Raheem Residency is a genuine heritage home situated at an undeveloped Kerala Beach. Built in 1868 and showing both Mughal & colonial influence in its architectural style, it was the home of the Raheem’s for five generations over the last 100 years until we bought the property in 2003.

This is a great little find, a throw-back to the days of the Raj, but the feel is distinctly contemporary, mixing style and substance to great effect. Bibi, who is Irish (she speaks Gaelic), has renovated with real passion. Wonderful arched windows flood the house with light, while a simple elegance lingers, keeping the place true to its roots. You’ll find terracotta floors, shuttered windows, covered terraces and fine Indian furniture – comfy colonial cool close to the Arabian Sea.

An old tiled roof crowns this 1868 heritage bungalow (Nehru and Ghandi once visited), while white walls encircle you and palm trees flourish. Wander around and you’ll come to a swimming pool imported from France, a tree-shaded terrace and a garden where you can lounge around in hammocks. If you want, you can indulge in a little yoga, Vedic astrology or Ayurveda, or head back inside and find the resident tailor. Follow your nose across the road and discover the Malabar Coast, where you can stroll along palm-fringed sands, watch blistering sunsets or explore the pier, a relic of old Empire days.

Most people come for the famous backwater boat trip, on which you glide through Kerala’s imperious network of ancient waterways; it is not to be missed and starts (or ends) nearby. Raheem is also writer-friendly (Bibi loves books). Scribes get special rates out of season (two-week minimum stay), and endless cups of masala tea are on hand to help you burn the midnight oil. The beach across the road is virtually deserted and Alleppey is a couple of miles away. Local rickshaws will whisk you there and back, but there are bikes, too, so take a spin along the coast road or head into town and follow the canals.

Inner View