Pondicherry Travel Guide: Best Places to Visit in Pondicherry 2021
Pondicherry also known as Puducherry or Pondy (colloquially) is a quaint coastal town that used to be a French colony in India. It has been showered attention for centuries by the colonists, mainly the French. Find out all about this must visit destination in this Pondicherry Travel Guide.
Pondicherry is located 160kms south of Chennai in South India. The coastal town has a French architectural colony. Even the road signs are in French along with Tamil and English. From chilling on the pristine beaches to pottery making, Pondicherry has a lot to offer you. In Pondicherry, you can explore and experience a fusion of Tamil and French cultures, cuisines and sights.
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Best Season, Month, Time to Visit Pondicherry
Best Season to Visit Pondicherry
October to March is Best Season to Visit Pondicherry: Winter season from October to February is the best time to visit Pondicherry to experience the beautiful beaches and churches in the city. This is the time to enjoy the thrilling water sports like Jet Skiing, Parasailing, Banana Boat ride etc. December is also the busiest season and hotels are usually very expensive in this season. Summer would be quite hot and humid but the evenings are pleasant with cool breeze.
Peak Season in Pondicherry
December to January is Peak Season in Pondicherry: December and January is the busiest season in Pondicherry and attracts large number of tourists during this time. New Year holiday season also attracts considerable number of tourists and hotels are also usually expensive during this season and advance booking at least one or two months before the trip is highly recommended to plan a hassle free vacation in Pondicherry.
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Winter Season :
Winter sets in Pondicherry by October and lasts till February. The temperature can go as low as 17°C in winters. It is considered a good time to visit Pondicherry when the cool weather creates the perfect conditions for sightseeing, beach fun, and water sports. December and January are the busiest months in Pondicherry and attract a large number of tourists during this time. Hotels are also usually expensive during this season and advance booking at least one or two months before the trip is highly recommended to plan a hassle-free vacation in Pondicherry.
Summer Season :
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Summer season starts in Pondicherry from the month of March and lasts till the month of July. Being a coastal town, Pondicherry experience quite hot and humid summers with the average temperature being 40°C. In comparison to other seasons, the town witnesses lesser tourist footfall in summers, making it a good time to enjoy a peaceful vacation in this little town. The summer season in Pondicherry is the best time for enjoying various water activities at the beach.
Monsoon Season :
July to September months constitute the monsoon season in Pondicherry. The town receives an average rainfall of 1240 mm annually. Monsoon isn’t the favorite season of many people, but monsoon in Pondicherry has its own romantic charm with rain-washed vistas, lush green flora, and colorful flowers. However, this is the best time for those who love to soak in the rain and experience the lush green landscape of Pondicherry. Also, it is a good time to visit the city as the biggest cultural celebration across the city is held to commemorate the birthday of Sri Aurobindo.
How to Reach Pondicherry
Pondicherry is tucked in the south east corner of India, surrounded by the state of Tamil Nadu overlooking the Bay of Bengal. The Union Territory is well connected to the nearby states and districts by bus, and train. Pondicherry trip should be on your bucket list if french architecture, cafes and food appeals to you; if you want to explore your spiritual side or otherwise just want to have a relaxing vacation.
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Chennai to Pondicherry
The most traveled route to this city is from Chennai. Chennai to Pondicherry distance is about 150 KMs. It is the closest functioning airport, and major railway station, not to mention a bigger bus hub. Being well connected to many cities, it has made Pondicherry city a popular weekend getaway in South India.
Bangalore to Pondicherry
Apart from Chennai, Bangalore is the other major city from where tourists come very often. From Bangalore one can go either by road, train or flight. Bangalore to Pondicherry distance is about 311 Kms though shortest route. If you are planning to drive to Pondicherry from Bangalore, it is recommended you take NH 75 route instead of the shorter NH-77 route.
Apart from these locations, flights are now available from Delhi and Mumbai as well.
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Best Places to Visit in Pondicherry
- Auroville and Sri Aurobindo Ashram
- Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple
- White Town
- Remarkable Beaches and adventure sports
- Chunnambar Boat House
- The Pondicherry Botanical Garden
- Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple
- Bharati Government Park
- French Memorial
- Chunnambar Backwater
- Pondicherry Museum
- Old Lighthouse
- Gandhi statue
- Matri Mandir
- Ousteri Lake
Things to Do in Pondicherry
- Food in Pondicherry: Pamper your taste buds
- Street Shopping in Pondicherry
- Take the Heritage Tour of Pondicherry
- Yoga and Meditation at Auroville
- Scuba Diving in Pondicherry
Pondicherry Travel Tips
- Wear cotton clothes – it’s usually hot in Pondicherry!
- Don’t make your itinerary very hectic. Leave some time to relax and explore.
- French quarters is the best part of town, with colonial architecture streets, cafes and restaurants.
- Bicycle or a motorbike is the best mode of transport for moving around and exploring in Pondicherry.
- If you want to spend most of your time exploring Auroville and see its way of life the better stay in Auroville which offers various stay options.
Beaches:
- Rock/ Promenade Beach- Preferably in night to chill or for sunrise to experience
- Auroville Beach- Just to chill (when you will visit auroville asharam – visit here as well
- Paradise beach- for enjoying the ferry and enjoying the bath in the water.
- Serenity beach- For enjoying the bath and chilling
Other Places:
- Auroville Ashram (Day time)
- Arobinde Ashram (Day time)
- Botonical garden (Day time)
- Basilica sacred heart of Jesus (Church- Day time- Visit when before visiting Rock beach)
- Varadhraja Perumal Temple (Day time- Visit when before visiting Rock beach. The church and this temple are side by side)
- French colony (This also near to Rock beach– Place with beautifully constructed buildings.
- French war memorial, Jawaharlal nehru Statue and Gandhiji Statue on the Rock beach itself.
Places to Eat:
- Cafe Xstatci and Taka pizza– for Pizza treat.
- Dilliwala 6 and Indian Kaffe Express(Near to Rock Beach)- For north Indian cusine and nice taste
- Indian Coffe house/ Suruguru Spot Restaurant– For quick breakfast
- Cafe Des art (In french colony)– a very old and popular restaurant. It has french cuisine. Visit only if you like french cuisine.
- Bakers Street- A must visit place for your sweet tooth for delicious variety of croissant, breads, pastries etc. Must visit.
Visit Pondicherry at least once in your life for an experience that will last forever.
