Over the past few years of my travelling days, I had barely explored South India beyond the obvious and in 2017 I set about correcting it. It was the last week of September and I arrived at Chennai airport at the stroke of noon. I wanted to head straight to Pondicherry from the airport itself. The searing humidity of Chennai wasn’t helping at all and I began sweating profusely after exiting the airport premises. Taxi drivers quoted 1200-1500 Rupees for Pondicherry while others suggested I go to the Metro Station (CMBT) and then to Koyambedu to catch a direct Volvo bus to Pondicherry.

I figured that more than comfort time is of the essence for me to reach Pondicherry and therefore just kept walking and didn’t respond to the taxi guys. In the process, I stumbled upon the easiest process of reaching Pondicherry from Chennai airport. Exit the airport, take a right – After walking approx. 500m take a left on the road, there will be a local railway station. Take a 10 rupee ticket to Perangulathur station that is 3-4 stops away from the boarding station. After exiting from the Perungalathur train station, once you get out cross the road – there should be a bus station visible. From here local (Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation) SETC buses run regularly to Pondicherry via the ECR road and also the other route. I remember the bus ticket cost me only 85 Rupees.

I stayed for a day in this palatial heritage property from the 1760s. It is a manor house located in the heart of the French Quarter and has a beautiful inner courtyard shaded by neem trees. I loved their masala chai and the breakfast spread; their restaurant is supposedly quite recommended for the ‘creole’ cuisine.