Shaman House

This stay is fairly close to the beach and the main streets. You get your own room with a fan and ensuite bathroom. The owner was really communicative and made sure check in went well. I was able to stash my belongings there after checkout as I enjoyed Pondicherry and it's relaxing vibe. I'd totally recommend this place to backpackers and budget travelers 🙏🏽🤙🏽

No bedding, soap, towels...but it's a budget stay. Just come prepared with your own things.

Worst

Worst service

The room was super clean and towels, soap, tissues and water were provided. There is even the roof top where we could dry our clothes. The host was very kind and helpful. Not only did he recommend good places, restaurants and shops but the location of the house was in walkable distance to the said.

The best thing about the guest house was Susu, the owner and host. He is a lovely person, always willing to help, very kind and polite. He gives accurate information about how to get to places and what to do around, also information about local restaurants, cafes, etc. Besides the room was clean and was very well located, nearby the white town of Pondicherry.

The bed was very hard and there was not bedsheet for the night time (however it was so hot that you might not need it) 😅

the owner is reaaally nice! He helped us with everything we needed.

Unfortunately the room was just very uncomfortable, so even though I’d like to give him a high rating, I can’t. It was not very clean, the bed was uncomfortable, it was super noisy and there were no windows to let fresh air in. For this price you can get way better rooms.

Friendly and helpful owner. Location

Susu is an exceptional guy. He was so welcoming and accommodating when we arrived. He is what makes the place. The price is one of the cheapest I'd seen for a private room in the area. The bedsheets and pillows were clean. We slept well. Even though we had a room above the road it was quiet and there wasn't much traffic.

The listing on Booking isn't accurate: The description of the room we booked said 'One-bedroom house' and 'Entire holiday home' which was entirely inaccurate. It was a basic room with two single beds and a private bathroom. It is not a house nor a holiday home, but for the price you can't really expect that. I filtered out hostels on my Booking search but the environment and the Google listing is more that of a hostel than a hotel. After booking I was informed that the hostel gate is locked at 10pm. Although Susu assured us that we could come back later if we needed to (we are aged 40+!), it was a bit offputting when out exploring at night. Towels would be nice!

This is a lovely, simple guesthouse that is a great value. The accommodation is basic but comfortable, and very clean. It is well located a short walk from the French quarter of the city. And, the owner is extremely attentive and kind. He was easily reachable on WhatsApp the morning of my booking, and let me check in a few hours early for free, so I could drop my things and shower. Also, he sent over a long list of recommendations for restaurants, sightseeing, cafes etc. I am a 28 year old American woman traveling alone and felt very safe here! I will likely return in a few days when I come back to Pondy, and would come back if I returned on another trip!

Be aware that the accommodation is quite basic. My bed didn’t have a blanket but it was okay since I brought my own. This is to be expected as the rooms are very cheap.