The Saratha Vilas

Saratha Vilas is a stunning renovated mansion house. It is a beautiful place to stay. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Delicious breakfasts and dinners served in a lovely courtyard. A great location to visit other sites in Chettinad.

If you like quiet places in the middle of a very unusual countryside you will adore this boutique hotel. The renovation was done with taste and you feel immediately at home in this old mansion. For us it was also fantastic to discover all the objects the owners have been collecting from their trips through India. Don't miss the massages which are great experiences and very professional.

Walking into Saratha Villas is like entering a film set or having a wonderful dream! But it manages also to be warm and welcoming so you immediately feel at home. Our room was huge and off the first covered entrance hall with a door about 10 feet tall opened by a heavy old key probably 6 inches long. Our bed frame was made of beautifully carved Burmese teak and all the furniture fitted perfectly the ambiance of the house. The bathrooms are ultra modern and sleek but not out of place against the antiques and quirky items all around you. As you move towards the back of the house you pass through courtyards that each have their own character and your eyes find new things every time you walk by. Meals are taken in a covered, raised area surrounding yet another courtyard and are beautifully served. The lighting at night is romantic and exquisite. The garden and swimming pool are pretty and lovely for relaxing after being out and about in the heat. The three dogs are the "cherry on the cake" for dog lovers. The village is friendly and we enjoyed walking locally and visiting the market. All staff were wonderful and the owners available for advice and information. We admire Bernard and Michel so much for what they have achieved and look forward to a return visit.

This is a fabulous building painstakingly restored by French architects who remain onsite and patiently answer questions about the building, the area, the country. The rooms are large and well appointed The staff are friendly, helpful but unobtrusive, and are clearly well looked after by Management, who I observed going around wishing each staff member good morning. There are great spots to sit in the courtyards. The swimming pool is set in lush lawn and gardens and has sunlounges and hammocks. The breakfasts and dinners are simple, tasty and varied.

We had a wonderful comfortable stay at Saratha Villas. The owners, two French architects, have done an amazing job renovating the place and their personal touch and good taste are evident throughout. They are also very knowledgeable about the area and gave us very good advice on where to go and what to see. The food was very good, and we liked that the owners had dinner with the guests. We felt like we were guests in their house, in a good way! The pool was also very welcome after a day in the South Indian heat. Excellent staff as well.