Kumarakom Lake Resort

Along the coastal lowlands and backwaters of India’s south-western state of Kerala lies the vast Vembanad Lake, connected to the Arabian Sea by a network of canals, estuaries and rivers. And at the edge of Lake Vembanad is Kumarakom, a tiny town at the edge of a lagoon, crisscrossed by narrow waterways used for navigation and irrigation.

Here you’ll find the Kumarakom Lake Resort, a collection of low-slung villas with red tile roofs, surrounded by palm trees, clustered around a long and winding 250-meter free-form swimming pool. At the coastal end of the resort, an infinity pool seems to reach out into Lake Vembanad itself, and if you’re not already spoilt for swimming options, the Presidential Suite comes with its own private pool.

All the villas, from the Presidential on down, are traditional in style, presenting the sort of polished rusticity one expects from the finest Indian resorts. Features vary — some have views of the lake, others open directly onto the long pool, still others have private courtyards and most feature open-air bathrooms. All are fully functioning modern hotel rooms, despite their traditional appearance; air conditioning and cable television are standard, and a wi-fi network covers the entire resort.

The restaurants serve authentic Kerala cuisine and lean heavily on fresh, locally caught seafood, as well as duck, a local specialty. Leisure facilities include yoga, spa treatments and massage More traditionally athletic types may go in for a mountain bike ride, or a spin through the fitness center, but the serious stress case would do better checking in for some intensive Ayurvedic therapies.