It is rare to find a place of quietude inviting one to contemplation, an inner journey without compromising on comfort. The home has been restored closely to the original with the assistance of INTACH. Gratitude is spotlessly clean and decorated with impeccable taste in the style of the period when Puducherry was a French colony. The furniture is mainly antiques salvaged from homes of that period and restored to much of its original beauty. The Anglo French furnishings reflect the love for natural, authentic textiles.

Rooms are divided over three floors with three rooms on the ground floor, five on the first floor and one on the second floor. All the rooms either open into or have a window facing the central courtyard with its majestic Mango tree and lush garden. There are no televisions or telephones in the rooms, which maintains the wonderful peace. Being an old home, no two rooms are alike in size and décor. Vintage furniture sourced over the years adds to the charm and quirkiness. All rooms come with air conditioning, Wi-Fi and en suite bathrooms with modern facilities.

Dining

Breakfast is served on a long wooden table in the dining room, which fosters interesting conversation and meetings between the different guests, there are also smaller tables in the courtyard for those who prefer more privacy. The food is a combination of French and Tamil influences, with fresh croissants from the local bakery and eggs to order combined with a hot South-Indian dish which is different every day. Fresh seasonal fruit, often from their own organic farm when possible is also provided. Coffee is locally sourced every week and freshly ground in the morning. While Gratitude does not have a restaurant, it offers guests private dining on an ad-hoc basis, which can be anything from a simple home cooked meal to a more extensive four course Creole feast served on banana leaf;  all cooked by Shanthi, the wonderful in-house cook who has been with Gratitude for years.

There is a complimentary tea and coffee facility in the dining hall round the clock for guests to help themselves with.

While there are no televisions, the whole house has high-speed fibre internet for guests to work or use as they please. A small massage area is located on the terrace where guests can get in-house massages. The terrace also has a small open space for yoga (with yoga mats) and a local yoga teacher can be called in upon request. A small library is open in the private wing of the house for guests to borrow books or board games to while away the quiet afternoons. The Front Desk is open during business hours and is always ready to provide basic concierge services, arrange tours, transport, and special requests.

Located in the heart of the French Quarter (colloquially known as White Town), there are over 80 restaurants and 13 tourist attractions within 500 meters. Everything from Sunday flea markets, special boutique stores, cafés and bars to the colourful Goubert market, the Basilica and the Église Notre-Dame des Anges can all be found within walking distance. The famed Promenade and sea-front is less than 200 meters from Gratitude, and makes for excellent walking in the evenings or mornings when it is closed off to all traffic and made pedestrian only.

Gratitude guests can use the Pool at the sister hotel, Kariappa House for a nominal charge.

Perfect For

Gratitude is ideal for artists, authors, designers, couples, single travellers or families with adult children and for small reunions. The WiFi makes for a perfect work from remote location opportunity. It is perfect for anyone looking for a peaceful retreat in a historic setting with unique charm. To maintain the peaceful ambience, Gratitude is a place for children over the age of thirteen.

Operational status
Gratitude is open all year.

Gratitude Heritage is classified as a Category II Heritage building and was restored over three years with the help of INTACH, an organisation that specialises in conserving heritage across India.

No Single-Use Plastic: Disposable wrappers and plastic bottles are not provided, with water served in refillable glass bottles. Soaps are wrapped in butcher's paper and are from a local non-profit organisation, Voluntariat, that works with marginalised communities. Shampoo is provided in ceramic dispensers that are refilled every day. Bathrooms have brass buckets, ensuring less water use with a bucket bath. and waste bins are lined with recycled paper. The coffee, milk powder, and sugar that are provided in the common area are filled in glass containers.

Safe Garbage Disposal: There is dependence on the local municipality for waste disposal. Efforts are on to lobby the local government and find a workable waste management system.

Local Community Engagement: The staff are local and are hired to work from a long term perspective. They are trained, fostered, and looked after in ways such as supporting their children’s education and providing help for medical or financial emergencies. Local businesses are supported, and guests are encouraged to visit community centres such as the Cluny Mission Embroidery Centre.

Light Footprint Tourism: Towels and linen are changed every fourth day or on request. The slippers provided for guests are made of rubber and are sanitised after each check-out. Gratitude has a small local organic farm, and most vegetables are sourced from there. The cuisine reflects the Franco-Tamil influence with a mix of French, Tamil, and Creole cuisines.

During restoration, the Madras Terrace roof was restored using traditional methods and materials. Additionally, old windows and doors were recycled for use within the home.

Sensitive Destination Discovery: Activities include heritage tours from a local perspective, walking and bicycle tours, and the promotion of local arts. Gratitude hosts events every year as part of the Pondicherry Heritage Festival.

Heritage Preservation: Gratitude is classified as a Category II Heritage building and was restored over three years with the help of INTACH, an organisation that specialises in conserving heritage across India. The preservation and restoration process included the use of local tradecraft such as Madras terracing and hiring local carpenters, Athangudi tile makers, and stucco workers to preserve traditional techniques, make the restoration historically accurate, and make Gratitude a "True Heritage" property.

Human Touch: The family moved to Puducherry to be close to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The staff is well looked after.

The RARE Sustainability Quotient is a self-audit tool that is used by our hotel partners to measure, document, and assess their planet and people friendly practices and is based on the RARE Touchstones.