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Vembanad House

Backwaters, India
Vembanad House — hotel photograph
Vembanad House is a charming, intimate homestay overlooking the vast open stretches of Kerala’s Vembanad Lake.

This bungalow is close to a century old, and its four spacious rooms, faithful to ancient Kerala architecture and design, promise seclusion and tranquillity.

We love that you’re surrounded by both nature and culture, the flourishing paddy fields where wildlife hides, the villages where artisans hone their crafts, the ancient temples where you can hear the chanting of mantras. Vembanad House offers a stripped-back experience that’s ideal for those looking for a complete change of scene.

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What we love

    • A secluded homestay that allows you to get as far away from the crowd as you can go
    • The bungalow rests right by the banks, and you can relax by the lake all day, right in front of your room
    • Plenty of activities to keep you busy if you want to explore, from cycling to water sports to nightly cruises
    • Your hosts are friendly and will be happy to share their stories and knowledge of the local area with you
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The bungalow has no TV in any of the living areas or bedrooms, but we’d much prefer to dive into a good book from our perch by the lake

There are no pool or spa facilities available but we love that you can tap into your wild side and take a dip in the lake to relax instead

There are not too many choices for restaurants in the area, but guests frequently comment on how much they enjoy the hosts’ breakfasts and dinners

Families are welcome, but amenities are not designed with families in mind.

Their social initiative focuses on sustainable tourism, preserving the wetlands and biodiversity, and supporting local community.

Located in Muhamma on the western banks of Lake Vembanad, and a 50-mile drive from Cochin airport.

What our travellers say

We went to Sri Lanka as a three-generation family of three. The superb trip was organised by Samanthie and the team and it's difficult to see how it could have been bettered.
Roy Wood (February 2026)
Red Dot organised the most wonderful 3-week holiday for us. Samanthie built a trip around the amazing sights we had requested visiting, together with her own suggestions and a wide mix of hotels, which gave us the flavours of both traditional Sri Lanka and the sleek, stylish contemporary version of the country. Our Driver made the whole experience incredibly special for us.
Alie C (February 2026)
I can’t thank Cherylle and the Red Dot team enough for their meticulous planning of our family holiday to India travelling through Rajasthan over Christmas. As a family of all adults, every suggestion from daily activities to hotel choices was simply perfect. We travelled through Delhi, Ranthambore (an unforgettable tiger safari!), Jaipur and Agra and I truly feel we experienced the very best of each destination while moving at a relaxed, well thought out pace
Daisy Stanton (February 2026)
My partner arranged a holiday trip at fairly short notice to Sri Lanka with Red Dot on a recommendation, Samanthie was so patient & helpful with her suggested itinerary which we followed with some minor amendments. On arrival at Colombo we met Manjula our chauffeur/guide who was absolutely brilliant!
Andrew S (February 2026)
Dulmini and the Red Dot Team arranged a fantastic trip for us around Assam and North East India. Faultless service. I cannot recommend them more highly.
Martin Thomas (February 2026)
Wonderful company. Our holiday in Sri Lanka was perfect. Local knowledge made all the difference
Sandra Nicholson  (February 2026)
We looked up, and communicated with umpteen tour operators. Though Red Dot seemed to have offices in Sri Lanka and the UK, they seemed to have the best reviews. We were fortunate enough to correspond with Cherylle, who not only assured us of the safety of our friend, but created a personalised, and flexible, itinerary which we could not have done ourselves.
Jayant Banerji (February 2026)
A 14-day tour with Red Dot Tours was the perfect antidote to the bleak UK winter. After a glowing recommendation from a friend, we contacted Red Dot Tours and were not disappointed. Our consultant, Lahiru, curated a seamless itinerary. Throughout the planning phase, Lahiru was incredibly responsive; the final itinerary—delivered via a user-friendly 'Guest Portal'—was impressively detailed, covering every hotel stay and excursion.
Phil Blair ( February 2026)
Traveller testimonial from Roy Wood (February 2026)

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