Serenity at Kanam Estate

Truly delightful, fully staffed 5-bedroom hotel or villa on a rubber plantation midway between Cochin, the backwaters and Thekkady (sleeps 2-12)

A sister hotel to the stylish Malabar House, Purity, Discovery, Privacy and Trinity, Serenity is a 2-hour drive from Cochin and halfway to the wildlife reserve of Periyar, near Thekkady, making it the ideal stopover on this otherwise rather long journey. Sitting on a small hilltop, the views over the Blue Mountains of the Western Ghats are breathtaking and the surrounding rubber plantation, along with the shady pool, papaya trees, pepper vines and the resident elephant, create a thoroughly tropical feel.

With just 6 rooms, this converted 1920s estate house is always peaceful and there's little to disturb you except for the sounds of nature. It can be hired in its entirety as a fully-staffed private villa and would make a great destination for a group of friends travelling together. Alternatively, individual rooms can be taken, with guests dining together on the freshest local produce. There are wonderful, guided walks to be had through the rubber plantations, an Ayurvedic spa on site, and Kottayam, with its profusion of churches, is close by. Serenity exudes charm, peace and style.

Highs

• This is one of the only hotels in India small enough to be rented out as a ‘villa’
• It's been decorated with superb taste
• The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful
• The food is deliciously fresh; all vegetables are homegrown
• It's a great option for families; kids have their own playroom and will love spending the day with Laxmi, the resident elephant
• The swimming pool has 2 surrounding pool decks, encircled by jungle, and a state-of-the-art filtration plant

Lows

• It could be considered to be too close and yet too far from Cochin and Thekkady, so why bother stopping there?
• The more active may find that there isn't enough to do in the surrounding area
• It can be difficult to find, so make sure your driver has directions