to run the water for a few minutes before hot water becomes available. The water from Our Land’s taps has passed through our own sand and carbon filtration system, but please drink only the water from the metal jugs.

The bathroom has soap, shampoo and toilet paper. We check supplies when we clean your room, but please ask if you need them topped up or replaced.

The bell

If you need to speak to one of us and cannot find us, please ring the bell at the entrance to the staff room and kitchen behind the dining room. At least one of us is available from 6:00 to 22:00, but please ring the bell at any time for urgent matters.

Cleaning, towels and bed linen

We will clean your room and change the towels and bed linen every second day. If you would prefer us to change towels and linen more or less often, please tell us.

Check-in and check-out

Check-in is usually from 13:00. Please present your passport at check-in so that we can complete the required government form. Our standard check-out time is 11:00. If you would like to stay in your room beyond that time, please let us know at least a day in advance and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

Electricity

The standard current is 220 to 240 volts. Because of our location, please expect voltage fluctuations and possible power cuts at any time of day or night. We provide a candle and matches and a torch for your room. Please leave them in your room for the guests who follow you.

Internet and WiFi

WiFi is available in the reception/dining area, but the speed varies. Several cafés in Alleppey, including Cream Corner, offer free Wi-Fi to customers.

Laundry

A laundry service is available for an extra charge. Because of the high humidity, it can take up to 24 hours for laundry to come back, and it may not be completely dry. Please do not give us delicate items to wash — we cannot accept responsibility for damage to them. We do not offer an ironing service, but you can borrow an iron and ironing board from us.

Telephone

Mobile phones work on the island. If you do not have a mobile phone of your own and need to make an urgent call, please ask. Calls within Kerala are free of charge.