Mahé – The forgotten French sister of Pondicherry in Kerela. You might know Pondicherry is the most famous symbol of French heritage and rule in India. Out of the places the French ruled in India, Mahe in Kerela is one of them. Also known as Mayyazhi, in Kerala, Mahe is situated at the mouth of the Mahe River that originates in Wayanad in the Western Ghats and ends at the Arabian Sea. In olden times, the Mahe River was called the English Channel because it served the purpose of separating Telicherry, ruled by the English, from the French Mahe. Mahe is unique in India as it is the smallest district in the country as per its size.
While the rest of Kerala was under the British rule till India got independence in 1947, Mahe remained as a French colony until 1954 when it was integrated into the Union of India. The small city today is inhabited by about 3,000 people.
Well now if you are a little interested to know about this place, you can always google it up and check it by yourself or even plan to visit this place and see it by yourself.
So my parents had come from Kolkata and my brother had come from Chennai for a vacation and i had this trip long planned along with my uncle. Since we were 8 people, we had booked a TT. Why TT? Because when you want to travel with 7+ people, TT’s are best. I will share the route from Bangalore below. Also this route has less hair pin bends as compared to others. So if you have a vertigo, you can opt this route.
Where I stayed here?
We stayed at Villa De 1945. VILLA DE 1945 is heritage boutique hotel located just a few minutes from the city of Mahe, Kerala State, Puducherry, . It offers you a chance to unwind, let go and embrace life itself between the hustle and bustle of the city. Mahé, also known as Mayyazhi, is a town on India’s southwest coast. Set amidst the French colonial heritage city, Villa De 1945 will let you experience the history of French settlements, forts,ruins and much more. This heritage hotel is situated next to the picturesque Walkway beach and is surrounded by lush greenery for you to get in touch with the waves, sand and nature.Villa de 1945 is a perfect destination for family getaways, and celebrations.
The royal treatment on offer at Mahe’strue heritage hotel is complemented by the calming influence of the elements of nature. Heading off to explore the city, Villa de 1945 is a great place to start with. British and French inspired interiors and design will truly make your stay an ecstatic one. The moment you enter the main gate you see it’sample parking space. If you are looking for a real luxurious experience with a true Kerala flavour, then this is the right place for you!
Situated 5 minutes away from the Railway station and just 7 minutes to the Mahebeach, the hotel is ideally located for a fun filled vacation in Mahe. Mahe Beach is the perfect place if you are looking for serenity mixed with fun. One can come and stroll on this beach and enjoy the beautiful sunset along some restaurants and cafes are also available near the beach. They offer some of the most delicious food and drinks.
I have put together a slideshow of few of the pictures i had taken. Have a look!
Also check out their website. Link below.
Roaming around Mahé
Unfortunately, there is almost nothing left from the past glory except the uniform of policemen with the ‘kepi’ on the head and the Statue of Marianne established by the French in a small park along the river, marking the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.
On the contrary, the place has a funny reputation in Kerala because it is known for an unpleasant reason: the paradise of cheap alcohol! Because of relatively low taxes, liquor is available in plenty and that too at a very low price compared to the rest of India. Along the road there are dozens of shops selling all kind of alcoholic beverages. You will literally see liquor shops every 100 metres.
The most obvious relic of the past is St Theresa’s shrine, often referred to as Mahe church. Built in 1736, it is said to be the oldest church in the Malabar region. Dedicated to St Theresa of Avila and bang on the highway, the church seems to be a popular destination for people of all faiths.
The heart of Mahe today is the ‘riverwalk’, a promenade that hugs the banks of the Mayyazhi, the enclave’s very own answer to the French Riviera. Officially ‘Tagore Park,’ this landscaped oasis with its tall trees, meandering pathways and stunning views of the river and its estuary also holds some of its most important heritage structures. Right there but largely forgotten among the greenery is the old statue of Marianne, ‘the personification of the French Republic,’ erected to commemorate the centenary of the Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. There’s also a monument to commemorate Mahe’s liberation fighters.
The park’s biggest attraction is a series of bronze sculpture panels depicting scenes from Mayyazhipuzhayude Theerangalil, bringing to life familiar characters Dasan and Chandrika, Kunhichirutha and Vasootty and Co. The last panel on the wall features, of course, fireflies hovering over Velliyamkallu. Turn the corner towards the promontory and you expect the massive rocky outcrop (imagined as the island of lost souls in the novel) to be right out there in the middle of the sea.
Here you can see almost everyone having black tea and men’s typical attire would be a in black shirt and folder lungi. Young guys roaming around in Enfield bikes and most of the men have a rowdy look as if there are always ready to bash up people!
Well that’s pretty much it about Mahe. Next day we had gone to Kozhikode or more popularly known as Calicut and the day after we had gone to Kannur. I will write more about those two places in my next blog.
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Happy Reading!
Travel with Samya 