The Best Boutique Hotels to Book in Pondicherry, India

This central boutique hotel is just 2km (1mi) from the Hindu Manakula Vinayagar Temple – though you may find it hard to leave your lavish room, with its thick drapes, ornate headboards and flower-festooned beds. Drag yourself away to explore the on-site dining options, which span vegetarian buffets, French- and Indian-style pastries and coffee and barbecued seafood by the pool.

This contemporary boutique hotel is so close to the beach, you’ll wake to the sound of the waves. The property is also just 0.5km (0.3mi) from the Manakula Vinayagar Temple, visited by devotees from across the country. After you’ve toured such important city sights, enjoy some me time with a splash in the rooftop pool and a reviving dish of lentil dhal at Le Boulevard Restaurant.

With its scenic location on an estuary between the Chunnambar river and the Bay of Bengal, this Pondicherry boutique hotel features thatched-roof villas set on luscious lawns with a pretty pond and lake. Opt for a sea-facing room to enjoy views of the private beach from your daybed. Maintain the feeling of calm with yoga and reiki healing at the Ayurveda Centre, followed by a fresh mint tea under the shade of the garden pavilion.

A 15-minute walk from the French-built Botanical Garden with its musical fountain and train ride, this Indo-French hotel also offers a welcome dose of greenery as you rest in its cool central courtyards dotted with plants. Whitewashed walls and dark-wood beams feature throughout the property, including in the suites, which come with four-poster beds and tiled balconies overlooking the narrow street below. Feast on delicious local dishes such as idlis (savoury rice cakes) and sweet chutney at the in-house restaurant.

Palais de Mahe is set in a French colonial-style building in the French Quarter, a few miles from the promenade. Thoughtfully designed and aesthetically pleasing, this boutique hotel features three colonnaded floors of stylish suites, complete with period furniture and modern luxuries. Get pampered in the Ayurvedic massage centre, take a dip in the plunge pool nestled in the majestic courtyard or simply chill on the arched veranda dotted with leafy planters. Come evening, the cocktail bar and rooftop restaurant are popular places to relax.

Located in the appealing Tamil Quarter, Maison Perumal is a Tamil mansion-turned-boutique hotel dating back to the French colonial era. Local materials, such as kadappa stone and teak wood, dominate the 10 guest rooms, which are arranged around an inner courtyard with stained-glass-lined balconies and a rotating display of local art. Take a tour of the nearby Goubert Market with the chef before enjoying a feast of fresh seafood in the restaurant.

Named after the last governor of French India, this 14-room boutique hotel incorporates intricate woodwork salvaged from the colonial official’s home. Antique textiles and furnishings are dotted throughout the property. Located on the leafy streets of White Town, amid rows of French colonial-era villas, the hotel is within walking distance of many quirky cafes and restaurants, but we recommend dining on Creole seafood dishes in the on-site stone courtyard.

Housed in a handsome burgundy-coloured mansion built in 1760, this French Quarter stay is an easy seven-minute walk from Promenade Beach. Inside, step back in time among the Indian antiques, four-poster beds, printed fabrics and rattan chairs that line the rooms and public spaces, or enjoy romantic dining under the stars in the tree-lined courtyard. Fill up on lip-smacking Creole cuisine made using organic produce from nearby farms, and wake up to fresh bread, jam and pastries for breakfast.

If you like to be in the thick of things, book a chocolate-brown room at this hotel, located a 20-minute walk from Promenade Beach. This is one for the foodies out there, with dishes such as seasoned skewers of chicken shawarma and kizhi parotta, a tasty combo of layered chicken and dough cooked in a banana leaf.