A Healing Retreat

Me and my husband Ryan have a dental implant treatment at Smile Centre India, Kochi. The treatment and the leisure trips are arranged by 'Dental Vacations India', a tourist support service at Kochi (Cochin). They have suggested the hospital and the vacation schedules.

At Smile Centre, we’ve got world-class dental treatment performed by skilled professionals, lead by an Oro-Maxillofacial Surgeon and Implantologist Dr Prsanth Pillai, with modern equipment and a commitment to patient satisfaction. The clinic's warm and welcoming atmosphere sets the stage for a stress-free dental journey. We spent three days going through the implant procedure, which included pre- and post-checkups. Before returning home, we planned a day and a night for our vacation excursion, the time to embrace the tranquillity and enchantment of Alappuzha.

We started our journey in the morning at 7.00 by a taxi cab. After travelling for half an hour, we have seen a big church beside the road. Our driver stopped there, and we prayed there. The "St. Augustine's Church Aroor" was newly built to replace the church building of 1839. The construction is a combination of Basanite and Gothic.

We enjoyed a Kerala breakfast from a local restaurant near Cherthala. Traditional foods like appam, Idiyappam, Ela Ada, Puttu (all are made from rice), and Kadala are a must-try when visiting Alleppey. The Kadala (Bengal gram) recipe is a spicy one.

On the way, we saw a temple festival at Thuravoor, near Cherthala. Temple festivals in Kerala often last for days and are celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm. These festivals are an integral part of Kerala's social and religious life, attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world. During these temple festivals, the elephants play a significant role and are adorned with intricate decorations, bright silk garments, and ornaments. The mahouts (elephant handlers) take great care of the animals and lead them through the temple premises as part of the religious processions. We spent almost one hour in that temple.

We travelled on the national highway till Thuravoor, after which our driver took a rural coastal road to Alappuzha. He stopped at a small but beautiful beach, "Andhakaranazhi". The virgin beach is still noncommercialized and unexploited from tourism.

On the way, we spent half an hour at a church also., Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal is one of the famous pilgrim centres in South India. Our driver told us that this is the largest shrine of Saint Sebastian in the world. The church was constructed by waning just Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century and was rebuilt in 1584 under the vicar Jacomo Fenicio, an Italian Jesuit. n 1647, a statue of St. Sebastian, struck with arrows all over his bleeding body (he was executed on the order of the Roman emperor Diocletian for embracing the Christian faith) sculptured in Milan, was brought and placed in the Arthunkal church.

We reached Alleppey at 12.30 pm and had our lunch. Kerala is a food lover's paradise, and Alappuzha won't disappoint. Savor mouthwatering seafood delicacies, coconut-infused curries. A typical Kerala lunch consists of plain boiled rice with vegetarian gravies as side dishes. I don't remember the names of six to seven vegetarian dishes. Some are spicy, and some are sweet. A few non-vegetarian dishes are also served.

We saw Alleppey Beach, a long beach and a lighthouse. Beach has an old pier which extends to the sea and is over 150 years old, but we could not enjoy the beach during lunchtime.

Alappuzha is renowned for its breathtaking backwaters, a labyrinth of serene canals, rivers, and lakes lined with coconut palms and lush greenery. We started our backwater journey at 3.30 from Alleppey Canal near the Bus stand. A beautiful houseboat with all amenities. The boat took us all over the lake for about 4 hours of cruise, and in the late evening, it anchored near the shore to spend the whole night on the houseboat, which is a fantastic experience. The boat captain is a bit better at English, gave us a lot of information about the surrounding area and let us steer the boat for 10 minutes. The chef in the houseboat cooked to our tastes spicy but not too hot, the spice and coconut combinations were amazing. The next morning after breakfast, we left the boat and started our return journey to Kochi International Airport.

Combining dental treatment with a leisurely escape in Alappuzha is a win-win situation. 'Dental Vacations India' Dental tourism offers top-notch care at reasonable prices, and Alappuzha provides the ideal backdrop for a rejuvenating post-treatment experience. From serene backwaters to golden beaches, Alappuzha has it all. So, why not embark on a healing retreat to this paradise and return home with a beautiful smile and cherished memories?