Supercharge your senses at the world’s only FORMULA ONE night

The Singapore Grand Prix is returning from 23rd to 25th September 2011 to enthral spectators with the world’s only FORMULA ONE night race.

Since 2008, Singapore has been the proud host of the world’s only Formula One night race heralded as “the jewel in the Formula One crown”.

This dramatic race set against the backdrop of heritage buildings, iconic modern architecture and a glowing city skyline, will enthral crowds with a unique combination of sights, sound and an electric atmosphere at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

Witness first-hand Formula One cars racing on public roads at exhilarating speeds of up to 300km/h. The 5.073km Marina Bay Street Circuit presents a riveting combination of long straights and challenging turns, a stern examination even for the finest drivers.

2011 looks set to be a nail-biting and unpredictable season with five former champions competing, new drivers on the grid, and numerous technical revisions.

In addition to the Formula One action and support races on track, spectators can catch a myriad of entertainment performances including international headlining artistes – all with just the one race ticket.

As part of the S$5 million entertainment line-up within the circuit park, global mega star SHAKIRA is slated to be the headlining act for the 2011 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX at the Padang main stage on Saturday, 24 September. Get charged-up for a power-packed concert by Grammy Award-winning Colombian singer-songwriter and global megastar SHAKIRA, as she performs 'Hips Don't Lie', 'Waka Waka' and other English and Spanish songs from her latest albums She Wolf and Sale El Sol (The Sun Comes Out).

Multi award-winning band Linkin Park has been confirmed as the headlining act on race day Sunday, 25 September 2011 at the Padang main stage. This is in addition to the previously announced performances by Shaggy, Rick Astley, Charice, Boy George and Massive Attack's Daddy G & 3D.

All ticketholders can enjoy the entertainment offerings on all three stages in Zone 4, including the Padang Stage where the headliners will be performing, as well as the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre Stage and Esplanade Park Stage.

Nestled in the heart of the city and adjacent to numerous five-star hotels, shopping malls and entertainment centres, the Marina Bay Street Circuit is regarded as a premier Grand Prix destination amongst racing enthusiasts. With a total of five subway stations encircling the race venue, getting in, out and around the circuit is supremely convenient.

For visitors hoping to get more bang out of their buck, their list of fun ‘to-dos’ continues long after the Formula One engines have died down. The multi-ethnic city teems with a myriad of sundown activities from bustling night markets to throngs of hawker stalls serving finger-licking street food and clubbing districts pulsating with groovy dance beats.

Singapore Airlines and Mercury Travels with Singapore Grand Prix are presenting exclusive Singapore Grand Prix Holiday packages starting at Rs 49,999 per person. The package includes air fare with taxes ex-Mumbai on Singapore Airlines, three nights hotel stay with breakfast, F1 Bay Grandstand race tickets and airport transfers. Singapore Airlines is the world's most awarded airline, recognised by customers and industry alike for its commitment to service excellence.

Those who book the Singapore Grand Prix Holiday with at least two 3-day 2011 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX Grandstand tickets will be entitled to a lucky draw to win a pair of ticket upgrades to the Green Room Hospitality Suite Tickets worth SGD 3,800 each.

With tickets for the 2011 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX selling at a brisk pace, it is time to book the Singapore Grand Prix Holiday and the race tickets now.

Stunning South Africa

South Africa is one of the most diverse, enchanting countries in the world. It is much more than the thrill of viewing lions up-close and personal, the breathtaking beauty of sunsets on the savannah and the delight of swimming with dolphins in tepid, azure blues seas. It is an exotic combination of landscapes, people, history, culture and experiences.

South Africa, the Rainbow Nation, is an exotic combination of rich culture, striking mountains, enchanting vineyards, glorious beaches, rugged landscapes and electrifying wildlife. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is the meeting point of two great oceans and the gateway to the African continent.

Cape Town is one of the most beautiful places on earth that you just have to visit at least once in your lifetime. It is an awesome city - great parties, great shopping, loads of galleries and other cultural attractions. Cape Town’s most popular attractions are Table Mountain which is the soul of the city, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Boulders Beach and its penguins, and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens that showcases South Africa's fabulous floral heritage.

A quick spin by revolving cable car to the 1,086 m summit of Table Mountain gives you a breathtaking view the city, the famous Robben Island, and the most visited Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. The latter has an assortment of shopping, eating, entertainment and sightseeing facilities, all set within a working harbour. At close quarters to Cape Town are the picturesque wine valleys of Franschhoek, Paarl and Spier where you can indulge in wine tasting or simply relax and soak in the ambience.

No visit to the Western Cape is complete without at least a few days spent in the beautiful Garden Route region. Garden Route, a slender 300 km stretch of coastal plain between Mossel Bay and Storms River Mouth, is ideal for a self-drive holiday. Relaxing, active, romantic or family fun - the Garden Route offers it all. The sensitive coastline is protected from overdevelopment by South African National Parks in three areas – the Wilderness National Park, the Knysna National Lake Area, and the Tsitsikamma National Park. The towns of Garden Route include Mossel Bay, Wilderness, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay.

One of the must-sees along the Garden Route is Oudtshoorn, known as the Feather Capital of the World, thanks to its huge ostrich industry. Whilst there, you can visit the Crocodile and Cheetah Park and take pictures of yourself with the cheetah. Also check out the Cango Caves, of South Africa’s most spectacular natural wonders, to marvel at the icy formations underground.
South Africa is blessed with many national parks, of which the Kruger National Park is the most popular. Spread over 20,000 sq kms, it is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. Soak in the wilderness and spot the Big Five - elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo.

While in South Africa, you could take an excursion to Livingstone in Zambia to see the Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. At 1,708 meters wide, it is the largest curtain of water in the world. The sheer marvel of the towering columns of spray, the thunder of the waters as it drops into the Zambezi Gorge, the terrifying abyss and the tranquil lagoons upstream in which the hippos and the deadly crocodiles lurk, leaves you speechless and wanting for more.

South Africa’s 2800 km of sensational coastline with glorious white sands, offers some of the best beaches in the world. Enjoy the local cuisine of good old barbecue and spicy sausages, washed down with wines from its famous winelands. Check out the trendy nightspots with balcony restaurants and alfresco dining. The music scene here is as varied as its people; from Jazz, Hip Hop, traditional Zulu music to Kwaito – the local pop music.

South Africa is an exhilarating country that promises a wholesome holiday experience. It is sure to reward your senses and your soul much beyond your imagination!

Sizzling Spain

Spain is a beautiful mosaic of art, culture, geography, history, music, festivals and cuisine. Its charm lies in its diversity of sun-soaked beaches, heritage cwouldities and forgotten villages.
Spanish beaches are amongst the best in Europe. But if lolling on the beach is not your idea of a holiday, then head off to Spain’s beautiful cities that are packed with history, and are an art-lover’s dream. Enjoy the beautiful parks, open space, great shops and pulsating night-life.
Soak in marvellous Madrid with its Royal Palace and the famed Prado Museum - a museum and art gallery which features one of the world's finest collections of European art, from the 16thcentury through the early 19th-century. The heritage city of Toledo, with it unique Christian, Jewish and Moorish cultures, is a short drive from Madrid.

Visit bustling Barcelona - a Mediterranean city of great cultural and heritage. Check out the awe inspiring works of architect Antoni Gaudí, including the Sagrada Familia or the Basilica of the Holy Family. Visit the bustling Boqueria market, a fabulous food market. The stylish city of Barcelona has fashion, opera, nightlife, street theatre, art, food, and much more.

Savour the delights of other romantic Mediterranean cities like Valencia and Alicante. Or journey south to the exotic cities of Cordoba, Seville, Granada, and Málaga. Immerse yourself in their haunting Islamic palaces, the brilliant colours and sounds of flamenco, and in the birth-place and works of Picasso.

For those love the nightlife, a stay at Ibiza is a must. Ibiza is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea. It is well-known for its summer parties and big summer club nights. The days are relaxing, spent by the pool or on the beach. The place is alive come nightfall what with its endless pubs and nightclubs.

Should you yearn for peace and quiet then head off to the unspoiled villages, bursting with medieval castles, and colourful flora and fauna. These quaint Spanish villages are ideal for a relaxed holiday – peaceful walks, photography or just plain ‘get away from it all’ holidays. You could check out the skiing opportunities at Spain’s snow-capped peaks.

Travelling around Spain is quite easy, what with its many airports, good train service, and robust national bus and coach system. Besides that, Spaniards are friendly people that are ready to help you and they will make you feel at home. You could choose to stay at the Paradores, which are castles, palaces, fortresses and monasteries converted into hotels. The best of local cuisine is served at the Paradores restaurants.

Across the country, enjoy scrumptious Spanish food of a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and an abundance of seafood, all washed down with the choicest wines. This traditional Spanish diet, with the liquid gold of its olive oil, fruits, vegetables, seafood and wine, all mean that it is extremely good for the heart. Even the local speciality of cured hams ‘Jamón Ibérico’ - has fat, unusually high in oleic acid, which is known to lower cholesterol levels! Of course, between meals you can indulge in tempting ‘tapas’ – a healthy snack with its origin in the southerly region of Andalucia.

Andalucia brings to mind the exotic flamenco dance and the Spanish guitar. Can a Spanish holiday be complete without visiting an authentic flamenco show or dancing the night away to the beat of romantic Spanish music? Come and visit Spain where the warmth of its climate is only surpassed by the warmth of its people.

Adventures in Icy India

With the Ladakh season in full swing, some travelers are looking for a different way to experience the spectacular beauty of this mountain paradise - and none more unique and exciting than the Great Zanskar Rafting Expedition organized annually by Mercury Himalayan Explorations.

Magical Mauritius

The Republic of Mauritius is an island nation about 900 kilometres east of Madagascar. It was colonised only during the 17th century, when the Dutch occupied the land that was - and to some extent still is - a treasurehouse of flora and fauna; later the French moved in and then the British, until the island became independent in 1968. Today, it is the ideal holiday destination, providing the perfect vacation ambience with sun, sea, surf and sand, melding beautifully with friendly people, wonderful food and places to stay that come very close to the definition of heaven. Mercury Travels has fabulous options for the holiday traveller to choose from...

CANADA: The perfect destination

Canada is one of the most exciting travel destinations in the world. The second-largest country in the world, it is a nation of tremendous cultural and ethnic diversity. Anchored by indigenous First Nations’ peoples and settled by French and British pioneers, Canada is a mosaic of culture and home to citizens from all over the world.

Few nations can equal Canada’s range of wildlife, natural splendour and geographic diversity. Bounded by the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans, Canada features Rocky Mountain peaks, endless forests, prairie wheat fields, rainforest and desert. This extraordinary natural beauty is complemented by many vibrant cosmopolitan cities including Toronto, Montréal, Halifax, Calgary, Vancouver and Ottawa. Other exotic and unspoiled destinations include Banff & Jasper, Niagara, Whistler, Winnipeg, Churchill and Québec City.

Canada’s national parks contain some of the most diverse scenery on the planet. The rainforests to alpine glaciers, prairies to the Arctic, they support an immeasurable wealth and diversity of wildlife. Moose, deer, beavers, porcupines, elk, bald eagles and a great number of bears can be found roaming the wilderness of Canada. Polar bears, the fiercest members of the bear family, can be observed in Churchill, Manitoba.

A scenic rail trip is a must-do experience of a Canadian holiday to witness some amazing natural wonders, spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife. Ride aboard the world-acclaimed Rocky Mountaineer train, across the breathtaking scenery of the Canadian Rockies, rolling plains, picturesque meadows and the pristine blue sky.

An awe-inspiring experience is the spectacle of the mighty Niagara Falls on the international line between the cities Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York. These twin cities are connected by three bridges, including the Rainbow Bridge, which affords the closest view of the Falls. The Falls were formed 10,000 years ago as the retreating glaciers exposed the Niagara escarpment, thus permitting the waters of Lake Erie to flow north, over the scarp, to Lake Ontario.

Calgary, nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, is a city that combines a thriving metropolis with Western roots and friendly small town hospitality. The city is home to the annual Calgary Stampede – ten incredible days of rodeo, chuckwagon races, music, food and fun. Also located in the province of Alberta are the serene mountain towns of Jasper, Banff and Lake Louise.

Vancouver is an urban adventurer’s delight. A city where you can ski in the morning, sail in the afternoon and still make it back to town for a drink in the evening. Vancouver offers a unique combination of big-city lifestyle and outdoor fun in close proximity.

Québec City is Canada's most beautifully located and most historic city. Vieux-Québec, surrounded by solid fortifications, is the only walled city in North America and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its winding cobbled streets are flanked by 17th and 18th century stone houses and churches, graceful parks and squares, and countless monuments. A profoundly French city, with 95 percent French-speaking people, it is often difficult to remember which continent you are in as you tuck into a croissant and a steaming bowl of coffee in a Parisian-style café.

Canada has great amusement parks, public spaces, sports activities, games, casinos, spas, shopping centres, nightlife, hiking trails, parklands, fishing, golf, festivals, events and a wide array of exciting tours. The impressive natural surroundings offer fabulous outdoor opportunities, like hiking, skiing, rafting and fishing. The best time for outdoor activities is the fall, spring and summer. But if you want to enjoy skiing then you have travel during the winter months. Generally, spring runs mid-March to mid-May, summer mid-May to mid-September, fall mid-September to mid-November, and winter mid-November to mid-March.

Full of surprises, Canada is simply the most astonishingly beautiful country in the world. Take a scenic holiday into the heart of Canada. Keep exploring beautiful Canada.

Cruising in Australia

On an island like Australia, water indulgences are found at every turn. In the Whitsundays you can bareboat charter your own yacht and take off to explore the islands and inlets. Or hire a skipper and a whole crew to cook for you and attend to your every need. Choose a spectacular cruise or a barefoot luxury adventure sailing between tropical islands and warm water reefs.

Enjoy the pleasure of sailing in Australia’s many harbours and tranquil bays. You can go champagne sailing at sunset or have lunch or dinner served while you cruise Sydney or Darwin Harbour or charter a yacht from almost any resort or island in Queensland to explore the coast or the reef at your own speed. Sleep on board listening to the sound of gentle lapping waves against the side of your boat. On inland rivers such as the Murray River you can hire a paddle steamer or captain your own houseboat and in the Margaret River region take a luxury cruise to the vineyards.

The Kimberley region of Western Australia is one of the last untouched wilderness areas on earth much of it only accessible by sea. Several adventure luxury cruises provide an amazing view of the Kimberley from a different perspective on luxury guided cruises on purpose built ships. Here, and in the Top End, luxury expedition cruises have onboard experts, speakers who can bring the voyage alive, as well as kayaks, canoes and helicopters on which to take off and explore these remote areas.

Whatever your preference, be it the slap of sail and creak of timber of a classic tall ship or the pleasures of luxury cruising, we have some of the most beautiful sailing and cruising destinations in the world. Australian cruises and charters will take you to magnificent tropical islands, white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, sheltered coves or idyllic calm sailing waters. The scenery is spectacular beyond words, the marine life is teeming with vivid colours and magnificent corals and also waiting to be explored are our red cliffs, rugged ranges and spectacular gorges.

Key facts
* The Kimberley wilderness of Western Australia is three times larger than England but with a population of just 30,000.
* There are 74 islands in the Whitsundays but only a handful have resorts on them.
* The Great Australian Bight is the largest indentation on the Australian coastline and is said to be the longest line of seacliffs – some up to 60 metres high in the world.
* The Bay of Fires in Tasmania was named by international guide book The Lonely Planet the world's hottest travel destination in 2009, described as a castaway bay with a 29 kilometres ribbon of sea and surf.
Discover the magical north-west of Western Australia in luxury and comfort and experience wilderness in surroundings more akin to one of the world’s most exclusive hotels on a luxury cruise aboard the True North. Cruise in luxury through the Kimberley Range gorges to the remote cattle station of El Questro and the thunderous King George Falls onboard this luxury cruise ship with its own helipad and onboard helicopter for aerial flights over waterfalls, gorges and remote wilderness.

Explore the Kimberley Coast, one of the last untouched wildernesses on earth. Wild and beautiful, it is one of the planet’s oldest and most awe-inspiring landscapes – much of it only accessible by sea – on one of a number of luxury adventure cruises including Coral Princess Cruises, Seven Star Cruises and the magnificent Orion Expeditions.

Cruise the Top End in comfort on an Orion Expeditions Cruise departing from Darwin or Broome. Visit remote locations on the stunning Gove Peninsula, the Arnhem Land coastline and see the magnificent Mitchell Falls on a purpose built vessel designed to access the inaccessible, all in 5-star luxury. The ship combines the best and the latest in design with maritime and environmental technology, comfort and casual elegance. From the ice-strengthened hull to the chilled champagne and superb cuisine, this is expedition cruising at its finest, with onboard speakers and shoreside expeditions to areas that even most Australians don’t get to see.

Sail Darwin Harbour, the location for the movie Australia. Take in the glorious sunset and see the lights of Darwin and the night stars on a day, evening or overnight cruise on Darwin Harbour and its surrounding waters aboard Daymirri 2, a luxury 10 metre Seawind catamaran.

Treat yourself to a full or half day luxurious chartered sailing experience taking in the sights of majestic, world famous Sydney Harbour. Anchor for the night at Athol Bay where you’ll watch the lights of the city come alive and illuminate the Opera House – a truly memorable experience.

Sail Sydney Harbour at twilight, with the city framed by the Harbour Bridge- a magical experience aboard a luxury Beneteau yacht for just one couple plus the skipper. At sunset, the yacht is anchored in a secluded cove, a seafood dinner is served and then guests are left alone overnight to take in the tranquillity, the stars and the soothing sound of waves lapping the beach. After breakfast, the skipper returns and hoists sail for the return trip.

See the best of Sydney from the water when you charter a crewed private yacht on Sydney Harbour. Sail past the Opera House, under the bridge, by Taronga Zoo, visit Pittwater for a night, or slowly tack around Farm Cove and Rose Bay. Anchor overnight in a secluded bay in Sydney Harbour or set sail through the heads and explore Pittwater.

Gateway to India: Mumbai

This is indeed India! The land of dreams and romance, of fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty, of splendour and rags, of palaces and hovels, of famine and pestilence, of genii and giants and Aladdin lamps, of tigers and elephants, the cobra in the jungle, the country of a hundred nations and a hundred tongues, of a thousand religions and two million gods, cradle of the human race, birthplace of human speech, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great-grandmother of traditions, whose yesterdays bear date with the smoldering antiquities of the rest of the nations - the one sole country under the sun that is endowed with an imperishable interest for alien prince and alien peasant, for lettered and ignorant, wise and fool, rich and poor, bond and free, the one land that all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse would not give that glimpse for the shows of all the rest of the globe combined.

MUMBAI: Love it or hate it, you can't ignore it. Mumbai is a temptress. Ravaged by time, history and circumstance, she has risen above it all with an easy grace. She is a city of dreams, despair, drama and dazzle, with heartbreaking poverty set within staggering grandeur. A city that sparkles with promise and glints with tears of desolation.

Mumbai is India's capital of finance. It is also India's capital of glamour. A Victorian townscape more reminiscent of a prosperous 19th-century English industrial city than anything you'd expect to find on the edge of the Arabian Sea, Mumbai bustles and buzzes.

It is the headquarters of the Indian film industry, known to Indians as Bollywood. It is a city of starlets, slum-dwellers, dancing girls, crusading activists and poets, all of whom drift into the city to make it big. It is also the ideal hub from which to explore the famous Ajanta and Ellora caves, Elephanta Island and the charming hill resorts of the Western Ghats.

Complex and interesting, being in Mumbai with its vibrant streetlife, India's best nightlife and thousands of open-air and enclosed bazaars is like being smack-bang in the middle of a Bollywood masala potboiler movie. Addictively filled with drama, absurdity, pathos, wonder and lots of fun.

Go GOA!!!

In no other place in the world do two contrasting cultures - Indian and Portuguese - come together as magically as in the sun-drenched state of Goa. The magic and mystery of Goa lies in the fact that it is not one place at all, but two.

On one hand you have the Goa of swaying palms and white-sand beaches, Portuguese mansions, a number of fascinating medieval churches and Hindu temples, bike rides among shimmering rice paddies and walks through lush spice plantations. It's a languid retreat, where time crawls by and cobbled alleyways lead you to quaint villages. A Goa that is filled with the romance of an era gone by. Filled with lush green forests, abundant sunshine and the legendary warmth and hospitality of the Goan people. The great churches of Old Goa including the Basilica of Bom Jesus, the Se Cathedral, the Church of St Cajetan and the Church of St. Francis of Assisi stand testimony to the Catholic influence.

Then there is another Goa. Sauve and urbane. Fun and sexy. Full of hedonistic parties, colourful festivals, spectacular pageantry and exhilarating adventure. A Goa that buzzes with energy and entices you with secrets. One of which is its distinctive cuisine spicy, delectable and totally unforgettable. With a nightlife second to none, Goa is indeed the party headquarters
of South East Asia.

And there's no telling which Goa will enthrall you, but rest assured that enthrall you, it will.

Captivating Cochin

If there is one place in the riveting diversity of Kerala where there is tangible beauty and life full of good things, it is Cochin.

The largest city in Kerala with a population of 5.5 lakhs, Cochin's all weather harbour has made it an important center for commerce and industry. It has a maritime history that began in the remote past. The Portuguese, the Dutch and the English established themselves here at one time or the other. This unusual assortment of rulers transformed Cochin into an extraordinary melting pot of people and cultures.

Cochin has a sizable Jewish community and this is reflective in the Jewish synagogue, a magnificent prayer hall that was constructed in 1568 A.D. and is the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth. Another place of interest is the St.Francis Church, a Protestant church that was built by the Portuguese in circa 1510 A.D. Vasco-da-Gama's gravestone is located here though his mortal remains were taken back to Portugal several years later.

And if that isn't to enough to interest you, there's also the lure of the backwaters combined with the exquisiteness of Willington island, Fort Cochin - Mattancherry peninsula, Bolgatty and Gundu and Vypeen island.

A Feast for the senses

Dotted with swaying coconut trees, the seaside city of Trivandrum is the capital of Kerala. Like most places in the state, it is also known by its provincial name: Thiruvananthapuram.

Trivandrum is literally a sight for sore eyes. Since the city was originally built on seven hills, it offers sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding ocean and countryside. Eons ago, the city was the capital of the erstwhile Travancore state under the reign of Raja Marthanda Varma. And even though much time has passed, Trivandrum still retains the magical ambience of yore.

The wooded highlands of the Western Ghats along the eastern and north-eastern borders of the state make for enchanting picnic spots, with verdant greenery and rushing waterfalls. Historic monuments, serene backwaters, a rich cultural heritage and a long shoreline, with internationally renowned beaches - like the three cresents of Kovallam - make Kerala a treasured tourist destination.

The city of Trivandrum is at its vibrant best during the festival season, with celebrations held at the famed Padmanabhaswamy temple, a stunning landmark of the city, built in the Dravidian style with a magnificent seven-tier gopuram (tower). There are also the snake boat races and the elephant procession to look forward to. These revels are generally held in March-April or September-October.

A town of temples

Picture a place just sprinkled with temples, thousands of them. Then picture each temple intricately carved, each carving a work of timeless art, detailed and beautiful, so many that they cannot possibly be accurately counted. This is Khajuraho, a temple town famous for its exquisitely embellished shrines, many over a thousand years old. Many of the sculptures mirror the navarasas, the nine emotions - valour, fear, love, disgust, anger, laughter, sorrow, wonder and tranquility. There are also numerous graphically erotic sculptures based on verses from the Kama Sutra, attracting tourists from all over the world.

Khajuraho was once a centre for the arts, showcasing the best in dance, music, fine art, poetry and architecture, as well as sciences like astronomy and astrology. Today, festivals held at the base of the temples are prestigious events that invite the best in their field to show off their talents.

HEALING TOUCH

The ancient Hindus believed, and with good reason, that there is no dividing line between the mind and the body. As they stated, the mind is body and the body is mind. They also believed that if beautifying the mind is to beautify the body, the concept can be applied to the soul as well - that beautifying the mind and body is to beautify the soul. It is with this philosophy as the core that the systems of yoga and ayurveda were developed.

Yoga and ayurveda are sister sciences of healing, transformation and integration on all levels of the being. Traditional ayurveda focusses more on treatment in this process, also called chikitsa, for body and mind, while yoga aims more at self-development and self-realisation, or sadhana. An inseparable component of the Indian ethos, both yoga and ayurveda have been in practice on the sub-continent for thousands of years. They have evolved from being merely medical systems to being the science of life itself.