Palais de Mahe

Surrounded by the sunny courtyard walls, the turquoise pool plus pinstriped loungers are very inviting. Deep verandas lined with potted plants wrap around the house and French-style arches lead from the lobby to the Earth Cafe, which opens onto the poolside patio. On the rooftop terrace, Les Alizes' serves up a variety of Indo-European cuisine including fantastic seafood. The eclectic cocktail bar is decked out in bright orange furnishings and the spa offers a range of Ayurvedic treatments.

Spread over Palais' three floors, 18 Superior and Deluxe Rooms are decorated with black and white photos of Pondicherry and vintage furnishings. Each room has a king size bed, sitting area on the veranda and en-suite bathroom with toiletries in terracotta pots. Uncluttered and spacious, the rooms also come with a desk, TV, tea/coffee facilities and a wardrobe. The Deluxe Rooms have a lounge area and some also come with a private terrace overlooking the courtyard.

Pondicherry has many faces in the form of its three historic quarters. Explore this seaside town on a heritage tour or cycle vintage bikes over the canals to sample what each quarter has to offer. Delve into the history of Pondy at the Puducherry Museum with its collection of antiques, statues and handicrafts. If you'd like to walk on the natural side of Pondicherry, stroll along its many beaches, enjoy a house boat ride down the Chunnambar River or enjoy a spot of diving off the south coast of India.