Hampi, South India, India

This quirky eco-lodge is located 4.5 miles (7km) upriver from the World Heritage archaeological site of Vijayanagar, near the village of Hampi. Its troglodyte cottages, made of local granite or carved into the riverside boulders of this sublime waterfront site, have their own distinctive style and are comfortably furnished throughout. The real attractions here though are the serene situation among the eroded rocks, rushes and reed beds of the Tungabhadra River, and a lovely swimming pool carved from natural rock.