Last week me and my family had been to Chidambaram a small temple town near Pondycherry, in Caddalore district of Tamil Nadu.  Needless to say, I had made advance reservations for an A/C room in a Hotel called RK Residency which I found on the website.   I was told that this is one of the better hotels in Chidambaram.  Upon my arrival at the hotel, I was informed that there were no rooms available as there was a marriage in a prominent local family and all the rooms have been booked by them.  I was taken aback, at the reception I got here, and despite my insistance that I had got a booking confirmation prior to my travel went deaf in their ears.  Upon much insistence, I was finally given a double room without A/c.  The room was very small with space just for a double cot and a closet.  No chairs or table was provided.  The upkeep of the hotel was much to be desired.

A word of caution to all travellers, these places are not be visited on any festival days, marriage days.  Apart from a couple of hotels, most of the accomodation that is available is lodges only.  The rooms are old and poorly maintained.  There is hardly any ventilitation and the bed linen is not clean.  Please check the room before occupying.  The room rates in these average lodges range between Rs.350 to Rs. 500 per night.  A/c room are between 450 to 800 per night.

The food in these places is above average.