Fodor's Expert Review Taj Kumarakom Resort and Spa

The brightly colored detached cottages at this tranquil resort set among rubber trees have broad verandas overlooking a small lagoon where guests can canoe or pedal boat. Twelve of the cottages offer views of Vembanad Lake, which is a short boat ride away down a woodsy canal. The main building here is a former 19th-century plantation house built by the son of an English missionary. There are two restaurants, a bar, and an outdoor swimming pool, as well as daily houseboat trips.