By enquiry Udaipur · Boutique hotel
Udaipur
Sixty four rooms above Hanuman Ghat and the oldest rooftop pool in Udaipur, by the house's own telling. Dusk up there outshines the palace bars.
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Enquire Pondicherry · Boutique hotel - City Break
Palais de Mahe
Details last checked · August 2026
Why we love it
"Colonial French bones, Coromandel soul, right in Pondicherry's French Quarter."
Pondicherry has always been two towns wearing one skin: quiet colonial lanes on one side, a loud, spice-scented bazaar on the other. Palais de Mahe is built to sit right at that seam. Step through arched doorways into high-ceilinged rooms with old roof beams and ochre-washed walls, and you're as close to a French mansion as India gets, without ever really leaving India behind.
This isn't a hotel that asks you to pick a side of the city. Wander out for sidewalk café coffee and designer boutiques one hour, temple bells and bangle sellers the next, then come back to colonnaded quiet. It's the kind of place that rewards slow mornings and aimless evening walks in equal measure.
Best for
Heritage lovers, couples, culture-and-café wanderers
Getting there
In Pondicherry's French Quarter
Amenities
- Les Alizés — rooftop seafood restaurant with the day’s catch from nearby harbour boats
- Earth Café — all-day café with locally roasted coffee and light snacks
- Cocktail bar
- Courtyard swimming pool (rare among the French Quarter hotels)
- Ayurveda Well-being Centre — herbal massages and therapies
- Colonial mansion in Pondicherry’s French Quarter, 50 m from the seafront promenade
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
- Laundry / dry cleaning
Some facilities and experiences may be chargeable.
Common questions
How do you get to Palais de Mahe?
In Pondicherry's French Quarter
Who is Palais de Mahe best for?
Heritage lovers, couples, culture-and-café wanderers
Where is Palais de Mahé in Pondicherry?
It stands on rue de Bussy in Pondicherry's French Quarter, barely 50 metres from the Bay of Bengal. Promenade Beach is 2 minutes' walk and the railway station and bus stand are about 5 minutes away.
How do I get to Palais de Mahé from Chennai?
CGH Earth gives Chennai Airport as roughly a 3-hour drive from the hotel, while Pondicherry's own railway station and bus stand are about 5 minutes away.
What are the restaurants at Palais de Mahé?
Four outlets: Les Alizes (breakfast, lunch and dinner), the Roof Top Seafood Grill (evenings), Earth Café (11 am–6 pm) and Mahe Bar (11 am–11 pm).
What are the check-in and check-out times at Palais de Mahé?
As a CGH Earth hotel, check-in is 1400 hrs and check-out 1100 hrs. Complimentary Wi-Fi and parking are provided; rooms are non-smoking with a designated smoking area.
Can children stay at Palais de Mahé?
Under CGH Earth's policy, children under 5 stay complimentary, and two children aged 6 to 12 can be accommodated in all room categories; arrangements for ages 13–17 vary by category.
What makes Palais de Mahé distinctive?
CGH Earth describes it as a colonial-style palatial mansion with a majestic courtyard, deep verandahs, attractive pillars and period furniture, blending south Indian fire and flavour with French intensity and fervour.
Around the property
- French Quarter streets and colonial bungalows — walking distance
- Sidewalk cafes and designer boutiques — nearby
- Local bazaar with sari shops, bangle sellers and temples — nearby
- Coromandel coast — nearby
Rooms & rates
Mahe Chambre
The Mahe Chambre spans 223 sq. ft. of finely-appointed space room is perfect for up to 2 guests. Amenities: AC, complimentary high-speed WiFi, and TV.
Palais Chambre Deluxe
Offering a generous 350 sq. ft. space that marries luxury with functionality. Experience the convenience of modern technology with AC, high-speed WiFi, and a TV. Start your day right with our complimentary breakfast, and enjoy the ease of in-room beverages with a tea & coffee maker.
Palais Chambre Deluxe with Private Terrace
339 sq. ft. The convenience of a tea & coffee maker, alongside a well-stocked minibar and complimentary mineral water, ensures a refreshing stay.
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