Kondai Lip Backwater Heritage Resort

If breaking the journey between Trivandrum and Kochi, this is a peaceful spot to do it. Set in thirteen acres of land surrounded by water, it's a short boat ride to cross the waterway to the resort. The main building houses the reception and an open sided dining room with extensive menu. Shrimp farming is big in the area so it's worth sampling the prawn specialties. The superior rooms overlook the water; all are clean and well appointed. It's very relaxed - guests can either go to a nearby beach, potter about in one of the paddle boats, kayak or traditional 'country' boats or check out the thriving bird life, home to stork-billed kingfishers, egrets, kites, pond herons and cormorants. An element of surprise is the small butterfly garden, teaming with blue tigers, common crows, the common rose and the world's second largest butterfly, the southern birdwing. Turns out the manager's a keen lepidopterist.