Pondicherry Travel Guide
India is a land of various colors as different regions here possess different specialty. From being traditional to modern you can get a glimpse of everything in India. Today we are discussing about one such part of it which attracts people from worldwide. The place we are talking about is Pondicherry.
Pondicherry is the union territory of the sub-continent of India. This place is well known for its French influence as its township adorns the French culture in every direction. Tourism in Pondicherry holds the supreme spot because of its beaches. You can come here to ease out all your stress and let yourself loose, feel the salty air of the beach and let the pristine waters take over your senses. Sunrise and sunset on beaches gives you a divine experience.
The culture of Pondicherry is very colorful and vibrant. It is synonyms with the culture of Portuguese, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. You can get to witness French influence here in every corners. The territory has been under the rule of French rulers for many years therefore the French flavor is visible in its magnificent historical monuments, houses and churches. The lifestyle here in Pondicherry is also influenced by French style of living.
If you want to get a peaceful break from your work then Pondicherry is the best place for you. The sight of beaches here relaxes you both internally and externally. The destination is an experience worth remembering for all the tourists visiting here.
Pondicherry not only gives you the relaxation on beaches but also delivers a variety of cuisines to taste from. It is a foodie’s hub. The exotic flavor of sea food tempts the taste buds of all. Being a French colony earlier the impact of it can be seen in their food as well. Some of the famous French dishes in Pondicherry are French brioches, baguettes and delicious pastries. Restaurants here serve wide variety of French, Malayalam, Tamil, Bengali, Telugu, Punjabi and Gujrati cuisines.
Pondicherry has the orientation of vast culture which provides you a view towards their arts, crafts, folk dance and music. People here are very creative and innovative which can be seen in making of different items such as screen paintings, Batik, producing incense sticks, dining mats, wooden carvings, paper lamps, perfumes etc. Other than arts and crafts the creativity can be seen in their dance and music which is highly influenced by the rich heritage of Tamil nadu tradition. Some of the popular dance forms of the territory are Kathak, Yakshgana, Cahu, Kuchpudi, Mohininattam and many more.
How to Reach Pondicherry
- Air – Pondicherry airport is located at Lawspet. This airport can accommodate landing of small aircraft only and has flights coming in from Bangalore and Hyderabad. However, you can get a connecting flight if you are coming from Delhi, Kochi, Kolkata and Mumbai. Chennai is the second nearest domestic as well as international airport which is approximately 135 kilometers away from Pondicherry so you can go to Chennai by air and reach Pondicherry by road from Chennai.
- Rail – Pondicherry is well connected with rail from rest of India so you can reach their easily by train. The nearest rail station from Pondicherry is Villupuram, which is about 35 kilometers away from the town. The rail station is well connected to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Trivandrum. Once you reach the station you can hire a taxi to the town.
- Road – There are several buses that move frequently from Chennai, Thanjaur, Trichy, Coimbatore, Bangalore and Madurai to Pondicherry. Both private and government buses are available.
Distance of Pondicherry from Below Places:
| Place | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
|
Chennai |
170 |
|
Mumbai |
1297 |
|
Tatanagar |
1750 |
|
Kolkata |
1825 |
|
Delhi |
2365 |
Weather
Pondicherry Temperature
- Summer (Mar to May) – Temperatures are high and range between (22°C) to (37°C)
- Monsoon – (Jun to Oct) – With heavy rainfall happening at regular basis, this is not a good season for tourists unless you like rains over sea.
- Winter – (Nov to Feb) – Temperatures are mild and range between (20°C) to (29°C)
- Best Time to Visit – Nov to Feb is the best season for tourism
What to See In Pondicherry
Aurobindo Ashram, one of the main tourist attraction of Pondicherry. It was set up by Sri Aurobindo after he left politics. This was set up as a center to grow the inner and outer soul of his followers. Today, apart from the main ashrama, the disciples live in several interconnected block of houses. The ashrama can be visited by the tourists from 08:00 to 12:00 and again from 14:00 to 18:00 hrs. Pictures of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother as well as various publications by the ashrama are available for collection.
Auroville, 20 sq kilometer in size and about 10 km from Pondicherry town, was founded by ‘the Mother’ in 1968. This was built up as a township where people from all over the world can live in peace and harmony in order to realize human unity. The main attraction of Auroville is the golden dome called ‘Matri Mandir’. The other attraction of Auroville is the beach.
Promenade is the main beach front of Pondicherry town. Its a rocky beach 1.2 km long and the main hub for the tourists. This is a perfect place to take a walk and relax. You can enjoy some snacks and ice cream in the cool breeze of Bay of Bengal.
Immaculate Conception Cathedral
Immaculate Conception Cathedral or Saint Paul’s Church was demolished three times and every time it has come up in the same place. The current structure was completed in 1070 and is one of the main tourist attractions of Pondicherry. Mother Theresa visited this church during her visit to Pondicherry.
Basilica Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus
Photo by Aravindaraja, CC BY-SA 3.0
Basilica Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus, located at the south boulevard, is a gem of Gothic Architecture. The church was built in 1907. This is one of the main religious center for the Christians living in the area.
French War Memorial was built in 1938 in the memory of all residents of French India who died for the country in the first world war. Every year on 14th July, the memorial is illuminated in the memory of the soldiers from this colony who took part in the world war one.
This is one of the prime places to visit in Pondicherry. The museum possesses sculptures of Pallava, Chola and Vijaynagara temples. It gives a heavenly walk to the visitors into the past. A superb collection of sculptures are found in the Bharti Park. There are Buddha images from Pondicherry and bronze statues from the Chola, Vijaynagara and Nayaka periods, arms and weapons. As French ruled here for a long time so you can get to witness French period furniture, mirrors, lamps, paintings, porcelain, crockery and cutlery. This museum has an excellent gallery with sculptures and has the remains of archaeological findings from the Arikamedu roman settlement.
If you want to experience fresh greenery along with many species of plants you must visit botanical garden in Pondicherry. Botanical garden is an important tourist spot in Pondicherry. It was opened in 1826 and is located at the southern entrance of city bus stand. This garden provides cool environment which helps you to get away from the hot and humid Pondicherry environment. It is spread in 22 acres if land and you enjoy various varieties of floras here. It is a 178 year old garden and is a must visit tourist spot.
Ousteri Wetland and national park
If you want to enjoy rich flora and fauna in Pondicherry then you must visit Ousteri wetland and national park. It is 10 kilometers away from Pondicherry town on the Pondicherry-Villupuram road. One can spot diverse varieties of aqua-fauna and avi-fauna here. You can also spot various species of trees and plants here which also attracts a large number of migratory birds here. It is a paradise for nature lover and lands you into the world of refreshment.
Other Details
What to Do
- Enjoy beaches at Pondicherry and give yourself some time to relax in the soothing sunset of deserted sands. It would help you a lot to ease stress and enjoy your holidays.
- You can go to various remarkable spots on Pondicherry such as museum, parks etc. It would help you in gaining more knowledge along with enjoyment of holidays.
- Enjoy rich flora and fauna in ousteri wetland and national park. It is a nice place to enjoy nature in its real state thus making it a top spot for tourists.
Where to Eat
- Villa Shanti – This restaurant provides excellent food with great ambience. They have a delicious range of dishes specializing in Indian and European cuisines. It offers great service as well. This restaurant is located at Suffren Street in Pondicherry.
- Cafe des arts – This cafe located at White town rue on Suffren Street is famous for its amazing ambience. It offers good food to its visitors. One of the famous dishes of this cafe is Banana and Nutella sweet crepes. It is particularly a French cafe giving you a wonderful feeling.
- Cafe xtasi – This cafe is located at RD Mission Street and is a famous place among the travelers. It offers great atmosphere to its visitors along with some very good crispy pizzas. One of the popular pizzas in its menu is pepperoni pizza which attracts the tourists along with the localities as well. If you are not a pizza lover then you can surely go for their juicy cocktails refreshing you in a bit.
- Surguru – This restaurant is located at S V Patel Salai near Aurbindo Ashram and is quite famous for its South Indian cuisine particularly plain dosas. It is a must visit place for every Dosa lover. It is purely a vegetarian restaurant and offers value for money as well. The best thing about this place is that they offer swift service.
- LB2 lounge pondy – This restaurant cum lounge offers you Italian, French, Indian, Asian and international cuisines along with Pub and bar. So if you are in mood to get some cocktail along with nice food you must visit here. It is located at La Bourbonnais St. Beach road in white town. It has a really nice ambience which attracts many tourists here.
- Sri kamatchi non veg hotel – This is the perfect place to eat some spicy non veg. It offers great non vegetarian cuisines which is delicious to eat. Some of the dishes which it offers are vanjaram fry, chicken gravy, koduva kamatchi, nethilli fry, sura puttu and biryani. Their specialty lies in biryani and koduva kamatchi as they are popular dishes among their visitors. It is located at 100 feet road near railwaygate.
- Le Chateau – This place located at Rue Romain Rolland Street is a nice cozy place to dine. It has nice ambience to make you feel relaxed. Le Chateau offers some really delicious cuisine. Crab lollipop is a specialty dish here. It offers great service which makes it a best place to dine in.
- Dis dis & Co – This restaurant serves French, Indian, European, Italian cuisines and provides great ambience. It is situated at Romain Rolland Street. Excellent live music adds an extra punch to the atmosphere. It is an open sky restaurant which makes a perfect setting for a romantic dinner.
What to Buy
- Casablanca: One of the best stores to shop for foreign brands in Pondicherry is Casablanca. Tourists can get branded leather products, top linen and unique decor items.
- Goubert Market: At the Vellala Street of the French Quarter is the busiest market of Pondicherry offering fruits, varied fishes, vegetables all around. There are multiple stores providing tourists with woven baskets, jewellery, leather goods and garments.
- Muthu Silk Plaza: South India is well known for its splendid silk quality. Any trip to Pondicherry is like incomplete without silk purchase. The store offers silk for everyone including handicraft saris. A huge collection of sherwanis and lehengas can also be tastes once you reach this reputed store.
Get Around
By walk: Pondicherry being a small town can be felt top class by taking a pleasant walk across roadsides furnished with food stores and tea stalls with exception breeze from Bay of Bengal blowing all around.
Bicycle: At the Mission Street in Pondicherry there are bicycles available at 50rs for a day which any of the tourists can lease and take a tour of the small beautiful destination. Hiring a bicycle can you to the sand beach which is located 5km towards north of the place.
Scooters, Motorcycles: Several stores on the Mission Street offer two wheeler on rent basis and therefore it becomes convenient for travelers to take tour of Auroville along with the alluring sand beach. Visitors just have to make themselves comfortable with the local traffic of the place if they need to take this kind of ride.
Bus: A network of local buses operates at the place which takes hundreds of travelers here and there the whole day. Segregated tourists government buses also run which only takes tourists along and take them to best of the tourist attractions.
Top Destinations - Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu
Popular Tour Plans - Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu
1-3 Days
1. Ooty (2N/3D)
2. Kodaikanal (2N/3D)
4-6 Days
1. Ooty-Kodaikanal-Munnar (6N/7D)
2. Bangalore-Mysore-Ooty (6N/7D)
7-10 Days
1. Alleppey-Kovalam-Kanyakumari-Thiruvananthapuram (7N/8D)
2. Munnar-Alleppey-Periyar Sanctuary-Kovalam-Kanyakumari (10N/11D)
>10 Days
1. Chennai-Pondicherry-Kodaikanal-Madurai-Rameswaram-Kanyakumari (12N/13D)
2. Chennai-Pondicherry-Madurai-Rameswaram-Kanyakumari-Kovalam (12N/13D)