Maison Perumal is set in the Tamil Quarter of Pondicherry, a district not often visited by tourists. It is a wonderfully restored house, offering guests the chance to experience life in an authentic noble Tamil noble home.
The restoration of the building took over eighteen months and involved many local craftsmen. The house retains original features such as stone walls and woodwork and has combined these with modern touches like air conditioning, making for a comfortable stay. There are 10 guest rooms, all simply but authentically recreated.
Lunches are a traditional blend of Tamil and Kerala cuisines bringing out the differences in flavours from these neighbouring states. Dinners are more contemporary with an emphasis on presenting fresh sea catch. There is also a separate cocktail lounge.
During the day guests can explore Pondicherry - walk though the narrow alleyways of the French Quarter and see how they compare with the Tamil. Time would be well spent at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and its associated facilities and also by taking a trip to utopian Auroville and the Matri Mandir. In the evenings and early mornings guests can stroll along the seafront promenade. It's fairly convenient and probably a good idea to hire a bicycle while in Pondicherry.
