La Villa a luxury boutique hotel, set in the old French quarter of Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu. Built in the 19th-century, the old Manor House has been carefully refurbished, using ancient materials and techniques by Paris-based architect and designer Tina Trigala and Yves Lesprit. Expect centuries-old bricks, lime plaster, colour cement flooring, and handmade tiles. The result is a quiet space in a leafy by-lane, that bring back a leisure-filled bygone era at the heart of Pondicherry city.
Housed within three floors of the old French La Villa, are just six spacious suites. All are decorated with local granite floors, handcrafted contemporary furniture made from old wood and local handicrafts and artefacts. A touch of France remains: there are croissants and coffee for breakfast in the courtyard and classic Franco-Indian fusion dishes for dinner. Across the road is the flamboyant sibling, Villa Shanti with a restaurant that offers more culinary options.
Pondicherry is a seaside town with its French legacy preserved in its French Quarter; tree-lined streets, mustard-coloured villas and chic boutiques. La Villa is located within walking distance from the city highlights: Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Conception Cathedral, and the nearby Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Discover Pondy by the sea or take day excursions to Tanjore or Madurai, or the rural sites of Chettinad and Rajjakad. Back at the hotel, relax in a rooftop pool with sun loungers.
Amenities
Bar/PubCoffee ShopConciergeCribs/Infant Beds AvailableGardenMultilingual StaffOutdoor PoolRestaurantSafety Deposit BoxesStay La Villa features just six spacious suites. Each are designed in contemporary style using natural materials and furnished with plush beds draped in fine French linens. Each suite comes with either a private sitting area, a terrace or balcony but the two larger suites, Timeless and Bridge to Heaven have larger verandas and terraces. Modern facilities include air-conditioning, flat-screen cable TV, electric kettle, minibar and marble top bathrooms with Fragonard toiletries.
ChildCare La Villa is primarily designed for adults and with just 6 rooms, this boutique hotel doesn’t accept children under 15 years age.
Dine The in-house restaurant at the La Villa, Pondicherry offers a seasonal menu using fresh local ingredients. The cuisine is mostly a blend of South Indian and Western dishes with a French influence. Meals are served in an open courtyard or in the garden on fine China porcelain with period silver cutlery and crystal glasses. Across the road is their sister property, Villa Shanti which has a wonderful restaurant and cocktail bar.
Relax For relaxation has a lovely swimming pool with sun loungers. Inside the La Villa hotel are plenty of spaces to relax plus WiFi, flat-screen cable TVs and DVDs and there are bicycles that guests can use to explore the surrounding town.
Experience Pondicherry or 'Pondy' as it is lovingly known locally and sometimes known as ‘The French Riviera of the East’. La Villa can arrange private tour of the city that fuses French style and bohemian-chic with Indian architecture. Interesting sites include Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an oriental specimen of Gothic architecture, Puducherry Museum and the nearby Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a spiritual community. Beach lovers will enjoy Promenade Beach, a popular stretch of beachfront.
Location La Villa is located in the old French quarter of Pondicherry within easy walking distance of most of the main sights and sounds of the town.
Getting there The drive from Madras (Chennai) takes around four hours, although you can reach Pondicherry on the train from either Chennai or Madurai to the south. Other popular combinations include the fascinating town to Tanjore (three hour drive) and Chettinad.
When to go The climate in southern India shows only slight seasonal variations. Temperatures and humidity remain relatively high all year round. Rainfall is common at any time of the year and the Monsoon Season has only marginally more precipitation than at any other time.
Destination
Southern, India
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