Tree of Life

Rooms

You don’t just get a room at Tree of Life, you get your own villa with a garden and spa area outside (2 massage beds and a foot bath, plus a plunge pool in some), and inside, a vast sitting/dining room, master bedroom, walk-in closet and jaw-dropping bathroom. While the exterior, built from salmon-pink sandstone and lime, looks a bit clunky, inside all is light and airy. Sitting room ceilings soar to 13 feet, and a cushioned bay window offers a perfect spot to while away the afternoon with a book. Best of all are the dramatic domed ceilings in the master bedroom and bathroom, which are painted rich, vibrant colours and inlaid with mirrors - the handiwork of a local artisan.

Villas are arranged in a horseshoe shape around the pool and restaurant, and each is named after a tree native to the region (the trees are planted outside the villa's front doors), and colour-coded accordingly. We stayed in the Jacaranda Villa and every decorative detail echoed the tree’s brilliant purple flowers: silk throw pillows, cotton durries, marble floor inlays.

Top-quality Indian and Western amenities complete the deluxe experience: flat-screen TVs with surround sound, espresso makers, pillow-top mattresses, a pillow and towel menu, bathrobes and cotton kurtas, Grohe bathroom fixtures, rain showers and Kama Ayurveda toiletries. Who could ask for more?

There are 14 villas in total. The most reasonable are the Garden & Spa Villas - and though you may be sacrificing a private plunge pool, you'll still be cocooned in luxury, comfort and space, so they are by no means a dud option. If, however, you want that plunge pool, upgrade to a Pool & Spa Villa. For families and groups there are 2-Bedroom Villas, with 2 ensuite double bedrooms. Again, you choose between a Garden or a Pool version.