Les 3 Elephants

Kerala

LoginSave

Hidden from the beach but with the backwaters on your doorstep, Les 3 Elephants is a soothing French-Indian-owned resort with boutique flair. The beautifully and uniquely designed cottages have private sit-outs and lovely backwater views across gardens to Chinese fishing nets. There's yoga and meditation plus an ayurvedic spa (massage ₹1500), and the restaurant serves excellent home-cooked French-Indian fare (mains ₹200 to ₹500).

Guests can use the pool at a neighbouring property, while nearby Mini Elephant rooms offer a more budget-friendly experience (₹1000).

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Synagogue, Jewtown, Cochin, India

    Pardesi Synagogue

    14.9 MILES

    Originally built in 1568, Mattancherry's synagogue was partially destroyed by the Portuguese in 1662, and rebuilt two years later when the Dutch took…

  • Also known as Dutch Palace, the Mattancherry palace with its medieval charm is situated at Palace Road, Mattancherry, 10km from Ernakulam city, Kochi, Kerala, India. (Photo by: MyLoupe/UIG via Getty Images)

    Mattancherry Palace

    14.86 MILES

    Mattancherry Palace was a generous gift presented to the Raja of Kochi, Veera Kerala Varma (1537–65), as a gesture of goodwill by the Portuguese in 1555…

  • Chinese Fishing Nets

    Chinese Fishing Nets

    13.78 MILES

    The unofficial emblems of Kerala’s backwaters, and perhaps the most photographed, are the half-dozen giant cantilevered Chinese fishing nets on Fort…

  • Kerala Folklore Museum

    Kerala Folklore Museum

    17.58 MILES

    Created in Kerala style from ancient temples and beautiful old houses collected by its owner, an antique dealer, the family-run folklore museum houses a…

  • Ernakulam, Kerala, India, Indian Sub-Continent, Asia

    Hill Palace Museum

    19.06 MILES

    Around 13km east of Ernakulam, this impressive 49-building palace complex was formerly the residence of the Kochi royal family. It now houses the…

  • Indo Portuguese Museum

    Indo-Portuguese Museum

    14.11 MILES

    The heritage of one of India’s earliest Catholic communities – including vestments, silver processional crosses, altarpieces from the Kochi diocese and…

  • St Francis Church

    St Francis Church

    13.89 MILES

    Constructed in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars, this is believed to be India’s oldest European-built church. The faded-yellow edifice that stands…

  • David Hall

    David Hall

    13.92 MILES

    Opposite the parade ground, this beautiful restored bungalow is all that remains of three 17th-century Dutch-era houses built using materials from…

View more attractions

Nearby Kerala attractions

1. Chennamangalam Synagogue

5.07 MILES

Around 5km northeast of North Paravur, this beautifully restored synagogue is one of Kerala's most ancient, established in 1420 (though rebuilt in 1614…

2. Chinese Fishing Nets

13.78 MILES

The unofficial emblems of Kerala’s backwaters, and perhaps the most photographed, are the half-dozen giant cantilevered Chinese fishing nets on Fort…

3. Bastion Bungalow

13.81 MILES

Though the interior of this 1667 Indo-European bungalow was being renovated into a museum at research time, you can admire its fine whitewashed, tiled…

4. Kashi Art Gallery

13.88 MILES

The pioneer of Fort Cochin’s art revival, Kashi displays changing exhibitions of local artists in a creatively restored Dutch heritage house, attached to…

5. St Francis Church

13.89 MILES

Constructed in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars, this is believed to be India’s oldest European-built church. The faded-yellow edifice that stands…

6. David Hall

13.92 MILES

Opposite the parade ground, this beautiful restored bungalow is all that remains of three 17th-century Dutch-era houses built using materials from…

7. Dutch Cemetery

13.95 MILES

Consecrated in 1724, this cemetery near Kochi's beach contains the worn and dilapidated graves of Dutch traders and soldiers. Its gates are normally…