Kerala Holidays, India

Occupying a glorious location on the banks of the glassy Periyar River, this newly built property offers a perfect first landfall in Kerala. It’s barely half an hour from the airport terminal yet feels in depths of the countryside, meaning you wake up to the sound of bird song rather than traffic. The décor is elegant and restrained, taking its inspiration from antique Keralan palaces, with whitewashed walls, red-terracotta roof tiles, exposed beams, four-posters and polished, oxide-washed floors complementing the views over the water. Each of the 7 rooms are surrounded by pillared verandahs where you can relax with a book, or simply enjoy comings and goings on the river.

The real appeal of staying here, however, lies in its proximity to Kodungallur, site of ancient spice port of Muziris. Your hosts, Rasmi and Vineeth, offer a range of tempting tours that start by boat from the hotel jetty. As well as the area’s heritage highlights, these include visits to local basket workshops, sugar cane producers and textile weavers.