Taj Residency chain, in Hyderabad, offers a package till September 30.

• The weekday package for a standard double room is priced at Rs 5,950,per couple for two nights and three days on MAP. Children between five and 12 years not requiring an extra bed will be charged Rs 900. An extra adult will be charged Rs 1,600 for the package.

• The weekend package for a standard double room is priced at Rs 5,200,per couple for two nights and three days on MAP. Children between five and 12 years not requiring an extra bed will be charged Rs 900. An extra adult will be charged Rs 1,600 for the package.

The package includes a welcome drink, one half day sightseeing tour, two bottles of mineral water, one family pack of ice cream per day, free use of the swimming pool, fitness centre, tennis court, 15 per cent discount on food and beverages, beauty parlour, telecom and taxes.

Facilities: rooms with fax connections, conference halls, secretarial service, a board room, a Hyderabadi restaurant, a coffee shop overlooking Banjara lake, fitness centre, swimming pool.

Taj Residency, Road no 1, Banjara Hills. Phone: 040-3399999. Fax: 040-3392218.
Bombay: 022-2022626, 2022524
New Delhi: 011-3322333
Calcutta: 033-2332929
Madras: 044-8222827
Bangalore: 080-2255055

The package includes a welcome drink, one full day sightseeing tour, meal credid worth of 1,000 per couple per day on MAP and taxes.

The hotel is near Nrityagram, the late Protima' Bedi's institute of Indian classical dance. It is located 42 kms from the Bangalore airport.

Its facilities: a restaurant, a bar, an ayurvedic centre and indoor games.

The Taj Garden Retreat, Hessaraghatta, Bangalore rural district. Phone: 080-8466326, 8466329.
New Delhi: 011-3322333.
Bombay: 022-2022626.
Calcutta: 033-2233939.
Madras: 044-8222827.
Bangalore: 080-2255055.
Ahmedabad: 079-400304.
Jaipur: 0141-371616.
Cochin: 0484-666811.
Pune: 020-620881.
Hyderabad: 040-3399999.

Lakshadweep, India's smallest Union territory, consists of 27 islands, out of which only 10 are inhabited. Located about 200 km to 300 km off the Kerala coast, both Indian as well as foreign tourists require a permit to visit the island. Permits can be obtained from the Lakshadweep tourism offices at New Delhi and Cochin.

Indian Airlines connects Agatti island in the Lakshadweep with Cochin from where passengers are transported to Bangaram island and the other islands by speed boat or by helicopter.

The one way economy class fare between Cochin and Agatti is Rs 3,545.

The closest railway station is Cochin/Ernakulam which is connected by rail to Bombay, New Delhi, Madras and Bangalore.

The Kanyakumari Express and the Netravati Express connects Bombay to Cochin.

The Rajdhani Express and the Kerala Express connect New Delhi to Ernakulam Junction.

The Trivandrum Madras Express connects Madras to Ernakulam Town, two kms north of Cochin, and takes about 12 hours.

The Kanyakumari-Bangalore Express connects Bangalore to Ernakulam terminus which takes about 13 hours.

Lakshadweep Tourism, F-306, Kasturba Gandhi road, New Delhi. Phone: 011-3386860, 3386807.
Lakshadweep Administration, Harbour road, Cochin.

Kancheepuram is one of the seven sacred cities of India, located about 75 kms south of Madras. This temple city is also famous for its hand-woven silk fabrics.

The closest airport is Madras which is connected to almost all major Indian cities. Daily Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Sahara Airlines flights connect Madras to Bombay, New Delhi, and Bangalore. Indian Airlines flights also connect Madras to Calcutta, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. The one way economy class fare from Madras to Bombay is Rs 4,825. The one way economy class fare to Bangalore is Rs 2,010, to Calcutta it is Rs 6,725, to New Delhi it is Rs 7,720 and to Hyderabad it is Rs 3,005 on Indian Airlines.

Regular trains connect Kancheepuram to Madras and Chengalpattu, 60 minutes from Madras. Madras is very well connected to Bangalore, Calcutta, New Delhi and Bombay. The Shatabdi Express and the Bangalore Mail connects it to Bangalore. The Howrah Mail and the Coromandel Express connects Madras to Calcutta. The Tamil Nadu Express connects Madras to New Delhi and the Chennai Express and Mumbai Mail connect Madras to Bombay.

The fastest and most convenient way to reach Kancheepuram is by road. The National Highway from Chennai leads to Bangalore, through Sriperumbudur and Vellore. Kancheepuram is very well connected by bus from Madras. Many of the major transport corporations of Tamil Nadu operate buses that connect Madras through Kancheepuram. Daily buses connect Kancheepuram to Madras, Chengalpattu, Mamallapuram, Bangalore and Tiruchirapalli.

Ooty is situated at height of 2,268 metres in the Nilgiri mountain ranges

The closest airport is Coimbatore, 100 kms away, with regular Indian Airlines flights from Bombay, New Delhi, Madras and Calicut.
The one way fare from Bombay is Rs 4,435 on economy class and Rs 6,580 on business class. The one way fare from New Delhi is Rs 8,480 on economy class and Rs 12,660 on business class. The one way fare from Madras is Rs 2,745 on economy class and Rs 4,065 on business class.

The Blue Mountain Railway, a toy train, runs daily between Ooty and Mettupalayam covering the 46 kms in four hours. The Nilgiri Express connects Mettupalayam to Madras and takes about 10 hours.

The Mumbai-Chennai Express connects Bombay to Madras. The Nizamuddin-Trivandrum Express and the Rajdhani Express connect New Delhi to Madras. The Howrah-Chennai Coromandal Express and the Howrah-Chennai Mail connect Calcutta to Madras.

Regular buses run between Ooty and Mysore, Mettupalayam and Coimbatore. There are frequent buses run from Bangalore, Madras, Kanyakumari and Tirupati.

The nearest railway stations are Palani to the north and Kodaikanal Road to the east. Both are about three hours away from Kodaikanal by bus.

The Madras-Madurai Mahal Express connects Madras to Kodai Road and the Coimbatore-Rameshwaram Express connects Coimbatore to Palani. The Vaigai Express and the Madras-Madurai Kudal Express connects Madras to Madurai and takes about nine hours.

Daily buses run between Kodaikanal and Madurai or Dindigul. The journey takes about three and half hours.There are frequent buses from Palani 65 kms, Tiruchirapalli 197 kms, Coimbatore 244 kms, Madras 513 kms away. Taxis can also be hired from Madurai to do the journey.

The closest airport is Cochin with regular Indian Airlines and Jet Airways flights connecting it to Bombay and Madras. Indian Airlines connects Cochin to New Delhi via Goa and to Bangalore.

The one way economy class fare between New Delhi and Cochin is Rs 10,025 on IA.
The one way fare between Bombay and Cochin is Rs 5,025 on economy class and Rs 7,480 on business class on IA.
The one way fare between Madras and Cochin is Rs 3,430 on economy class and Rs 5,085 on business class on IA.
The one way fare between Bangalore and Cochin is Rs 2,320 on IA.

The closest railway station is Ernakulam with regular connections to New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.

The Kerala Express and the Trivandrum Nizamuddin Express connect New Delhi to Ernakulam. The approximate one way fare is: Rs 2,213 for second AC, Rs 1,823 for first class and Rs 472 for ordinary second class sleeper.

The Netravati Express connects Bombay to Ernakulam. The approximate one way fare is Rs 1,491 for second AC, Rs 1,087 for first class and Rs 321 for ordinary second class sleeper.

The Howrah Trivandrum Express connects Calcutta to Ernakulam. The approximate one way fare is 2,001 for second AC, Rs 1, 608 for first class and Rs 424 for ordinary second class sleeper.

The Alleppey Madras Express and the Trivandrum Madras Mail connect Ernakulam to Madras. The approximate one way fare is Rs 994 for second AC, Rs 725 for first class and Rs 214 for ordinary second class sleeper.

Regular buses and taxis are available to and from Cochin, Trivandrum and Madurai.

The rates for a 14 day rejuvenation programme:

• Rs 2,400 per day, for a standard single room for Indian passport holders. US $ 68 per day for a standard single room for foreign passport holders.

• Rs 1,750 per person per day, for a standard double room for Indian passport holders. US$ 54 per person per day for a standard double room for foreign passport holders.

The rates for a 21 day rejuvenation programme:

• Rs 2,300 per day, for a standard single room for Indian passport holders. US $ 65 per day for a standard single room for foreign passport holders.

• Rs 1,650 per person per day, for a standard double room for Indian passport holders.US $ 53 per person per day for a standard double room for foreign passport holders.

The rates for a 35 day rejuvenation programme:

• Rs 2,200 per day, for a standard single room for Indian passport holders. US$ 52 per day for a standard single room for foreign passport holders.

• Rs 1,550 per person per day, for a standard double room for Indian passport holders. US $ 46 per person per day for a standard double room for foreign passport holders.

The price of a specific treatment is Rs 2,500 per day for single room for Indian passport holders and US $ 72 for foreign passport holders. Rs 1,850 per person per day for a double room for Indian passport holders and US $ 56 for foreign passport holders.

For cost of treatment for a specific ailment and accommodation will be based on an individual/s state of health and the duration of stay.

All these rates include accommodation, meals, treatment cost and taxes. The first treatment session (including consultation) takes up to 3 hours. Subsequent sessions take approximately 90 minutes.

An extra person not availing of the treatment will be charged Rs 550 per day. This includes meals and taxes.

The hotel has a multi-cuisine restaurant and a swimming pool. It is located 10 km from Kappad beach.

Some Ayurvedic terminology:

Abhyanga or conventional oil therapy where the medicated oils are gently applied over the body is to alleviate fatigue, delay aging and improve sleep.

Swedana is a mild fomentation procedure (using a cloth dipped in hot water).

Nasya is an instilling of two drops of oil in the nose just before inhalation.

Gandoosha or gargling lasts five minutes using different kinds of liquids depending on each individual's need.

Danta Dhavana or five minutes of teeth cleaning with a herbal powder so as to prevent infections.

Anjana is lining the rims of the eye with an anti-infection paste for five minutes to improve eyesight and delay cataract formation.

Kanapoorana is the pouring of two to four drops of medicated oil in each ear for five minutes to protect the ears from infection.

Dhara is pouring the oil in a prescribed, continuous stream on the patient's head. This treatment is to improve memory, restore equilibrium and also for insomnia, migraine, ear-nose disease, spondilitis and paraplegia.

Pizhichil is a specialised treatment for skeletal and muscular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lumbago, sciatica, hemiplegia and neuropathy.

Snana or a bath with herbal powders is administered at the end of each session.

The more commonly used oils in treatment are:

Arthritis: Pinda thailam, Madhuyashtyadi thailam, Amruthadi oil, Balagulichyadi oil, Kottomchukkadi oil, Chinchadi thailam and Sahacharadi thailam.

Migraine: Balahatadi thailam, Balahatadi coconut oil, Ksheerabala thailam, Baladhatyadi thailam, Asanaeladi thailam, Asanamanjishtadi thailam, Rasnadasamooladi oil, Amruthadi thailam and Dhanwantharam thailam.

Spondilitis: Sahacharadi thailam, Sahacharadi Kuzhambu and Dhawanthram.

Lower back pain: Karpooradi thailam, Sudhabala thailam and Narayana thailam.

Taj Residency, P T Usha road, Calicut. Phone: 0495-765354.
Bombay: 022-2022626.
New Delhi: 011-3322333.
Calcutta: 033-2233939.
Madras: 044-8272827.
Bangalore: 080-2255055.
Ahmedabad: 079-400304.
Cochin: 0484-6668111.
Pune: 0212-620881.
Hyderabad: 040-3399999.
Jaipur: 0141-371616.

Woodbridge Comfort Inn, 11-4-649/C, A C Guards, Lakdi ka Pul. Phone: 0403322777. Fax: 0403324920.

Children below 12 will stay free. An extra person will be charged Rs 150 per night.

The facilities: in-house restaurant, discotheque, indoor swimming pool, health club, billiards room, video games, children's park.

The same tariff is valid for foreign passport holders.

Monarch Resorts, Coimbatore. Phone: 0422-858413, 855414.
Ooty: Phones : 0423-443655, 444408.
Bombay: Phones: 022-6319332, 6321263, 6433882.