Description
The Dune is made up of 24 Villas and 15 Rooms, all unique and individually designed combining traditional local materials with quirky colours and layouts. Set amongst 30 acres, each Villa comes with a private garden or terrace perfect for couples or families.
There are two restaurants serving healthy fusion food with vegetables sourced from their organic farm and fish from the nearby fishing villages. There is also a raised swimming pool with views over the Indian Ocean, the Veda Spa offering Ayurvedic treatments with yoga and meditation, a tennis court and a 700 metre beach.
Dune is ideal for both couples and families at the end of a tour of South India or as a single-centre destination where you can base yourself for day trips to the surrounding area. To the south lies the charming ex French colony of Pondicherry with its beautiful colonial houses, colourful bazaars and numerous restaurants. To the north, on the way to Chennai, you can visit the ancient Pallava port of Mahabalipuram, famous for its magnificent shore temple and its rathas (stone chariots). To the west lies the ancient fort of Gingee, set amongst a landscape of granite chaos and the town of Thiruvannamalai, famed for its ancient temple and the sacred hill of Arunachala.
Accommodation
The Dune offers 24 Villas and 15 Rooms all uniquely decorated and are very eco-friendly. Villas have been partially built using reclaimed building materials from South Indian Colonial houses, Chettinad palaces and Kerala planter’s mansions. They are fully equipped with solar hot water systems, energy saving light bulbs and wastewater treatment plants.
Childcare
Children are welcome at the Dune. Facilities include a children's play house with a large choice of games, a children's playground, kids swimming pool, bikes and a DVD library. There are also pottery lesson on offer.
Facilities
Facilities at the dune include a swimming pool, Ayurvedic Spa, tennis court, the 'Seafood Bar' next to the swimming pool and children's playground and the 'FUN' restaurant serving a fusion of Indian and Continental cuisine promoting the hypotoxic diet of the French biologist, Doctor Jean Seignalet.
Activities
The Dune offers complimentary swimming, yoga, tennis, table tennis, volley ball and jogging. Activities at an additional charge include spa treatments, boat trips and horse riding. Or take to the surrounding countryside to explore the ex French colony of Pondicherry, the Pallava port of Mahabalipuram, the ancient fort of Gingee and the infamous temple at Thiruvannamalai.
When to travel
The climate in southern India shows only slight seasonal variations. Temperatures and humidity remain relatively high all year round. Rainfall is common at any time of the year and the Monsoon Season has only marginally more precipitation than at any other time.
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Best time to visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
Not applicable
Location and directions
Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, India
15kms from Pondicherry
How to get there
10hr flight to Chennai then 3hr private transfer by road
