Maison Perumal
Pondicherry

Puducherry (or Pondicherry as the world still knows it) is a slim slice of France, deposited neatly besides the azure waters of the Coromandel Coast. Stroll around its seafront promenade and you could be forgiven for thinking you were in a Provençal village. Bright plaster houses lining neat, narrow lanes, flower-laden wrought-iron balconies, blue-enameled street signs, and staying carefully out of the sun, even policemen in red kepis. This is, of course, the old French Quarter, justly famous, celebrated in literature and legend, and arguably.

the only Puducherry most visitors ever see. But enter a little deeper towards the heart of town, away from the neat occidental geometries of the seafront, and you come into quite a different world. Not France with a touch of the Orient. Indeed, quite the reverse. The Tamil Quarter of Puducherry is a place where cultures not only met, but melted. And gave birth to a way of life found nowhere else in the world. Maison Perumal is our tribute to that way of life. A sepia serigraph of another time - dusted off perhaps, but not retouched.

Maison Perumal is a tasteful blend of old-world Tamil and French architectural styles. Verandahs and sit out areas speak of the Tamil heritage while the arched windows and stylized colonnades reflect their French colonial ancestry. The materials are typically local, with cool Cuduppah stone underfoot and teak furniture lending its special richness. The only sign of modernity is the air-conditioner humming unobtrusively in the background.

GETTING HERE Frequent buses from Chennai, Salem and Trichy 140 km from Chennai and about 300 km from Bangalore..

Accommodation

Stained glass offsets the familiar local white plaster, an example of how Maison Perumal celebrates its special heritage. Once, this was an old family mansion, part of the prosperous communities that came up around the temple area.

It took us over a year to restore the building itself, and refurbish it with a studied attention to detail. Researches were conducted into the minutae of material, fit and finish. Local craftsmen were pressed into service, old crafts revived.

The red oxide floors and simple wood frame beds feel like they've been transported from a half century ago.Tamil Nadu's conservative culture had a less-is-more philosophy that's reflected in Maison Perumal's minimalistic interiors, adorned with a spare style, yet much attention to detail.

DINING At Maison Perumal, even a familiar plate of pasta gets a carefully crafted makeover (see bottom pic) , involving tiny local prawns, fish, chilis, garlic and our chef's unique mix of spices. Freshness is the key ingradient, and from yams to okra to drumsticks, it's locally grown vegetables that are given pride of place on our tables.

Seafood gets the local touch too. mango, curry leaves, fresh cracked mustard seeds and roast cumin provide a medley of flavours that invoke Tamil coastal cooking at its best. The menu abounds in light and vegetarian options too.

Maison Perumal's dining area is a cool, airy haven where you can relax and find a moment of quiet whenever you like. The walls are a rotated gallery space with a selection of canvases, part of our initiative to promote work by local artists.

Only One Extra Person Above Five Years per Room
Extra person rate on per night basis

Click here for Booking Form

Tele : +91-11-41612107, 26823836. Mobile: 9810112772, 9910003772.
Email :- reservations@ashextourism.com

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