Pondicherry...

The Ellora festival starts on Friday...have been invited but can't make it. Too much work :(

But Pondicherry was fabulous - even though I managed to visit neither the Ashram, nor Auroville. No, did not even have time to go to the German Bakery. But managed some beautiful late, late night walks along the seaside promenade. It helped that we were literally staying on the Promenade. Its a hotel called (ok, this word is getting repetitive) called the Promenade. Its owned by the Hidesign guys, and is definitely one of the best places to stay in the town. The rooms are amazingly large, and its got all the unexpected quirks of a design hotel - like the Soulflower toiletries, concealed lighting, camouflaged bars, huge tubs, sunken swimming pool etc...its an experience that's difficult to put in words, you've got to visit yourself. Trust me, you wont be dissapointed.

Although, remember to take a couple of pens with you if you do visit...as Dilip Kapoor, the owner, explained: I have not yet found a single pen or pencil that's well designed enough to be a part of my hotel, so I have just left them out for the time being. Now, that's some attention to detail!!

Dilip also owns another charming boutique hotel in Pondicherry - called Le Dupleix, and this place is luxury at its indulgent best. Built in classic French design, the hotel is crafted into the 18th century of Marquis Joseph Francois Dupleix, the Mayor of Pondicherry. I say "crafted" because even though the hotel has all the modern amenities, they are blended so well with the original structure that you just cant make out where the old mansion ends, and the new hotel begins. At present there are just nine suites, but expect five more in a few months. If you are going there, ask someone to point out the Chettinad Plaster walls - this is a long forgotten craft where the walls are plastered with a mixture of egg white, powdered sea shells and yoghurt.

Oh, and another little known fact that I only discovered by accident...remember that little girl in Black, whom Amitabh Bachchan said was one of the best actresses he had ever known? She is Dilip's daughter!!