Villa Meena is a cosy, sweet escape for Chennai’s hectic schedules. Located in the quiet French Quarters and surrounded by French-style buildings, this simple bed & breakfast houses a number of air-conditioned rooms. Enjoy a continental breakfast in the morning, and if you decide to stay in, get access to their free WiFi which you’ll need to upload the gazillion pictures you’ll want to put up on Instagram.
You can either unwind indoors with a good book or practise yoga in their open terrace. Villa Meena also provides rooms with attached bathrooms and wardrobes too. But if you’re someone who’d love to soak up some sun and hit the beach or visit the many cafes in Pondy, borrow their cycles (for free!) and ride by the lovely beaches or picturesque colourful buildings reminiscent of quaint streets in Europe. Check out the Indian Kaffe Xpress for pancakes or Café Des Arts for baguettes and waffles.
What else is nearby? Head to the colourfully chaotic Gourmet market and watch vegetable vendors and fish sellers go about their day or visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram where they’ll take visitors in and around the ashram or even schedule a visit to the self-sustained community of Auroville. Don’t put off your holiday any more, call your gang and go on a much-need road trip to Pondy! Price: INR 2,400 onwards (at the time of this publication).
