The scenic setting of palm trees, beaches and emerald backwaters where float the traditional Kettuvallams, Kerala is a fabulous tourist destination and for all the right reasons. Along with having a rendezvous with nature, you can experience euphoria while luxuriating in stunning resorts that dots the state. All of them are so stunning that you may even have an episode of confusion while deciding which resorts would suit you the best. You’ll find beach resorts; accommodations that are perfect for romantic escape or for family holidays; and even heritage properties converted into five-star resorts in Kerala. It’s no secret that the state is known for having the best ayurvedic therapies and guess what, almost all the resorts in Kerala offer this facility where you can relish ayurveda treatments and therapies. But wait, the fun does not end here, these 20 best resorts in Kerala that you will be reading in sometime also offer an experience to savour traditional cuisine, learn material art of Kalari and of course heal yourself by taking yoga and meditation sessions. So c’mon let’s check out this blog where I will give you a little sneak peek into the top 15 resorts in Kerala.
* Carnoustie Ayurveda and Wellness ResortAn upscale wellness resort located in Kerala’s pristine tourist destination of Mararikulam is the Carnoustie Ayurveda and Wellness Resort. This ayurvedic retreat comes with five lavish villas that will heal your soul with just a look. With luxurious rooms treasuring rectangular private pools, charming gardens and chillout vibes, the resort proves to be an ideal destination for luxury holiday seekers. The rooms in Carnoustie are furnished with kitchenette, sundecks, an open lounge and a living room. This exquisite resort also has an Ayurvedic clinic, the Arya Vaidya Sala that comes with all sorts of therapies. Besides Ayurveda, you’ll also find wellness retreats for Naturopathy, Yoga but if you want to experience something authentic and unique, Kalari is the answer, which is one of Kerala’s ancient martial art practices. Carnoustie House Boat staying options are also available if you wish to explore the Alappuzha Backwaters. Carnoustie Ayurveda and Wellness Resort offers a lot of activities like village bicycle rides, pilgrimage tours and wildlife exploration at Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary to keep you busy.
* Bethsaida HermitageTo have a pleasant ayurvedic vacation in one of India’s prime destinations of Kerala, you can consider a stay at Bethsaida Hermitage in Trivandrum. Slightly off the main city, as soon as you enter into this oasis of calmness, this luxurious resort offers a unique experience with around seven different types of accommodation options. Encircling the lush green garden, the rooms in Bethsaida Hermitage are tastefully furnished to be a notch better than others with a gorgeous view of the Arabian Sea. The resort has around 90 rooms divided into modern Kerala style cottages and traditional ones; there are also wooden Kerala houses and the Kottaram House, which looks different than the others. You’ll for sure have a nice holiday experience here as they have in-house ayurvedic spa facility as well. Along with a variety of healing treatments and body detox therapies, you can also meditate and take yoga sessions in Bethsaida Hermitage. Since it is an ayurvedic wellness resort, you can expect to be served with only the best and healthy dishes. With rich coconut flavour and very light spices in every dish will burst out the different flavour, the Bethsaida restaurant also provides a variety of Indian and Kerala dishes.
* Poovar Island ResortSituated at the serene Kerala Backwaters, the Poovar Island Resort is a pristine holiday destination for the luxury-seeking vacationers. Featuring land and floating cottages along with ayurvedic spa, this resort is reckoned to be one of the favourites in Kerala for those who do not mind splurging for luxury. Here, there are around eighty-six cottages, out of which fifty-six triple rooms making it perfect for a large family, there are also around forty-eight rooms that feature hammocks on each balcony. Poovar Island Resort also has a number of superior cottages and premier deluxe rooms equipped with best features and amenities. You can also find eighteen Ayurveda village cottages, however, the real deal this resort offers to the guests are the floating cottages. Poovar Island Resort also has an Ayurvedic spa centre to make your stay here even more rejuvenating and blissful. The resort also has a motor boat cruise offering a scenic view of the surrounding areas.
* Samsara Harmony Beach ResortUnwind and relax in Samsara Harmony Beach Resort that opens up to an uninterrupted wide expanse of the Arabian Sea in Varkala. This oceanfront resort is located just a few minutes from the Odayam beach that oozes refreshing scent of wet sandy beaches, staggered palm trees and an ultimate feel of Kerala. Samsara Harmony Beach Resort has a number of well-appointed private cottages equipped with only the best facilities you’ll need during your Kerala tour. With admirable lush surroundings, the resort offers cottages that can be categorized into deluxe rooms that also come with a personal kitchen (if you believe – food tastes good when cooked yourself). Super deluxe and suites rooms are also available in Samsara Harmony with modern comforts and heart-melting view of the ocean. The resort also provides a beautiful on-site restaurant named Mermaid and it serves authentic dishes of India along with Continental and Chinese cuisines for foreign guests. Because you are in Kerala, a pampering session at an ayurveda centre is mandatory, and guess what, Samsara Harmony Beach Resort has that covered for you in their in-house ayurveda spa.
* The Leela
Perhaps the hotel Leela’s main crowd pulling factor is the panoramic view you get to see of the impressive shoreline of Kovalam. Occupying a small area on a cliff, the Leela in Kovalam is the only clifftop beach resort in India and the largest one nestled between two attractive beaches. This popular beach resort offers flawless hospitable services with unmatched luxury rooms that are hall appointed with ultra posh furnishings. The most suggested room in the Leela is the two-level suite, it offers an exquisite look with elegant interior. What’s best is that you get a balcony on one level of the duplex, overlooking the majestic Arabian Sea. The Leela in Kovalam has five gourmet restaurants, amongst them, the Tides located right in front of the beach is a casual dining place to chill underneath the sun. The Terrace is also another favourite dine-in restaurant. Amongst the bar lovers, the Leela offers the Rooftop Sky bar that offers a calming sight of the sunset. The Leela in Kovalam also specializes in offering traditional Ayurvedic treatments.
* Coconut LagoonThe eastern shore of Lake Vembanad treasures one of the best resorts in Kerala, Coconut Lagoon, located in the midst of the peaceful coconut grove in Kumarakom. The resort’s setting reflects the ancient feudal villages of Malabar and you’ll be pampered with luxury and comforts here. All the rooms in Coconut Lagoon are excellently furnished offering comfort and modern facilities so that you can have a calm and soothing stay. The guests can indulge in a relaxing spa and massage and also seek treatments from their variety of Ayurvedic therapies. Coconut Lagoon also offers a yoga and a meditation centre to release internal stiffness and stress under the guidance of experts. Apart from pampering sessions, the resort also offers recreational areas and an opportunity to learn one of Kerala’s ancient martial art forms, Kalari. The resort also offers excellent in-house restaurant and bar that serves delicious South Indian cuisine. And guess what, Coconut Lagoon also features a library and a souvenir shop along with fun activities to engage in during family holidays like taking boat rides and village walks. The resort also offers a tour to Kavanar bird sanctuary and teaches organic farming.
* Kumarakom Lake Resort in KumarakomSaid to be one of the finest heritage resorts in India, Kumarakom Lake Resort is a luxury property located in one of Kerala’s most tranquil places, Kumarakom. The Vembanad Lake offers even more appealing look to the lake resort that houses cottages in a 16th-century Kerala homestead style. Spread over 25 acres of lush greenery, the resort provides a number of luxurious cottages that will steal your heart with just a look. There is a presidential suite that will offer a royal seclusion and not to forget the heritage lake villas that come with a private courtyard and a pool with jacuzzi. Amongst these finest havens to stay in, there are also the pool villas that surround the 250-meter long pool. Kumarakom Lake Resort also has a number of luxe pavilion rooms that serve you with modern facilities and comfortable furnishings. Besides, if outdoors is what you’re looking for, guess what, the resort also renders a staying option in Kerala’s traditional Kettuvallams (houseboats). This resort also offers an ideal place to unwind in their Ayurvedic spa, Ayurmana that gives you an authentic Kerala Ayurvedic treatments.
* Neeleshwar Hermitage
One of the finest luxury resorts in Kasaragod, Neeleshwar Hermitage entices the guests with the rustic feel. Located alongside the Arabian Sea, Neeleshwar Hermitage offers best hospitality services to the guests. Surrounded by private grove, hibiscus flowers and coconut farms, the resort features eighteen attractive cottages. Each room has a theme and a name with attractive views of the sea and beautiful garden. The structure of the resort, Neeleshwar Hermitage is inspired from the traditional Kerala home, you can witness it through the steep slope roofs covered with palm leaves and a thick curved pillar on the porch of the cottages. But the best thing this resort offers are the Ayurvedic therapies that heal your body, mind and soul completely. Yoga sessions are also offered to the health enthusiasts. Neeleshwar Hermitage in Kasaragod serves lip-smacking and authentic south Indian cuisines including seafood delicacies in their two dining venues, Annapurna and Meenakshi. The resort also has a well-stocked bar where you can savour beverages at any time of the day. Besides, the resort also offers sightseeing tours for wildlife watching and other activities in the vicinity of the resort.
* Travancore HeritageClearly, Travancore Heritage in Chowara is another best place to spend your holiday in Kerala amid the tranquil settings of swinging palm trees and balmy air emitting from the Arabian Sea. You may gently melt into the calmness and warm hospitality of Travancore. Located near Kovalam, this 15 acres resort is surrounded by a beautiful landscape filled with coconut tree garden that compliments this resort built in traditional style of architecture. This heritage resort offers well-appointed rooms and the best-voted rooms here are the two pool mansions. Offering personal pools equipped with ultra-modern facilities, let’s just say, it has a feel of attaining nirvana. Travancore Heritage also offers fifteen premium mansions, four premium suits, twenty-two elegant heritage premium cottages and twenty-three heritage homes along with twenty-four sea facing beach groves. Anandam is the ayurvedic centre in this heritage resort that offers various ayurvedic massages like Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Pizhichil to name a few; the resort also offers relaxation and treatment programmes. While you visit Travancore Heritage and are looking for in-house tours, ask for cultural shows, resort activities and shopping trips.
* Ramada Resort in KochiA luxury retreat located beside a scenic lake of Kumbalam, Ramada Resort is surrounded by a green expanse of palm and coconut trees. Seated within 8 acres of a green patch of land slightly on the outskirts of Kochi, this resort is a perfect getaway for the tourists feeling worn out by the city life. You can expect to find amenities and services in Ramada in all the rooms to be well taken care of. In addition, you’ll also find beautiful lake-facing cottages and cosy deluxe rooms. Along with two restaurants that serve authentic Kerala dishes and Continental cuisine, there is also a sunken pool bar, a lounge bar and a library bar. Besides, one crowd pulling attraction here is a massive 105-metre long swimming pool. But visiting any resort in Kerala and not indulging in an Ayurvedic massage is a complete waste of the trip. So, indulge in a pampering session in one of the best ayurvedic centre and a health club during your stay in Ramada Resort.
* Turtle on the BeachRelish the amiable vibe that surrounds the Turtle on the Beach Resort in one of the hottest travel destinations in South India, Kovalam. With its stylish architectural beauty, you’ll notice splashes of traditions at every corner. Offering a grand vista of the tranquil ocean and peaceful surroundings of Kerala, this resort comes with a number of well-appointed rooms. If you are visiting Kerala on a family vacation, the duplex rooms are the best choice for you, but for a rather high-on-life feeling, the resort Turtle on the Beach offers sky suite on the top floor. That’s not all, this ultra-luxe resort provides you with staying options like signature suites, Arabian sea view rooms and more, all equipped with only the best facilities you’d ever imagine. The resort also provides you with ayurvedic therapies offering a soothing session, relaxing your body and mind. Being one of India’s best five-star hotels, this place in Kerala offers lavish dine-in facilities in their three restaurants, Catamaran, Rumours and Centre Point.
* SpicetreeA trip to Kerala is only complete when you visit the southern hill station of Munnar and have a soothing experience in one of the best luxury resorts in Kerala at Spicetree. Set between Kannan Devan Hills and Bison Valley Hills, Spicetree offers views that are simply awe-inspiring and completely rejuvenating. But when we talk about the rooms in Spicetree, it’s all about comfort and coziness as this boutique resort offers calming pool villas to classic rooms with jacuzzi and spa suites for honeymoon couples. Altogether the resort has around sixteen luxurious suites including two pool villas equipped with only the best and world-class amenities. Spicetree offers the health enthusiast guests with a yoga and meditation sessions giving an informative class about the proper way to stretch and relax the body. The Bliss – Mountain Spa in Spicetree emits a calming aura, you’d find it difficult to ignore this facility in the resort. The resort also serves delicious meals in its family dining hall offering authentic Indian and continental cuisines.
* Marari Beach ResortThere is no denying the fact that, Alappuzha is the best holiday destination for couples and in order to experience a romantic stay, you have to check out Marari Beach Resort. The ambience of this property will offer you a relaxing vibe that may help in finding peace of mind. Surrounded by calm lily ponds, fruit trees, organic farm and charming setting of palm trees, Marari Beach Resort offers guests with fifty-two luxurious villas that are divided into various categories like the Garden Villas, Deluxe Pool Villas and Garden Pool Villas equipped with world-class amenities and mesmerizing views. The outdoor swimming pool provides an attractive appeal to the entire resort, in fact, what makes this resort more unique is a butterfly garden. Besides, it is probably the best resort for a spa break where an ayurvedic centre offers healing therapies using an ancient form of medicines in their traditional Kerala massages. Marari Beach Resort in Alappuzha also indulges guests in various activities like backwater cruising, visiting fishing villages and learning about the unique ecosystem in Marari coast.
* The Lalit Resort & SpaThe impeccable hospitality of the resort is witnessed as soon as you enter the gates of the Lalit Resort and Spa in Bekal. Surrounded by Nombili River and the Arabian Sea this resort offers a stunning sight of the water bodies and coconut groves that stretches around the 26 acres land of the resort. The Lalit in Bekal offers spacious and comfortable accommodation like any other chain of Lalit hotels but what separates the one in Bekal is the ayurvedic spa that deals with healing physical and mental issues through various therapies. The rooms in this resort are to die for, with the soothing views of the tranquil tourist destination of Bekal. The rooms the Lalit offers are around thirty-seven in number. The deluxe rooms, luxury rooms and presidential suites with either lagoon or backwater views are all well equipped with modern amenities, the resort also offers one floating cottage (houseboat). As the sun starts to set, the Nombili bar bustles with like-minded guests; the resort also offers two fine dining options in Nombili multi-cuisine restaurant or for a private dining experience. The Lalit Resort also has a spa, Rejuve where you can detox and take care for your body.
* Vythiri Village ResortAmongst the top accommodation options in Kerala, check out Vythiri Village Resort where you can be close to nature and experience luxury unlike any other. This resort, located in the midst of the lush tea gardens will enrich your holiday spirit. Check in at the family-friendly duplex suites, relax in their pool villas, experience serenity in their charming cottages with infinity pools and there’s more like interconnected jacuzzi villas as well as separate cottages to have a private holiday. But it does not matter which room you choose as all the rooms are decorated according to the ambience of the place with great care, from the beds to furnishing and even technical facilities. Vythiri Village Resort in Wayanad also offers you with three superb dining places; Spice Bowl boasts of its delicacies from the Malabar coast; Sky Restaurant offer mouthwatering multi cuisine dishes; and Tea Garden Restaurant savours best Indian cuisine. Vythiri Village Resort also offers a houseboat staying option if you wish to have a unique Kerala holiday experience.