Tikli Bottom

British owners, Martin and Annie Howard, are adamant that this beautiful bungalow isn’t a hotel but a guesthouse. “You’re invited to act as a guest in our house – while you are with us, it is your home,” says Martin. And indeed, they’re expert hosts and the good-humoured housekeeper, Muna, is always on hand to bring you a G&T, Bloody Mary or a nimbu pani. The four guestrooms feel like those of an elegant French villa, with floral curtains, whitewashed walls, reed blinds and chaise-longues. Bathrooms are thoughtfully stocked with after-sun, sun-cream, shampoo and decadent ruby-red bathrobes. In the pretty courtyard, Muna serves scrumptious summery dishes (stuffed peppers, smoked salmon roulade, avocado salad), made with ingredients from their organic farm. (Don’t miss the homemade buffalo yoghurt at breakfast.) During the day, you can explore nearby villages with Mahinder Pal, a local beekeeper, or visit Gairatpur Baas Panchayat School, founded by the Howards. Otherwise, the piles of books and rackfuls of World of Interiors magazines could keep you occupied for weeks, or you could simply laze on the lawn, plopping into the pool to cool off – for, in Martin’s words, “Tikli B is one of the best places in the world in which to do nothing at all.