More peaceful retreat than palace, long-running Dutch-owned Maharaju lies pocketed away down a lane at the southern end of Lighthouse Beach. Timber furnishings, vibrant linens and the odd mural and four-poster mean it's styled with more character than its competition. There's a sweet wood-walled two-room cottage in the garden and chintzy chandeliers adorn the breezy breakfast terrace.
Maharaju Palace
Kovalam