In Kerala’s backwaters, on the shores of Lake Vembanad, Purity is perhaps the essence of a ‘boutique hotel’: arty, beautiful, intimate and well run by a small, dedicated team.

Modern and traditional are combined perfectly in this large Italo-Indian villa, renovated in 2003 and now complete as a hotel with infinity pool, manicured gardens and cool, chic interiors straight out of a coffee-table book.

Inside, particularly in the communal areas, the property feels like an art space or the public home of a very private collector. There’s a sense of sophistication and good taste but not, thankfully, to the point of being pretentious. Indeed, you can feel a million dollars here but without the stuffy formality that larger name-brand hotels suffer from.

As a place to stay, this is the ultimate choice if you want style plus intimacy at the heart of Kerala’s backwaters. There aren’t a host of activities laid on but then this is not that sort of place, rather it’s somewhere to relax and enjoy good food, wine, conversation and the splendid lake views which really give the property it’s raison d’être.