The 20 rooms at Shanti – 16 Premium and 4 Luxury – are all in the main building, with balconies overlooking the pool and rear courtyard. The only difference between the two categories is in size: the corner luxury rooms are slightly larger but the amenities for both remain the same.

Named after spices (Turmeric, Cinammon, Saffron, Kokum, Anise) flowers (Marigold, Lotus), Indian rivers (Ganga, Jamuna, Saraswati, Mandovi) or inspired by Indian kitsch (Bollywood, Bombay Masala), the rooms are well-furnished and packed with replica antiques and carefully sourced furniture. Bombay Masala, where we stayed, came with vintage film posters from Bollywood, mustard-coloured silk curtains and Rajasthani handcrafted painted chairs.

Powerful A/C quietly cools the rooms in the day: this is the kind of hotel you want to stay in when the mercury starts to climb over 30 degrees or when the rains batter the state and you need to retreat to a cool, dry space with your creature comforts.

Large sliding-door windows overlook the pool but also come with thickly shaded curtains to block the outside world when needed.

The TVs are large and come with a full Tata Sky subscription. All rooms have 24-hour room service, with staff more than eager to please and only a phone call away.