A Kalaripayattu retreat in Kerala means living at a traditional kalari, training twice a day and eating simple vegetarian food. At Athma Kalari, a retreat runs from 2 weeks to 2 months and starts at ₹16,000, including training, our basic stay option and all meals.
It is not a resort holiday. Days start before sunrise, the training is real, and life is simple. Many guests also add Kalari treatments, which use herbal oils and methods closely linked to Ayurveda, to help the body recover.
This guide explains what a Kalari retreat is like, what it costs, how to add treatments, and when to come.
What a Kalari retreat at a gurukulam is
A gurukulam is a place where students live with their teacher and learn every day. At Athma Kalari, the teacher is Ashan Vipin Das. He founded the gurukulam in 2005, has 29 years of Kalari practice, and is the 8th generation of a Valluvanad Kalari family. He teaches the northern (Vadakkan) style.
Training happens in a kuzhi kalari, a traditional pit kalari with a poothara, the small shrine in the corner. You do not need any experience. There are no fixed batches, so you start the day you arrive. Beginners train alongside returning students, and advanced students help guide them.
How it differs from a resort holiday
| Typical resort holiday | Kalari retreat at the gurukulam | |
|---|---|---|
| Mornings | Wake up when you like | Class starts at 5:30 AM |
| Activity | Optional sessions | 2 classes a day, 2 to 2½ hours each |
| Food | Menus and buffets | 3 South Indian vegetarian meals at set times |
| Setting | Pool and spa | A traditional pit kalari |
| House rules | Few | No smoking or alcohol; the main gate closes at 10:30 PM |
| What you take home | Rest | Rest, plus a martial art you can keep practising |
A typical day
- 5:30 AM: morning training, 2 to 2½ hours. Arrive 5 minutes early.
- 9:30 AM: breakfast.
- Late morning: rest, study, or a treatment if you have booked one.
- 1:30 PM: lunch.
- 5:30 PM: evening training, 2 to 2½ hours.
- 8:30 PM: dinner, then an early night.
Sundays are off. Every Tuesday there is a guided meditation.
Retreat lengths and prices
These are our residential Kalari programs. Each price includes training, a stay in the dormitory (our basic option) and 3 meals a day.
| Program | Length | Price | What you learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalari Praramba | 2 weeks | ₹16,000 | Warm-up, Vandanam, 6 kicks, the first footwork and postures |
| Kalari Parijaya | 1 month | ₹25,500 | 8 kicks, more footwork, 2 Meypayattu sequences; the most chosen |
| Kalari Parisrema | 2 months | ₹51,000 | 10 kicks, 3 Meypayattu sequences and an introduction to Cheruvadi; can be paid month by month |
A different room changes the total. You can choose a single hut, a single or private room, a deluxe room, or an apartment 1.5 km away with stable Wi-Fi for remote work. See our rooms and food page for the options.
Not included: airport and station pickups, treatments and massages, and Kalari clothing, which is sold at the gurukulam. A ₹3,000 booking fee holds your place, and you pay the balance at check-in. We do not give refunds; money paid and not used stays as credit for a future visit.
Ashan Vipin Das recommends at least 2 months if you can. That is when the body really starts to change. You get a completion certificate at the end of each program.
Kalari and Ayurveda: adding treatments
Kalari has its own healing tradition, Kalari Chikitsa. It uses medicated oils, herbal bundles and massage, and it shares many herbs and methods with Ayurveda. Students have used it for generations to ease sore muscles and recover from hard training.
You can add a treatment package to your training. Each session lasts 75 minutes.
| Package | Length | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relax | 3 days | ₹6,800 | Daily Uzhichil and Kizhi, steam on alternate days |
| Destress | 5 days | ₹11,500 | Daily Uzhichil, Dhara on 3 days, Kizhi on 2, steam on 2 |
| Kalari Conditioning | 7 days | ₹15,400 | Daily Uzhichil and Kizhi, steam on alternate days, 1 traction session |
Uzhichil is a firm medicated oil massage. Kizhi uses heated herbal bundles. Both are firm, not painful. Female therapists treat women. Ashan Vipin Das examines you first, and nothing is prescribed before that.
If you want rest and treatment without training, our Kalari rejuvenation packages run for 3, 7 or 10 days, from ₹6,900. Rooms are booked separately.
The best time to come
The weather is pleasant most of the year, so you can come in almost any month.
- April to May is summer. Days are hot, but training at 5:30 AM and 5:30 PM avoids the hottest hours.
- June to July is the rainy season. Expect heavy rain and a cooler, very green Kerala. The rainy month of Karkkidakam is traditionally seen as a good time for treatments.
- The rest of the year is the easiest time for most visitors.
Who a Kalari retreat suits
- People who want an active retreat, not just rest.
- Anyone looking for a martial arts retreat in India with real roots and a real teacher.
- Yoga practitioners, dancers and athletes who want new ways to move.
- Remote workers who can train morning and evening and work in between.
- Beginners from the age of 7, with no upper age limit, as long as you are willing and physically able.
It may not suit you if you want late mornings, rich food or a bar. If you have a recent fracture, recent surgery, severe or sudden pain, numbness or fever, or if you are pregnant, see your doctor before you book.
FAQs
Q: What is a Kalaripayattu retreat?
A: A stay at a kalari where you train every day and follow a simple routine. At Athma Kalari you train twice a day, eat 3 vegetarian meals and live at the gurukulam.
Q: How long is a Kalari retreat?
A: Our programs run for 2 weeks, 1 month or 2 months, and residential training can go on for up to 1 year. 1 month is the most chosen.
Q: Can I combine Kalari training with Ayurvedic-style treatments?
A: Yes. Many guests add the Relax (3 days), Destress (5 days) or Kalari Conditioning (7 days) package, with 75-minute sessions.
Q: When is the best time for a Kalari retreat in Kerala?
A: The weather is pleasant most of the year. April to May is summer, and June to July is the rainy season.
Q: Do I need to be fit or experienced?
A: No. You start the day you arrive, at your own level. Beginners train alongside returning students.
Q: Is alcohol allowed?
A: No. Smoking and alcohol are not allowed on the premises.
Plan your retreat
Choose a length, pick your room and decide whether you want to add treatments. Then check dates and book your stay. If you have questions about your health or the right program, message us first and we will help you plan.
