I am taking my wife to Pondicherry for our 1st wedding anniversary. I want to make it special and want the best of everything so have decided to stay in a 5-star hotel. Different 5-star hotels provide different facilities and services, so I want to know about all the 5 star hotels in Pondicherry. If you know about a particular brand of hotel and would recommend then, please do mention it.
Hello, welcome to the forum! Overview Heritage, beaches and spirituality, these are just some of the features of the Union Territory, Pondicherry. Once a French colony, the city still boasts of its French Quarter, where you would find quaint residential areas with bright colours and white bordered windows, taking you to a different region all in India. The neatly-laid boulevards and presence of bicycles on the streets are also reminiscent of almost a little town in France. The beaches of Pondicherry are also very laid-back, as not too many tourists throng to the city. Golden sands and long promenade walks, they make for romantic getaways for the couples. The Aurobindo Ashram provides for meditation and yoga courses for tourists as well. Not to mention the numerous churches that line the various streets of Pondicherry. Or how about Auroville? A unique township that would sure let you inspect your life in a more focused way. When in Pondicherry there are many options for staying, but in this guide, we would discuss the very best of the best, which are the five-star hotels in the city. Five-Star Hotels in Pondicherry 1. Le Pondy - Just a few metres away from the Chunnambar Backwaters and the Paradise Beach is the five-star property, Le Pondy. This is easily the top luxury hotel in the region, owing to the vast expanse of land it occupies plus its location, set amidst the river and the sea. It is a bit further away from the main city centre where the attractions are located, but if you simply want to laze on the beach and be on the laps of nature, then Le Pondy should be at the top of your list. Revel in the marvellous French architecture, from the exteriors to the interiors. Enjoy the open-air lobby, very simple, but does coincide with the overall beach vibe of the property. Spread over 14 acres are the various villas and rooms, offering either a view of the lake or the sea. Rooms are spacious and airy, filled with modern amenities and fitted with wooden furnitures. The private terrace has its own sofa cum bed and a wooden coffee table with chair. Bathrooms differ depending on the room, some are open-air while others are indoors. If you have the money, do splurge on a Luxury Pool Villa, where you can enjoy swimming on your private plunge pool, complete with sun lounges. From the reception, you need to cross a gorgeous glass bridge, with a pond below, to reach the restaurant. Serving a variety of South Indian and French dishes, the in-house restaurant is a must try as well. Must try dishes are their Seafood Bouillabaisse, Beef Steak and Prawn Vada. There's an outdoor swimming pool located close to the restaurant as well. It isn't too deep, around five feet in depth, and has a separate area for the little ones as well as jacuzzi points for the adults. There's an outdoor play area for children too, with a few slides and roping facilities. The indoor games area has facilities for games like foosball, chess and billiards. Other facilities in the property are a fitness centre, spa, souvenir shop, library, banquet halls and boardroom. WiFi is available in all areas of the property but due to its location, signal might be erratic. Room Rates - Lake View Room at Rs. 10,100/Night, Sea View Room at Rs. 12,500/Night, Luxury Pool Villa at Rs. 19,700/Night and Presidential Pool Villa at Rs. 24,500/Night Room Amenities - Air Conditioning, Balcony, Satellite Television, Intercom, Safe, Closet, Tea/Coffee Maker, Mini Bar and Attached Bathroom Hotel Facilities - Restaurant, Swimming Pool, Indoor Play Area, Outdoor Play Area, Fitness Centre, Spa, Souvenir Shop, Library, Banquet Halls, Boardroom, Internet, Parking and Travel Desk Address - No. 3, Lake View Road, Nallvadu Post, Pudukuppam, Puducherry 605007, India Contact Number - +91 41 3304 0800 Le Pondy 2. The Promenade - Located in the French Quarter of Pondicherry is the five-star hotel, The Promenade. The property faces the Promenade Beach and exudes a different appeal due to its combination of modern and traditional architectural styles. From the outside, the evidence of French influence is apparent, with the pure white facade that seemingly blends with the local architecture. The interiors are more contemporary, especially with the reception which features a combination of wooden and marble elements. The rooms are quite interesting exhibiting a more modern vibe, with the central bed, LCD television attached to a mirror wall and the all-wooden interiors. Suites have large windows overlooking the sea. There are three dining options in the property that one can choose from. First is Blue Line, their 24-hour restaurant facing the sea and serving a myriad of cuisines, from North Indian, to South Indian, to Italian. The best seller dish here? None other than the Rock Lobster, which is priced decently as compared to other restaurants. Bay of Buddha is their dinner-only rooftop restaurant, serving a variety of Asian cuisines like Chinese, Thai, Malaysian, Korean and more. It overlooks the Old Lighthouse as well as the Bay of Bengal. Must try dishes here are the Vietnamese Spring Roll and Dim Sum. The last one is Risque, which is their bar slash lounge that offers various cocktails and beverages along with a few Italian and Indian dishes. Other facilities in the property are a swimming pool, albeit small, and a spa. Close to attractions like the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral, Aurobindo Ashram and Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges, The Promenade is a good choice for those who want to be within the city centre. Room Rates - Deluxe Room (Without Sea View) at Rs. 5,123/Night and Deluxe Room (With Sea View) at Rs. 8,175/Night Room Amenities - Air Conditioning, Work Desk, LCD Television, Intercom, Mini Bar and Attached Bathroom Hotel Facilities - Restaurants, Swimming Pool, Bar, Spa, Parking, Shuttle, Baggage Storage, Travel Desk and Internet Address - No. 23, Goubert Ave, White Town, Puducherry, 605001, India Contact Number - +91 41 3222 7750 3. La Villa - La Villa is an old French villa converted into a heritage hotel by two French architects, Tina Trigala and Yves Lesprit. They further enhanced the colonial appeal of the villa and expanded it into a three-storey luxury hotel. This is an all-suite property and yes, it isn't that extensive as there are only six suites available, but it provides for a cozy and more private luxury stay. From the outside, the hotel looks like a typical French Quarter home. But behold, once you see the interiors, it would take your breath away. Tastefully done suites, featuring contemporary and minimalistic designs would greet you. The glass-panelled balcony filled with greenery is a bonus. Some suites have a large open terrace with sitting areas. The in-house restaurant serves delicious dishes from Continental and Italian cuisines. Relish in the beauty of the surroundings as you dine under the trees and flowers. Best seller dishes here are the Carrot & Orange Soup and Coconut Shrimp Prawns. You also cannot miss their Chocolate Namelaka, their version of a chocolate mousse, wherein dark chocolate is used instead, with an addition of lemon cream for that special kick. On the rooftop, there's a small swimming pool that staying guests can access. Other facilities in the property are a library and internet access. Services like massages, car rental and shuttles can also be provided for by the staff. Room Rates - North Side Story at Rs. 12,000/Night and South Side Story at Rs. 12,000/Night Room Amenities - Air Conditioning, Work Desk, Flat-Screen Television, Safe, Closet, Electric Kettle, Mini Bar and Attached Bathroom Hotel Facilities - Restaurant, Rooftop Swimming Pool, Library, Internet and Garden Address - No. 11 Rue, Surcouf Street, Puducherry, 605001, India Contact Number - +91 41 3233 8555 La Villa 4. Accord Puducherry - Accord Puducherry is a contemporary hotel under four kilometres away from attractions like the Botanical Garden, Aurobindo Ashram and Vinayagar Temple. The Accord Hotels are located in just a few areas in South India, the other two being Ooty and Chennai. The best feature of the hotel is its high quality of service offered to guests. Hygiene and cleanliness are also factors that are assured by the property. Rooms here are spacious, with carpeted flooring and wooden interiors. Their design is typical to what most contemporary hotels have, a bit on the traditional side and can be enjoyed by the business travellers. There are three dining options in the hotel, first is Seasons, their all-day dining restaurant with a variety of North Indian and Continental cuisines. Second is Legumes, their vegetarian restaurant located on the rooftop. And third is Zodiac, their lounge slash bar with a variety of Indian starters and snacks. Seasons is renowned for its hearty buffet served everyday during lunch and dinner. There's a small outdoor swimming pool covered by a patio that guests can also access. Other facilities like a spa, fitness centre and banquet hall are also available in the hotel. WiFi is freely available in the property but signal works best in the ground floor rooms. The hotel is also easily accessible from the main transportation hubs like the Pondicherry Main Bus Station and Pondicherry Railway Station, which are both under four kilometres away. Room Rates - Superior Room at Rs. 2,925/Night, Chambre Superieure at Rs. 4,050/Night and Deluxe Suite at Rs. 5,850/Night Room Amenities - Air Conditioning, Work Desk With Lamp, Flat-Screen Television, Safe, Tea/Coffee Maker, Mini Bar and Attached Bathroom (Separate Bedroom and Living Room in Suites) Hotel Facilities - Restaurants, Bar, Swimming Pool, Spa, Fitness Centre, Banquet Hall, Internet, Parking and Travel Desk Address - No. 1, Tilagar Nagar, Opposite Vasan Dental Care Hospital, Ellaipillaichavady, Puducherry, 605009, India Contact Number - +91 41 3229 9000 5. Windflower Resort & Spa - The Windflower Resort & Spa is located on the banks of the Chunnambar River. To its eastern side, the resort is merely a few metres away from the Veerampattinam Beach. The Chunnambar Boat House, which would take you to the backwaters and the Paradise Beach is a walking distance from the property as well. Enveloped in lush greenery, with views of the river and sometimes, ducks frolicking in the waters, the property is a great choice for those who want to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The property is set upon a vast land with the bungalow style accommodations spread all around. You can choose from a Villa, Studio or Suite. All are quite luxurious, with their own balcony overlooking either the sea or the gardens. In-house dining is in the form of The Bistro, which coincides with the overall antique and traditional vibe of the property. Cuisines served here are varied but best seller dishes are usually the seafood ones. There are two swimming pools in the property, an adult's swimming pool and children's swimming pool. Both are very clean and well maintained enough to be enjoyed by guests. There's also an indoor games section with facilities for chess, carom and foosball. For the adults, you can also enjoy massages and treatments at the in-house spa. Room Rates - Studio Room (Garden View) at Rs. 6,938/Night, Studio Room (Sea View) at Rs. 7,402/Night and Villa (Sea View) at Rs. 24,055/Night Room Amenities - Air Conditioning, Balcony, Flat-Screen Television, Safe, Tea/Coffee Maker, Mini Bar and Attached Bathroom (Plunge Pool in Villas) Hotel Facilities - Restaurant, Indoor Games, Swimming Pool, Spa, Parking, Internet and Banquet Halls Address - Survey No. 198/1 to 198/2, Manavely Revenue Village, Maraimalai Adigal Street, Chinnaveeram Pattinam, Ariyankuppam Post, Puducherry, 605007, India Contact Number - +91 41 3260 3200 Windflower Resort & Spa, The Bistro 6. Le Dupleix - Last on this guide is Le Dupleix, just 230 metres away from the Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges in White Town. This is another heritage property in the city, built around the 18th century and served as the residence of the Mayor of Pondicherry. The old mansion was extensively renovated but the owners managed to preserve its traditional French beauty. The facade is a typical French residence but the interiors are a mixture of modernity and tradition. The rooms are uniquely designed, no two are ever alike. The most luxurious option is the Luxury Suite, with its hardwood flooring, Burma teak poster bed and a separate attic loft with its own bed. There are two balcony areas, one even has a swing area that the little ones can enjoy. For dining, they have The Courtyard, which as the name suggests, is located in the garden area, with a wonderful fountain accompanying the guests. The restaurant has an array of dishes from Indian and European cuisines that one can choose from. Best seller dishes are the Grilled Calamari, Prawn Risotto and Grilled Lobster, basically any seafood dish here is worth trying out. The Governor's Lounge is also a must visit though it features mainly cocktails and beverages. But for the interiors alone, intricate wood carvings from the 18th century, art lovers are sure to find this place fascinating. Facilities are more limited in this property since it is located at a more compact area. There are still internet facilities and parking areas that one can utilise though. Room Rates - Deluxe Room at Rs. 5,123/Night and Penthouse at Rs. 10,355/Night Room Amenities - Air Conditioning, Balcony, Flat-Screen Television, Safe, Tea/Coffee Maker, Mini Bar and Attached Bathroom (Loft in Suites) Hotel Facilities - Restaurant, Bar, Internet, Parking, Massage and Travel Desk Address - No. 5, Caserne Street, Puducherry, 605001, India Contact Number - +91 41 3222 6001 Conclusion So why not make your trip to Pondicherry more worthwhile by staying in one of these five-star properties? You can relish in the past with heritage properties like La Villa and Le Dupleix. Or you can enjoy the mixture of traditional French and contemporary Indian designs with properties like Le Pondy and The Promenade. For the business travellers, a suitable options is the Accord Puducherry and for those who love being close to nature, try out the Windflower Resort & Spa. Whatever needs you have, there's a dependable five-star property in Pondicherry for that. Good luck and enjoy your trip to Pondicherry!
