Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla made an undisclosed visit to a renowned wellness centre in Bengaluru, marking their first trip to India since Charles’s ascension to the throne.
The royal couple arrived at Soukya International Holistic Health Centre (SIHHC) on October 27, following their attendance at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.
King Charles III, Queen visit Bengaluru
The four-day private retreat, scheduled to conclude on October 30, was significant. It represented Charles’s first international journey following reports of a cancer diagnosis, highlighting his well-documented interest in integrative and Eastern medicine approaches.
Sources familiar with the royal couple’s daily routine revealed a structured wellness program that began with morning yoga, followed by rejuvenation treatments and meditation sessions. The schedule maintained a disciplined approach, with dinner and retirement by 9 p.m.
King Charles and his previous visits
While this marks Charles’s first visit as monarch, his connection to SIHHC spans a decade, with nine previous visits, including three Diwali celebrations at the facility.
A notable previous stay occurred in 2019 when the facility hosted then-Prince Charles’s 71st birthday celebration.
What is SIHHC?
SIHHC, established in 2011 by Dr. Issac Mathai and his wife, has earned recognition as the world’s first integrative health destination. Dr. Mathai, who serves as Charles’s holistic physician and attended his coronation, oversees the 25-room retreat facility, which features comprehensive amenities including a yoga hall, library, and swimming pool.
The centre has attracted an impressive roster of global personalities, including Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, actress Emma Thompson, dancer Mallika Sarabhai, and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, along with various royal families from Europe and the Middle East.
What methods are used in SIHHC?
SIHHC’s treatment philosophy integrates multiple healing traditions, combining Ayurveda, homoeopathy, naturopathy, and yoga. The facility offers personalized wellness programs focusing on stress management, detoxification, and health restoration, including specialized treatments like Panchakarma for balancing bodily doshas, alongside acupuncture, reflexology, and various therapeutic massages.
The private nature of the visit meant the royal couple maintained no public engagements during their stay in Bengaluru.
