Fort St David: Historic Home in Cuddalore Nr Pondy

Just south of Pondicherry, on the edge of the Cuddalore backwaters, stands Fort St. David, a lovingly restored 150-year-old maritime home that reflects the history of this former British East India territory and its current owners. Stepping inside the home feels like entering a time capsule, greeted by a cannon from the St David Fort that once played a strategic role in the Anglo-French wars of the 18th century. BREAKFAST in included. Pondicherry is a short 40-min drive away. The space The Story of Fort St. David Fort St. David was originally a guesthouse owned by EID Parry’s, Chennai’s longest-running business. It is one of the oldest in the company, having been purchased by Thomas Parry, who had founded the company in the late 1700s and moved to Cuddalore when he took an interest in indigo production. Executives would visit when checking in on the nearby sugar factory. Over time, loving the location, they also made it their base to stay at when visiting Tamil Nadu’s Navagraha temples. However, when another guesthouse came up closer to the factory, this home became sparingly used. As a cherished historical house, the company’s seniors wanted to revive it. They partnered with LuxUnlock and a talented interior architect, Lakshmi Ramaswamy, to inject new life into the home and open it up to discerning travellers. When the architect visited, struck by the serenity of the house and its surroundings, she decided the home must reflect its exteriors. Blues, greens, and earthy tones became its colour palette, mimicking the shades you can see outside. The curtains were also raised to let visitors admire the full depth of the windows and the view beyond. The existing furniture has remained, though reupholstered to appease modern sensibilities. To tie the home to its owners, fabrics were sourced directly from the Parry’s handloom factory. Copies of old Parry’s advertisements in the bathrooms further instil the company’s connection with the home. Framed maps and original records — both from the ledger books and from palm-leaf ledgers that were maintained before the company started using books — line the walls of Fort St. David, harkening back to the history it has seen. The cannon in the entrance lobby was even rescued from the eponymous fort just down the road from the house. Parry’s history is intertwined with Cuddalore so tightly that the city is called India’s sugar bowl, an homage to the household brand Parry’s sugar. Fort St. David is the embodiment of this union, now once again proudly welcoming guests to discover Cuddalore’s storied past. SPACES Home accommodates up to 10 guests - Thomas Parry Suite - 1 King Bed with dressing room and bath - Cardamom Suite - 1 King Bed with a dressing room, study and bath - Indigo Suite - 1 King Bed with dressing room, study and bath - Coral Room - 1 Single Bed with bath Ground-Floor Living Room with comfortable seating and garden access. First-Floor Lounge with access to the sit out Dining Room First-Floor Sit out with sweeping views of the river Garden with Sit out Guest access Thomas Parry Suite The luxurious Thomas Parry Suite is named in honour of Thomas Parry, the home’s first owner. The one exception to the home’s colour palette, this suite features strong burgundy shades, imparting the sense of royalty guests feel when they stay here. Stretch out in the bed or gather around the coffee table for drinks, set against the backdrop of the Gadilam backwaters. Cardamom Suite In her 90s, Thomas Parry’s daughter recalled of her childhood in South India “the smell of spices and cardamom waiting to be shipped and the marvellous sight of the rolling surf.” This suite, named in honour of this memory, has access to the First-Floor Sitout so guests can enjoy similar marvellous sights of the ocean, dancing lazily in the distance. Indigo Suite The ground-floor suite, themed in blue, is named after Thomas Parry’s first export in Cuddalore, indigo. With the curtains drawn back, you can feel your stress melt away. Coral Bedroom This single bedroom is named after the beautiful barrier coral reefs that abound in Cuddalore’s waters, reflecting their hues. Fittingly, it welcomes single travellers who want a comfortable base to stay in while they explore the area. Ground-Floor Living Room Sink into the sofas of the Living Room and strike up a conversation while you wait for your lunch to get ready. In a quiet moment, take a closer look at the ledgers framed on the wall to learn about Parry’s trading in Cuddalore at the time. First-Floor Lounge The First-Floor Lounge invites you to relax in comfort, watching the trees sway and the gentle horizon beyond. If you can pull your gaze away from the windows, take a closer look at the sprawling painting that stretches across five canvases and imagine yourself living in Cuddalore during the colonial era. Dining Room Take a seat at the dining table, set at an angle to make the most of the space, and dig into delicious local cooking. The small table by the window has been repurposed from a card table that would come out when the home’s residents were ready for a nighttime game. Garden & Sitout Stretch out in the small sitout of the living room, relaxing as the greens of the garden mingle with the blues of the river beyond. First-Floor Sitout The loungers in this sitout welcome you to sit for a coffee with the morning news as you watch the sun rise on the horizon. Or come outside with a drink in the evening and watch as the last rays of light escape behind the sea in the distance. Entrance Lobby A cannon recovered from the St. David Fort greets you as you walk into the entrance lobby, setting the mood for your Cuddalore holiday. The stairs that wind up to the first floor are lined with palm-leaf manuscripts from the early days of EID Parry’s, when it was still called Parry & Dare. Other things to note Entry into our property is subject to: Payment of refundable security deposit prior to arrival Signed booking contract from you along with photo IDs of all guests prior to arrival REFUNDABLE SECURITY DEPOSIT Please note that a refundable security deposit of 10% of your booking amount (20% if travelling with a pet) will be collected immediately after booking confirmation. This can be paid via NEFT or UPI. The security deposit will be returned within 5 working days after checkout, minus any claims for damages, if applicable. Entry to the property will not be permitted unless the Security Deposit is paid. SIGNED BOOKING CONTRACT A booking contract form will be sent to you. Please fill-it, sign-it and send it back to us along with soft copies of photo IDs of all guests. INCLUDED IN PRICE Breakfast daily; coffee and tea available throughout the day with our compliments Air conditioners in all bedrooms and common spaces High-quality bed & bath linen Genset backup with automatic changeover TVs in 3 suites Team of 3 villa staff, comprising one cook and 2 housekeepers Parking on-site LUX location host POINTS TO NOTE Pets are not permitted in the villa. Mosquitoes abound outdoors once the sun sets. Please make sure all doors and windows are shut before it gets dark to keep them out. Indoor spaces are non-smoking. If you wish to smoke outdoors, please use the ashtrays provided. Electricity supply by the government is both reliable and of good quality in Cuddalore. Do expect the occasional precautionary power cut during stormy weather. The home has a genset backup with automatic changeover in case of power cuts. Please use water prudently. The area has a severe water shortage. Though Silver Beach is close by, it is not recommended to walk there at night as the road there is quite isolated and is not well lit.