LA VILLA SHANTI, PUDUCHERRY

Rue Suffren in the French quarter runs parallel to the promenade with a couple of streets in between.
Like all streets here, it runs end to end and lined with multi-hued colonial houses, many with high gates
and gardens. A glowing beige and white building with movable orange road-checks cleverly placed for
heightened contract is your first view of Villa Shanti. Then you notice the lights on either side of the
entrance painted the same stunning orange, a few boulders hold a standee in place, a one leafed palm
in a brass receptacle, shadows of a couple lush trees that line this stretch. The quiet street is particularly a buzz around Villa Shanti and hence the mood as you step in through the sturdy wooden doors onto a short corridor, under a provocative half curtain in white is shaded, cool and quiet.
Villa Shanti is a restored French house over a 100 years old to which an extension has been added to make space for rooms, dining and terrace. The concept is very minimal and the design evocative of French villas with open balconies and verandas looking out to a central square that is open to the skies. The People : There are several inspired people behind the project which took over four years from purchase and design to completion. Villa Shanti opened last December under Michaele Decoulange, Brigitte Berretta, Segiyane Sylvain Paquiry and Sanjay Razdan, the key promoters while Joy Mallya Gupta is their enthusiastic young manager at the hotel. Two French architects from Paris worked on the design and execution relying on local artisans and using locally sourced materials for the walls and floors. Furniture, interiors and the quaint objects d’art have been bought from endless explorations in the local markets of Chennai, Pondicherry and Chetinad. Dining, Lounge and Services : The central courtyard square is two stories high. On the ground floor, close to the entrance is an open bar and lounge, set around arched columns on one side, a dining on the other and guest rooms that begin on the far side. The fourth side is a high wall embellished with a thriving vertical garden that makes the central courtyard a green, sunny breakfast area in the mornings and an atmospheric candle lit, airy space for dining at night. The Bar and Lounge has low seating, its only decoration besides the shelves of gleaming glass ware is a central wall art which fans of Amar Chitra Katha will recognize as King Bharat and Shakuntala, straight from the comic book in a stylized setting. There is a an indoor air-conditioned dining room with about 30 covers, appreciated very much during sultry afternoons though even in June most people including me preferred sitting under the columned verandah under gently whirring fans. Villa Shanti serves up some amazing meals, with a selection of sea food, continental bakes and grills and a choice of regional and Indian dishes. Breakfasts served out in the courtyard are wonderful with freshly baked breads and croissants, fresh juice, eggs to order and fruits of the season. And before I Rue Suffren in the French quarter runs parallel to the promenade with a couple of streets in between. Like all streets here, it runs end to end and lined with multi-hued colonial houses, many with high gates and gardens. A glowing beige and white building with movable orange road-checks cleverly placed for heightened contract is your first view of Villa Shanti. Then you notice the lights on either side of the entrance painted the same stunning orange, a few boulders hold a standee in place, a one leafed palm in a brass receptacle, shadows of a couple lush trees that line this stretch. The quiet street is particularly a buzz around Villa Shanti and hence the mood as you step in through the sturdy wooden doors onto a short corridor, under a provocative half curtain in white is shaded, cool and quiet. Villa Shanti is a restored French house over a 100years old to which an extension has been added to make space for rooms, dining and terrace. The concept is very minimal and the design evocative of French villas with open balconies and verandas looking out to a central square that is open to the skies. The People : There are several inspired people behind the project which took over four years from purchase and design to completion. Villa Shanti opened last December under Michaele Decoulange, Brigitte Berretta, Segiyane Sylvain Paquiry and Sanjay Razdan, the key promoters while Joy Mallya Gupta is their enthusiastic young manager at the hotel. Two French architects from Paris worked on the design and execution relying on local artisans and using locally sourced materials for the walls and floors. Furniture, interiors and the quaint objects d’art have been bought from endless explorations in the local markets of Chennai, Pondicherry and Chetinad. Dining, Lounge and Services : The central courtyard square is two stories high. On the ground floor, close to the entrance is an open bar and lounge, set around arched columns on one side, a dining on the other and guest rooms that begin on the far side. The fourth side is a high wall embellished with a thriving vertical garden that makes the central courtyard a green, sunny breakfast area in the mornings and an atmospheric candle lit, airy space for dining at night. The Bar and Lounge has low seating, its only decoration besides the shelves of gleaming glass ware is a central wall art which fans of Amar Chitra Katha will recognize as King Bharat and Shakuntala, straight from the comic book in a stylized setting. There is a an indoor air-conditioned dining room with about 30 covers, appreciated very much during sultry afternoons though even in June most people including me preferred sitting under the columned verandah under gently whirring fans.

Villa Shanti serves up some amazing meals, with a selection of sea food, continental bakes and grills and a choice of regional and Indian dishes. Breakfasts served out in the courtyard are wonderful with freshly baked breads and croissants, fresh juice, eggs to order and fruits of the season.

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Large spacious Suites, Located in the French Quarter of Pondicherry