“We do not see, we believe we see… we travel not to see, but to not-see — to try to reach something other than the smooth, fleeting surface of things, to see ourselves under the light of elsewhere.”
Jean-Claude Carrière, Dictionnaire amoureux de l’Inde
A clean, welcoming guest house
The owner of the Siva Guest House also runs several traditional Indian art shops. The hotel is well located, a short walk (3 min) from the beach and many restaurants. It is very nice and very, very clean, with mosquito nets on the windows and charming staff — the only reservation being that the rooms are a little small. You can book by email without any problem (sivaguesthouse@hotmail.com).
Coordinates and prices
2 Othavadai Cross Street, Mahābalipuram 603 104, Tamil Nadu · tel. +91 44 114 43 234 · sivaguesthouse@hotmail.com.
Prices: 1900 to 2400 Rs/day (with balcony), depending on the room.
Services and tours
At the reception: free Wi-Fi, internet, local and international phone, laundry service, and 24/7 service (tea, water, etc.). Its travel agency, “Siva Tour and Travels”, can provide airport pick-up and offers tours across South India: Kerala, Mysore, the hill stations, wildlife reserves, Hampi and Goa.