Jindal Naturecure, where nation's VIPs descend for cure

This is one place equally lapped up by politicians and film stars.

From H D Deve Gowda to Hardik Patel, Rekha to Sonam Kapoor, the Jindal Naturecure Institute has been the go-to centre for those seeking cure, detox or just a change in lifestyle.

Spread across 130 acres of lush green campus near Aanchepalya village on Tumkur Road on the outskirts of Bengaluru, the institute has seen an impressive line-up of politicians and celebrities ever since it was established in 1979.

K K Ghosh, chief administrator, says the centre has hosted former president Gyani Zail Singh, former prime ministers including Charan Singh, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and even Narendra Modi (even before he became a chief minister). Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited thrice to treat his chronic cough.

Ghosh says that people arrive at the centre mainly to change their lifestyle and experience peace and tranquillity. “If one gets admitted here, he/she will have to follow certain rules, which is good for the body and the mind. It is quite natural for a person to lose weight and start feeling better than before. People come here to do things that they otherwise don't do,” he says.

Among the many popular treatments, he says everybody likes to undergo a complete body massage. There are naturopathy doctors who recommend colon treatment, which is essentially the cleaning of the large intestine. However, the treatment varies from person to person, and the doctor at the institute takes a call on the line of treatment.

The institute is also a sought-after rejuvenation centre for state political leaders, cutting across party lines. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, wife Anitha Kumaraswamy, and BJP leaders including B S Yeddyurappa and Shobha Karandlaje have paid visits.

Ghosh also reeled off a list of Bollywood celebrities who had come down for detox: Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Waheeda Rehman, Jayaprada, Raj Babbar... Kannada actors are also not far behind. Shivarajkumar, Malashri, Sumalatha and Gayathri, wife of Ananath Nag, have all benefited from their stay.

Industrialists including Anil Agarwal of Vedanta Resources Plc., Tina Ambani, wife of Anil Ambani, former cricketer Ravi Shastri and French political writer François Gautier have undergone the 10-day treatment here.

Hardik at Jindal

Patidar agitation leader Hardik Patel is currently undergoing a 10-day treatment here. According to sources, Hardik is suffering from backache and full body pain, and doesn't have any major health ailment otherwise.