My partner and I have travelled worldwide for years and Gratitude Heritage Home is certainly one of the best places we have stayed. We are both writers and were looking for a place to write while in Pondicherry January 2011. Literally by chance we came across Gratitude while strolling around the quiet French quarter. The place is newly restored, opened in December 2010, and we were most fortunate to spend almost three weeks there. It was pure bliss to write in our 1st floor room which was lovingly restored with colonial furniture, a four-poster bed, and a magnificent view of the villa’s lush courtyard and leafy mango tree. All bathrooms are Tamil-style with cold showers and hot water bucket baths. All rooms have fans and A/C, there is wifi, but no tv.
The owners put a great emphasis on Gratitude as a place of peace, quiet, and contemplation. It is a private residence along with being a guest house and has a distinct retreat-like feel to it. A traditional Indian breakfast of idlies, dosas or uppama is offered, and all guests eat together (a joy in itself, because we met very many interesting people). The spacious roof terrace makes it ideal for yoga practice and it is possible to book a massage as well. While we stayed there a couple of well-attended house concerts took place featuring traditional Indian chanting. The staff is very friendly and endeavors to create a homey atmosphere. We are absolutely sure to come back. 

The house will take you to the feel of an ancient house in Tuscany or in Sicily... walking barefoot on this warmely decorated stone floor, will give you a total feeling of connecting to the earth. I loved the atmosphere and the elegance of this old house. it reminds me of an ancient riad, with its stairs taking you all over... you will get surprised to discover the massage room....

Wonderful the staff and its kindness. definitely not to miss it if you are going to Pondi...! 

Our second stay here following a similar stay last here. We loved it. Gratitude is the most beautifully restored heritage house and one can see the care and attention to detail in the restoration everywhere.

And that standard of care extends to the warmth with which you are welcomed and looked after. The rooms are gorgeous, large and airy and very comfortable. The place is quiet and tranquil with beautiful trees and plants growing in the central courtyard around which the place is built.

You are set up for the day with a large and varied breakfast and then you can wander out into the French Quarter of Pondicherry. Gratitude is very well located and most places of interest are just a short walk away.

We love the place and will be back again for sure.  

It's an absolutely... beautifully restored heritage home...When you are sinking in the beauty of the place you really appreciate such a quite and calming effect in this place which is very tastefully done. When you go through the rooms..u would notice how unique every room is and the details taken care of in every nook and corner of this home.
The stuff here ensure you have a pleasant stay and guide you with information you need. Gratitude is location is perfect..your just few minutes away from everything you would like to explore... it has been a wonderful for my first ever solo trip and now i'am looking forward to many more rejuvenating experiences in this beautiful home. 

During my fourth time to Pondicherry I decided to stay at Gratitude for a short weekend away from the hustle and bustle of Bangalore.
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and actually feel nervous to share how good it was on Trip Advisor in case it becomes too popular and I can't get a room for my future visits! Situated in the French quarter with absolutely all the best cafes, boutique shops 
Gratitude is an ideal haven to enjoy Pondicherry. The staff, were warm and welcoming and nothing was too much trouble. The homestay concept is fantastic and I found myself still at the breakfast table sharing stories with the other guests and the hotel's writer in residence. Delicious home-cooked breakfasts at that!
I stayed in Room 7 and I loved the four poster bed that you literally had to climb into (with the aid of a stool). Typically Tamilian in style with a beautiful turquoise stucco walls in the bathroom.
When I arrived it was early so I was shown to a beautiful roof terrace where I snoozed until my room was ready. It's also an ideal spot for sunset, which I chanced upon reading my book up there one evening.
The courtyard is incredibly beautiful with its leafy trees and Ganesh shrine and it is a lovely haven from the heat of Pondi. I adored the no-shoes concept, it just made it a home from home. What can I say? felt like I was walking on clouds throughout my stay there, I was that relaxed! I'm already thinking of when my next trip there will be :-) 

I count it as my good fortune to have discovered a 'treasure-home' like Gratitude, for my month-long stay in Pondy. A heritage home, so beautiful and charming, in the heart of the French colony, next to the beach promenade.
You experience a sense of beauty and harmony in every space, every nook and corner. Very tastefully restored and maintained, with personal touch and feel. As a long stay guest, I had the cosy private room 9 on the terrace, overlooking the gulmohar and mango tree in the courtyard. It felt like being on a tree top! It was an inspiring and comfortable space to live and work from, as an artist.
I was touched by the love, warmth and care of the Gratitude team. They took personal care to make sure I felt settled and happy during my long stay.
My heartfelt gratitude for specially providing the home-cooked meals, as a long stay guest. It was very comforting and made life simple for me. The meals were simple..y delicious. The evening walk by the sea-next-door was a daily delight. I felt very much at home, in sync with my daily rhythm. My special thanks to Kakoli, Jyoti, Vijay, Vanaja, Shanti, and the staff for their gracious hospitality and loving care. Gratitude has all it takes to make home a home!
My big thank you to all go you for making my stay so special and comfortable. I look forward to coming back to Gratitude.

This is my 3rd or 4th stay at Gratitude. It is a beautiful, peaceful retreat. It is comfortable, quiet, welcoming and the perfect place to unwind. I love my room - the one with the beautiful blue floor. The breakfast is fantastic. Having stayed there before I saw that it was sometimes necessary to tell other guests that they could order eggs for breakfast, get a massage, order an Indian breakfast etc. There seemed to be rather a lack of information this time (I am pretty sure Teresa will have fixed this.) The women who work at Graceful are gracious and helpful. I feel very much at home there. Thank you - I plan to return again! 

I decided to stay here based on the reviews and I was so glad! The place is so centrally located and we could even walk to the Aurobindo Ashram which was the farthest.

The house has a very traditional look but the amenities are extremely modern. The focus on quiet was appreciated and I was glad to not have to hear loud conversations which are now common in the hallways of most hotels. Breakfast was sumptuous and fresh. The people were very helpful especially Kurunjini! From booking a cab to facilitate our travel to Mahabalipuram to organizing an ayurvedic massage, she managed it all effortlessly.

The central courtyard is pretty with plants, shrubs and trees. Every little detail (even umbrellas) are stacked on the side. 

As a Madras native I've been travelling to Pondicherry intermittently for the better part of 15 years. I've stayed in friends' houses, spare guesthouses, faux-bohemian havelis, and a smattering of Aurovillean guesthouses which ranged from ascetic to luxurious. Gratitude is by far my favourite so far. It's just off the main touristy drag, and a brisk walk from the promenade. It's also a sweet little heritage haven in which all the cozy, thoughtfully designed rooms overlook a courtyard shaded by a number of trees, including one glorious gulmohar. The staff is warm, courteous and attentive -- particularly Vidhi, the manager, whose formidable baking skills I can also vouch for. I stayed for a night this time around, but I'll make sure to tarry longer the next. 

We were delighted that my brother introduced us to Sid Saikia who runs this superbly restored intimate bed-and-breakfast heritage hotel in the heart of Indo-French Pondicherry. Situated on the main street Rue Romain Rolland, a few doors from the beautiful old 18th century Cluny convent, it is a heartwarming house, with comfortable lounges, nooks and verandas set around a garden courtyard. Our three nights were made memorable by delicious home cooked breakfasts by the warmhearted Shanti, a lovely first floor deluxe room with a large en-suite bathroom up some stairs, and a pervading atmosphere of warmth, melange of antiques and period furniture and courteous yet unobtrusive service. We heartily recommend Gratitude to all visitors to Pondicherry for just the right mix of whimsical charm and personal attention, and wouldn't stay anywhere else. Be sure to book in advance, as there are only eight rooms, and there were often visitors we bumped into outside asking for a spare room

Visually stunning with a serene ambiance, a warm welcoming staff, and mouth watering breakfasts, Gratitude is close to the beach and cultural centers but tucked away on a quiet street with a residential feel. The room had air conditioning but I never had to turn it on. A combination of breezes off the bay and the electric fan made it comfortable even when the temperature rose to 35C outside. I could keep the windows open on the glorious courtyard garden and listen to the chorus of birds. Make sure you request a session with their expert masseuse, and ask Saranya to sign you up for the luxurious pool a short tuktuk ride away

We were a group of 9 women who occupied most of the rooms for 3 nights at the gratitude , a heritage home ....( indeed it was just that )
the location was just perfect - 1 lane away from the promenade beach - peaceful , colourful , serene & just lovely !!! and its in the french quarter with plenty options to eat and shop around... we almost walked around everywhere from there.
so to begin with the check-in - it was efficient, quick and our rooms were all ready for us ... we were offered hibiscus tea at our welcome...
There is a library room on the left as soon as u enter.... opposite the reception... in case u need to wait etc... footwear not allowed inside... u need to leave it at the entrance and use slippers provided by them ( just like in any indian traditional home )
the little knic knacks / antique pieces that adorned the whole place were lovely and tasteful !!! the rooms were all different with their own character and decor... clean , spacious, ac, fan , decent lighting and again filled with traditional decor.. (missed a full length mirror in my room ) we had a mud pot ' matka' in each room for drinking water. bathrobes, mosquito bats , all out ...(mosquitoes are there wherever there is a lot of greenery ) toiletries - towels , hand towels, toilet rolls, soap, shampoo and 'ubtan ' to scrub too :)
brass buckets & mugs for people who would prefer . fans in the bathrooms was such a blessing ! everyday , every room had an aroma diffuser , which would make our clean rooms even more welcoming & nice to relax in !!!
The most important part of gratitude was its central courtyard...absolutely beautiful , green , clean , with benches around and a swing too !! the other side of the courtyard was the dining area and kitchen . theres one big 12 seater table inside & 2 smaller 4 seaters outside in the open ( in the courtyard ) tea and coffee were available throughout -24hrs. breakfast was lovely . 8.30 - 10am ( they even gave us breakfast earlier the day we had to leave by 8 ) the cook - shanti was pleasant, accommodating & made yummy south indian breakfast for us along with fruits, muesli , curd, croissants , slices of bread to toast with butter and jams, eggs to individuals order. lunch & dinner would be available if requested EARLIER... beautiful chants in the morning and lovely soft music in the evening filled the courtyard along with tea-lights all over in the evening making the place even more serene !! a beautiful ganesh idol in the open like a small temple was a perfect indian touch !!!
There was a small terrace sit out on the 2nd floor with a covered massage room there too.
The staff were very helpful, polite , smiling always, and happy to help in whatever way... a few names to mention were kurinjini - receptionist , alex , shanti the cook , & the rest !!
all in all - absolutely wonderful !!!
Pictures just don't do justice to this place... u gotta stay here to feel it !!
Thank u gratitude !