A French guest takes us on a tour of SwaSwara and describes why she keeps coming back.

By Ginette Proust

After travelling through India for many years, and following my husband’s death in 2003, I felt that maybe, I should try an Ayurvedic treatment in India to cure the sorrow in my mind and relax my body.

From Goa, I undertook the four-hour chauffeured drive to Gokarna in North Karnataka. Swaswara lies 6 km out of Gokarna, facing the sea on Om Beach.

At first sight, I was a little surprised by the simplicity of decorations in the huge reception.
It was a place with an unmatched aura of elegance and calm.

The manager and staff welcomed me; how warm, I thought. I was offered a cocum drink, flower garland and ushered to my villa, where my luggage was already brought!

I was then informed of all the medical and entertainment programmes, and handed a map. What an unusual villa, with an upstairs area dedicated to yoga or meditation. The air-conditioned bedroom downstairs was surrounded by glass walls; curtains could be drawn, providing privacy.

And with no television, no music, it really was the best atmosphere to refocus.

Half of the bathroom is al-fresco; what a novel experience. As you sit in your villa’s courtyard, you can help yourself to a cold drink from the fridge or make yourself coffee or tea, as you stare out into the rainwater lakes. The villas have been built out of local material, such as laterite stone, by the people of the community. The area is a wilderness, green and hilly. When one is at the ancient beach, one cannot possibly guess that there is this beautiful resort here.

Close to the swimming pool stands a thatched meditation hut. It is an astoundingly beautiful building, around the corner of which is the Ayurveda center with treatment rooms. Professional Ayurveda doctors look after you for the entirety of your stay. Your diet and therapies at SwaSwara are charted out by them, after determining your ‘doshas’.

You will also discover an art and pottery studio where a resident artist guides you as you express yourself through art. Further up is a big ‘Yogashala’ for yoga classes and meditation.

It is all done for you to relax, and to find yourself.