Chikmagalur, South India, India

A long drive over pot-holed roads precedes your arrival at the Flameback Lodge – a clean, green haven in the hills of western Karnataka. But once installed in your cosy jungle cottage with thickly forested hills rolling away in the distance, you’ll consider the effort worthwhile. Accommodation comes in various forms, the nicest of them ‘Paddy Cottages’ whose verandas jut over iridescent rice fields.

Everything’s beautifully finished, from the cool-white and dark-wood interiors to the airy decks, which afford sweeping views over tree tops and ponds. Recover from the journey with an invigorating steam bath in the spa, followed by a swim in the outdoor pool and buffer supper of spicy mountain specialities in an open-sided, pillared dining hall.

Our opinion

A comfortable lodge in the mist of forested hills, ideal for a bit of relaxation on a busy tour of South India.