Dr Rajesh Bayari
Director
Even more distressing is the growing disconnect with nature and traditional welfare systems. Urbanization, extended working hours, and speedy living have separated people from mindful practices, natural healing, and social support networks.
Even in the wellness industry, commercialization has undermined the true nature of Ayurveda. Most spas and resorts these days focus more on luxury than authenticity, diluting an age-old science into shallow relaxation therapies.
Against this background, Chithrakoota Ayurveda has become a haven for true healing, a return to simplicity and authenticity amidst the peaceful arms of nature. Nestled between the Western Ghats and grounded in the teachings of Ayurveda, the center is dedicated to helping individuals achieve healing, rejuvenation, and rediscovery.
The Journey of Chithrakoota Ayurveda
The roots of Chithrakoota Ayurveda were laid in 2010 in a remote village of the Udupi district, when a one bedded hospital was built, despite discouragement from several people who believed it was not viable. The founder, highly motivated by the inspiration from his guru, Dr Raghuram Shastri, stayed true to his vision of creating a genuine Ayurvedic healing space in harmony with nature.
What started as a small initiative gradually expanded year after year into a flourishing center that can now cater to more than 50 patients simultaneously.
The hospital maintains a rare self-sustaining environment with herbal gardens, an organic farm, and a goshala with over thirty native cows. An in-house pharmacy manufactures over 150 formulations, such that all medicines prescribed are original, fresh, and specific to the needs of patients.
A major pillar of this journey has been the unwavering support of Dr Rajesh Bayari's family, his wife Dr Anulekha, who strengthens the medical team with her dedication, his father Mahabala Bayari, who lovingly nurtures the herbal gardens and natural surroundings, and his mother Kalavathi, whose encouragement from the very beginning made this vision possible.
Treatments range from preventive to curative sides of Ayurveda, from Panchakarma treatments such as Vamana Virechana, Basthi, Nasya, Rakhtamokashana to external treatments such as Shirodhara, Akshitarpana, and Patrapinda Sweda. Patients come with a range of conditions from long-standing back pain to metabolic disease and are walked through a customized path of recovery by a team of doctors, therapists, and caregivers.
It is not a one-size-fits-all but a well-designed strategy that employs a combination of diet, medicine, yoga, meditation, and therapy to balance body, mind, and spirit. “Our philosophy has always been to let Ayurveda speak for itself through genuine practice rather than superficial appeal”, says Dr Rajesh Bayari, Director, Chithrakoota Ayurveda.
Nature, Community & Modern Outreach
Healing at Chithrakoota Ayurveda isn’t confined to the treatment room but is interwoven into the very environment patients live in. Spanning 18 acres of green space, the center is convinced that almost half of the healing occurs simply from exposure to nature. Patients are enveloped by over 150 medicinal plants, pathways, fresh air, and fruits and vegetables grown on the farm that find their way into daily meals. Weekly activities develop a rhythm that relates patients with culture and community.
Mondays start with bhajans that give spiritual peace, Tuesdays have Ayurveda knowledge classes, Wednesdays have garden walks and cooking classes, Thursdays are for pharmacy and goshala visits, Fridays are for wellness discussions, Saturdays are for cultural evenings, and Sundays end with havan ceremonies. Every activity is meant to ensure harmony of the mind, body, and soul.
The goshala is also important since milk, curd, and ghee from native cows are an essential part of treatments and rituals such as Gopuja, which represent the divine bond of nature and healing. Chithrakoota Ayurveda’s outreach also involves digital media to a significant extent.
On its website, the center informs people about therapies, facilitates booking, and raises awareness regarding Ayurveda’s application in contemporary times. By marrying genuine Ayurvedic knowledge with strategic modern knowledge for instance, applying diagnostics to augment classical analysis the center ensures both worlds serve patients. “Healing here is not just about curing a disease but about restoring the individual to a state of wholeness”, he says.
Future Vision
As Chithrakoota Ayurveda plans for the future, its mission is to bring authentic Ayurvedic healing to broader communities while retaining its essence. Plans are in the works to establish a new campus for those who demand more elite facilities while still tending to middle and upper middle-class families in the current hospital.
The vision is still focused on bringing sustainability, cultural heritage, and individualized healthcare into all areas of expansion. Its success demonstrates that rural environments are not liabilities but assets when used with devotion and intention. The natural environment, along with a strong dedication to Ayurveda, have established a model that is distinct from commercialized wellness.
Treatments range from preventive to curative sides of Ayurveda, from Panchakarma treatments such as Vamana Virechana, Basthi, Nasya, Rakhtamokashana to external treatments such as Shirodhara, Akshitarpana, and Patrapinda Sweda. Patients come with a range of conditions from long-standing back pain to metabolic disease and are walked through a customized path of recovery by a team of doctors, therapists, and caregivers.
It is not a one-size-fits-all but a well-designed strategy that employs a combination of diet, medicine, yoga, meditation, and therapy to balance body, mind, and spirit. “Our philosophy has always been to let Ayurveda speak for itself through genuine practice rather than superficial appeal”, says Dr Rajesh Bayari, Director, Chithrakoota Ayurveda.
Nature, Community & Modern Outreach
Healing at Chithrakoota Ayurveda isn’t confined to the treatment room but is interwoven into the very environment patients live in. Spanning 18 acres of green space, the center is convinced that almost half of the healing occurs simply from exposure to nature. Patients are enveloped by over 150 medicinal plants, pathways, fresh air, and fruits and vegetables grown on the farm that find their way into daily meals. Weekly activities develop a rhythm that relates patients with culture and community.
We did not set out to build a resort; we set out to build a space where Ayurveda could live & breathe in its purest form
Mondays start with bhajans that give spiritual peace, Tuesdays have Ayurveda knowledge classes, Wednesdays have garden walks and cooking classes, Thursdays are for pharmacy and goshala visits, Fridays are for wellness discussions, Saturdays are for cultural evenings, and Sundays end with havan ceremonies. Every activity is meant to ensure harmony of the mind, body, and soul.
The goshala is also important since milk, curd, and ghee from native cows are an essential part of treatments and rituals such as Gopuja, which represent the divine bond of nature and healing. Chithrakoota Ayurveda’s outreach also involves digital media to a significant extent.
On its website, the center informs people about therapies, facilitates booking, and raises awareness regarding Ayurveda’s application in contemporary times. By marrying genuine Ayurvedic knowledge with strategic modern knowledge for instance, applying diagnostics to augment classical analysis the center ensures both worlds serve patients. “Healing here is not just about curing a disease but about restoring the individual to a state of wholeness”, he says.
Future Vision
As Chithrakoota Ayurveda plans for the future, its mission is to bring authentic Ayurvedic healing to broader communities while retaining its essence. Plans are in the works to establish a new campus for those who demand more elite facilities while still tending to middle and upper middle-class families in the current hospital.
The vision is still focused on bringing sustainability, cultural heritage, and individualized healthcare into all areas of expansion. Its success demonstrates that rural environments are not liabilities but assets when used with devotion and intention. The natural environment, along with a strong dedication to Ayurveda, have established a model that is distinct from commercialized wellness.
