Le Dupleix

Pondicherry is a little slice of France in India, a microcosm showcasing everything from architecture to people and food. Especially food. Enjoy rustic delicacies at Rendezvous, or opt for oven-fresh fare from the Auroville Boulangerie where aromas of baking bread waft through the air at all times, luring in even the most resolute. Satsanga doesn’t sound French, and it looks more flower power than Chic, but when it comes to food, it brings on the ‘ooh la-las. More formal meals are to be had at Le Club, a destination restaurant. Set in the garden of a French villa, It’s the place for classic French food and wines. More contemporary, but still as good, is the food and wines. Dine in the courtyard restaurant of This 18th century building. Now renovated, It’s a boutique property with 14 suites, no two rooms alike, where four-poster beds are the norm.

In Pondicherry, esecially near the sea front, it is difficult to escape the French connection. But Real in it instead, with a stay at the quaint and charming Le Duplex. An erstwhile 18th century French colonial villa, built for the mayor of Pondicherry, it is now a heritage hotel named after the famous French Governor of Pondicherry, marquis Joseph-Francois Dupleix. The stunning bungalow is typical of the villas of that era-high walls, arched doorways, a beautiful courtyard, exquisite iron balustrades skirting the balconies and adorning the windows. To make the interiors even more interesting, the suites are all designed diiferently from each other and show off the land’s history to maximum effect. Pondicherry abounds in monuments. But just a stroll in the French and ashram quarters or inTACH’s Heritage Walk are a must for the culturally inclined.

Tariff Range

Rs.4,500-8,000 for a double room

Le Dupleix
5, Rue De La Caserne,
Pondicherry
(0413) 2226 999
http://www.ledupleix.com
Co-ordinates: 11.931118, 79.833891 Nearby Places: Pondicherry