Homes Away From Home

From roaring fireplaces to cosy corners and charming verandahs, there are many things that make hotel stays extra warm and cosy. For those seeking a sense of the familiar on a vacation, these boutique properties extend a homey welcome.

- Nivedita Jayaram Pawar

1 SINDHUDURG

COCO SHAMBHALA

Tucked away on the unspoilt and relatively unknown village of Bhogave, the luxurious and chic Coco Shambhala is Sindhudurg's best-kept secret. Each two-bedroom villa is outfitted with a private plunge pool, has gorgeous sea views, and is hidden by splendid vegetation. The open-air living pavillions of the villas are perfect for dining, lounging with a book, or simply tuning in to the bird song. Meals celebrate the very best of fresh seafood and local produce from the Sindhudurg coast along with a carefully curated collection of wines, single malts, and craft beers. Dining venues can range from a romantic candlelit dinner by the pool, a beachside barbecue or a formal dinner under a cashew tree. If you can pull yourself away from the comfort of your villa, there's fishing, foraging for edible seaweed, snorkelling, and scuba diving to indulge in. Doubles from ₹55,000; cocoshambhala.com

2 DEHRADUN

BAREFOOT BUNGALOW

This luxurious homestay cocooned in the warm embrace of the Himalayas makes for the perfect getaway from the humdrum of urban life. There are three wonderfully cosy rooms decked up in warm wooden furniture, graceful drapes, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that bring the mountains right in. The pièce de résistance of this home is the living room with a roaring fireplace. Gad bhoj, a delicious array of pahadi food is the highlight here. Cooked by the in-house chef and laid out on the lush green lawns, it makes for a memorable meal in the mountains. Wet your feet in the morning dew, practise yoga in the garden, spend your evenings looking out at the unending mountains, or stay indoors playing board games. At Barefoot Bungalow it all leads to bliss. Doubles from ₹27,490; barefoot bungalow.in

3 PUDUCHERRY

RESIDENCE DE L'EVÊCHÉ