The Hindu Business Line : East meets West here

Raj de Condappa’s ancestors came to Puducherry (then Pondicherry) from Andhra Pradesh, and then spread out into the Far-East. Upheavals there brought them back to these shores, bringing with them a very distinct Oriental style.

His 115-year-old home is a classic beauty, filled with priceless heirlooms from the East and West, all sitting pretty amidst Indian artefacts and influences. Indonesian cane furniture, Cambodian and Indo-China objects, Chinese-style furniture, Oriental silk cushions, Indian wooden dolls, bronzes and brass lamps, mud dolls — one sees good taste everywhere.

The living room, naturally lit through high skylights, is lined with books — Condappa has a publishing house called ‘Kailash’. Books on India and the East are published by him in French, commanding a huge market in the West. Some of Satyajit Ray’s works, translated into French, have also been published by Kailash.

Condappa owns and runs ‘Kailash’, a beach resort about 10 km from Puducherry, on the Cuddalore Road, in Pudukuppam village. He bought 10 acres 15 years ago, and immediately planted 400 trees and flowering plants , turning the once barren land into the beach-side oasis it has become today.

“People thought I was crazy to buy such barren land,” he laughs.

Indian architectural style sees stone and wood pillars mixing artistically with tiled roofs, interior courtyards, small lily pools and rolling lawns. Well-sourced antiques and art objects dot the landscape — old brass lamps and bells hang in the passages, giant bronze urns contain floating flowers, stone and wood figures pop up delightfully through the greenery.

Thatched structures house small tailoring and embroidery units, employing local labour. The products are sold in the souvenir shop, along with books from the House of Kailash.

A Kerala-style massage parlour is much sought after by tourists. Condappa organises yoga and meditation sessions on demand from tourists, and also traditional music and dance performances.

Both Indian and Continental food are freshly prepared and served in arbours around the pool, or in the airy restaurant. The resort also grows its vegetables, again using local labour.

The produce takes care of the resort’s needs, and the surplus is sold in the local market. Condappa has also set up a foundation where schoolchildren are given free coaching and light refreshment after school hours. Vocational training is given to older children to help them gain employment.

The near-private stretch of beach is perfect for tourists, the elements of nature providing all the peace, sun and sand that the holidayer seeks.