Hampi’s Boulders Resort

Surrounded by Hampi’s giant granite boulders, banana plantations and rice-paddies, this beautiful boutique hotel feels as if it’s in the middle of nowhere. Each of the 16 secluded cottages and rooms is distinct: Star Cottage is a granite castle on a hillock above the Tungabhadra River (home to crocs, otters and turtles); the three-bedroom Croc Cottage has open-air rainforest showers with river views; and the wonderfully private Otter Cottage has a terrace overlooking that extraordinary boulder-strewn landscape. The open-sided dining room has a small library and is a peaceful place to sit and read, with pretty views over sandy pathways, a lagoon and rocky outcrops. The chef creates tasty South Indian dishes using organic ingredients from two vegetable gardens and the yoghurt is made with raw milk from their own buffaloes. Once you’ve had your fill of the famous Vijayanagara ruins nearby, explore the rural utopia around Hampi’s Boulders. Amble past rice paddies where bulls haul antiquated ploughs; cross precarious bamboo bridges; and climb rickety bamboo ladders to stunning viewpoints. Then plunge into the natural swimming pool, carved out of the rock, where langurs drink and frogs join you for a dip.