Best hotels in Kerala backwaters

Looking out over Lake Vembanad at its widest point, Purity blends resort style with traditional charms, all enveloped in nature. Its hallways and lounges are filled with a medley of antique sculptures and furnishings, and modern art from across India. Surrounded by lush gardens, Purity is just the place for recharging your batteries and exploring the quiet world of Kerala's backwaters. Enjoy meals by the tranquil pond in the courtyard or curl up on a lounger with a book from the library. You'll feel completely undisturbed at this lakeside resort where you explore nearby waterways on the Malabar houseboat and watch as eagles hunt for prey in the early morning air.

Set amongst 25 acres of coconut groves and winding canals, Kumararkom is a polished resort with all the bells and whistles. Its collection of rooms, villas and suites is scattered across the lawns, each a careful reconstruction of traditional 16th-century homesteads. You could also enjoy a stay at the houseboat on the lake with a private dining area and elegant design. The lake beckons with water sports and boat rides, plus the constant flutter of birdlife. At sunset, toast the day with a drink at the jetty!

Named after the man who raised Puthankayal island from the lake, Phillipkutty's Farm is an idyllic spot surrounded by lines of coconut, banana and cocoa trees. As you approach Phillipkutty's by a vallam (boat), the traditional, pointed villas peek out from behind the greenery. The homestay farm has a distinct personal touch and the family gladly shares their piece of paradise with you on a tour of the watery fields and local favourites. Explore this world of canals on boating trips where there are plenty of birds to see and village life plays out on their banks.

Nestled on a two-acre expanse of lush tropical gardens along the serene banks of the Periyar River, The River House is an exquisite retreat specialising in the art of Slow Travel. Here, tranquillity reigns supreme, where the gentle splash of water and the melodious calls of birds set the symphony of nature. Surrounded by evergreen forests, this enchanting haven offers access to some of the world's most diverse ecosystems, inviting exploration and discovery.

Tucked away on this delightful island lies the Emerald Isle Heritage Villa, a 150 years old ancestral Country House set in 9 acres of secluded grounds – your Retreat into a Paradise of Peace. In the beautiful waterways and backwater of the Kuttanad region of Central Kerala lies Emerald Isle, an exotic haven of tranquility, seemingly remote from city life, yet barely 10 kilometers from Alleppey Town.