The place
Araav sits on four acres of landscaped grounds outside Manesar. It runs structured Panchakarma programmes — five, seven, or fourteen days — alongside a standalone treatments menu for those who want a single session without the full commitment. The building is low and horizontal, deliberately so: nothing towers over the treeline. Rooms face inward toward a courtyard water feature. Mornings begin at six. The kitchen cooks entirely to Ayurvedic protocol. There are no televisions in the rooms and no in-room Wi-Fi. This is not incidental — it is the programme.
The setting
Four acres of landscaped grounds. Outdoor pavilion for morning movement. A separate treatment wing with eight therapy rooms, each with individual ventilation. Ayurvedic kitchen open to guest observation. Fourteen rooms across two wings. Shared reading room with a library of Ayurvedic texts, contemporary sleep science, and selected fiction. A small herb garden that supplies the kitchen.
A typical day
What you will actually do here
Wake. Warm water with lemon served to rooms.
Pranayama and guided movement — outdoor pavilion.
Herbal breakfast. Ayurvedic kitchari, seasonal fruit, herbal teas. No coffee.
Primary treatment session — 60 to 120 minutes depending on programme day and physician prescription.
Rest period. Phones discouraged in the treatment wing and courtyard.
Lunch. Silent or conversational seating available — choose at breakfast.
Optional one-on-one consultation with attending physician. Available daily.
Yoga nidra session or self-directed rest.
Herbal walk through the grounds or evening educational session.
Dinner. Light, warm, early.
Lights-out protocol begins. Common areas dim. This is not a rule — it is a signal.
Treatments
What happens in the session
Abhyanga 60 minutes₹3,500+
Full-body warm oil massage using medicated sesame oil prescribed by the attending physician to your constitution.
What happens
Two therapists work simultaneously in slow, rhythmic strokes moving from the periphery toward the heart. The oil is warmed to body temperature. You will be asked to rest for 20 minutes afterward — this is part of the treatment, not optional.
Good for: Chronic stress, disrupted sleep, vata imbalance, muscle fatigue. Effective as a standalone and as the foundation of Panchakarma.
Shirodhara 45 minutes₹4,200+
A continuous stream of warm medicated oil poured over the forehead in a slow, pendulum motion.
What happens
You lie still on a treatment table. A ceramic vessel suspended above the head releases a thin, continuous stream of oil across the forehead. Most guests report a deep shift in mental state within ten minutes. The session ends with a brief scalp massage.
Good for: Anxiety, insomnia, the wired-but-tired pattern, migraine, mental fatigue from sustained cognitive load.
Nasya 30 minutes₹2,800+
Medicated oil administered through the nasal passages to clear and lubricate the sinus and respiratory channels.
What happens
A face and neck massage precedes the treatment to open the channels. Medicated oil is then administered drop by drop into each nostril while you lie with the head tilted back. Brief discomfort is normal in the first session.
Good for: Chronic sinusitis, headaches originating in the upper face, brain fog, difficulty concentrating.
Kati Basti 45 minutes₹3,800+
A pool of warm medicated oil held in a dough dam over the lower back.
What happens
A circular boundary of dough is formed on the lower back. Warm oil fills the enclosure and is maintained at temperature for the duration. The oil penetrates deeply into the lumbar tissue. Most guests feel significant relief by the second session.
Good for: Lower back pain, disc issues, sciatica, stiffness from prolonged sitting.
Udvartana 45 minutes₹3,200+
Dry herbal powder massage — a vigorous, upward-moving treatment that stimulates circulation and lymphatic drainage.
What happens
A dry herbal powder prescribed to your constitution is applied with firm, upward strokes across the body. Unlike Abhyanga, this treatment is stimulating rather than calming. Expect some skin sensitivity for an hour afterward.
Good for: Kapha imbalance, sluggish metabolism, water retention, lethargy, skin congestion.
Gallery
Practitioners
Who you will work with
BAMS, Kerala Ayurveda College, Thrissur. Post-graduate diploma in Panchakarma, NIMHANS Ayurveda Wing.
Specialises in: Panchakarma, sleep disorders, stress and burnout recovery.
Certified Panchakarma therapist, Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal. Advanced marma training, Coimbatore.
Specialises in: Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Kati Basti, marma point therapy.
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Kerala. 500-hour teacher training. Specialized iRest Yoga Nidra, Level 2.
Specialises in: Yoga nidra for sleep recovery, pranayama for nervous system regulation.
Fit
Who this is for — and who it isn't
This place is for you if
This place is not right if
Practical
Before you arrive
Check-in / check-out
Check-in from 14:00. Check-out by 11:00.
Arrive 30 minutes before your check-in time. A pre-arrival consultation call is recommended — the team will contact you three days before.
What to bring
- Loose cotton clothing — white or undyed preferred
- Personal medications with prescription copies
- A journal
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Warm layer for early mornings
Leave at home
- Alcohol — not permitted on the property
- Non-Ayurvedic supplements without physician clearance
- Work laptop (not prohibited, but strongly discouraged)
- Strong perfumes or synthetic fragrances
Getting here
NH-48 toward Jaipur, exit at Manesar. The property is signposted from the IMT Manesar roundabout. Pickup available from Gurgaon Sector 56 metro station (₹600, pre-booked). 45 minutes from IGI Airport.
Parking
Free on-site parking for guests.
Address
Plot 14, Sector 8, IMT Manesar, Haryana 122051