Aadisaktthi Leisure Resort, Kovalam

Look, I’ll be honest about Aadisaktthi Leisure Resort – it’s one of those places that looks absolutely stunning in photos, and when you pull up the winding road through Vellar, you can see why they picked this spot. The property sprawls across this hillside overlooking Kovalam, and on a clear day (which, let’s face it, isn’t every day during monsoon season), the views are pretty spectacular. But here’s the thing – and I mean this in the most helpful way possible – this is a resort that’s clearly aiming high with that five-star rating, though honestly, the 6.4 guest rating tells you there’s a bit of a gap between ambition and execution.

The location is actually brilliant if you know Kovalam well. You’re far enough from the main Lighthouse Beach chaos that you won’t hear the beach vendors at 6 AM, but close enough that a quick rickshaw ride gets you to all the good seafood spots along the coast. K.S. Road isn’t the easiest to navigate if you’re driving yourself – it’s narrow and the signage could be better – but most guests end up using the hotel’s pickup service anyway. The rooms themselves are spacious, and you know what really surprised me? The attention to traditional Kerala architecture mixed with modern touches. Those wooden ceiling beams aren’t just for show, and the way they’ve designed the bathrooms with natural light actually works. The pool area is where this place really shines, though it gets crowded during peak season (December through February, obviously). I spent most mornings there before the day-trippers started filtering in around 10 AM.

What you should know before booking is that service can be inconsistent – some staff members are incredibly knowledgeable about local attractions and will help you plan day trips to Padmanabhaswamy Temple or the backwaters, while others seem less engaged. The restaurant serves decent Kerala cuisine, though honestly, you’ll find better fish curry at the little places down in Kovalam village for half the price. The spa services are surprisingly good (I wasn’t expecting much), and they use authentic Ayurvedic treatments, not the watered-down versions some resorts offer. Wi-Fi works fine in common areas but can be spotty in some rooms – worth mentioning if you’re trying to work remotely. Overall, it’s a solid choice if you want something more secluded than the beachfront hotels but don’t mind that it feels like a work in progress. The potential is definitely there, and for what you pay, especially during off-season, it’s actually pretty reasonable for this part of Kerala.