Anantha Heritage: An 18th Century House In Pondicherry’s Tamil Quarter

The information in this post might be outdated

Shortcut

A centuries-old, Franco-Tamil villa has been converted to Anantha Heritage; a boutique hotel at the heart of Pondicherry’s vibrant Tamil Quarter. Plan a holiday between now and mid-July to walk away with discounted rates.

Two Stories To Heaven

A heritage hotel in Pondicherry that doesn’t leave a gaping hole in your pocket; now there’s a sentence we don’t write often enough. Thankfully, Anantha Heritage seems to work in our favour {especially if you make a trip between mid-April and mid-July}. Adorned with Franco-Tamil architectural elements, the two-floor house was built way back in the 18th century. When it was converted into a hotel, the villa was restored and a few modern touches added.

The deep-orange hotel is right on the road; there’s no compound wall with a shiny plaque that announces your arrival. When you stride in, however, you’ll realise that the real magic lies in the interiors. Elegant pillars line the inner compound and the common spaces, and the rooms are spacious, too. The softly-lit bedrooms are adorned with vintage furniture, like woven rocking chairs and heavy-wood bureaus. Needless to say, you won’t live too shabbily here.

A French Touch

If you plan to stay indoors for the entirety of your trip, you may not find yourself with much to do. But we do recommend that you don’t skip the breakfast spread here. You can even go the south Indian or continental way; whichever you choose, you can be assured that the spread is sizeable and delicious. Once you’ve filled upon breakfast treats, we recommend signing up for an in-house Ayurvedic massage and sink into blissful oblivion.

Exploring the streets of Pondicherry will also bring you great joy. Just amble along the preserved French Quarter to come across many charming sights. You’ll find old-world buildings sporting a chirpy colour and laced with bright bougainvillea. You can also park yourself at any of the quaint cafes here and tuck into delicious food from all corners of the globe.

If you’re looking for spiritual solace, we recommend a trip to the famous Aurobindo Ashram in town, as well as an outing to the city of Auroville just outside Pondicherry.

Where: 96, Rue Perumal Koil, Puducherry

Price: INR 4,500 onwards

Contact: +91 9003966521

Check out the website here.