Things to do & Places to visit in Pondicherry

Pondicherry is a tiny town that is its own Union Territory. It is surrounded by the state of Tamil Nadu. It is considered the Portuguese capital of India and is a lovely holiday destination. What attracts tourists is the calm and serene atmosphere that is full of urban architecture that depicts french style. Apart from sightseeing, Pondicherry has a lot to offer.

Before we read about activates let us understand how to reach there. We can reach Pondicherry by air, road, and railways. By road, Chennai is 150kms away from Pondicherry and 325kms from Bangalore. There are also buses from nearby cities like Chennai, Thanjavur, Trichy, Coimbatore, Bangalore, and Madurai. The nearest Railway Station is Villupuram which is 35 km from Pondicherry and well connected to cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, and Trivandrum. By Air, Pondicherry Airport is a domestic airport in Lawspet district of Pondicherry. It has regular flights from Bangalore. The closest international airport is Chennai Airport which is 135 km from Pondicherry. The best time to visit is from October to February. The temperatures are around 17 degrees Celsius and light woollens are recommended. October and November have torrential rains from the returning monsoons, other than that it’s the best time to visit because of its water and beach activities. 1. The first thing to do is to wake up and look at the sunrise. With untouched beaches and modern charm to the place, a sunrise is something special. Taking a stroll along the sea front road is a lovely way to experience the sunrise, or even walk during the day to move away from the city. 2. While there, you could take a weekend package to other South Indian tourist spots. 3. A Beach Ride on Paradise Beach Island is beautiful. The view is breath taking with a relaxing atmosphere. 4. Ousteri Lake is a man-made lake of Pondicherry. It is a tourist spot because of its beautiful sunset. The lake has a diverse bio-diversity which brings a lot of birds which makes it an exceptional spot for bird watching. 5. Scuba Diving and other Water Activities: A lot of places in Pondicherry offer Scuba Diving. It is a great place to dive because of the corals, rocky pop-ups, and vast marine life. Beaches like Paradise beach, Karakai beach offer many water sports like Boating, Jet skiing, Canoeing, Kayaking and Backwater sailing among others. Or if nothing else try sun bathing on Serenity Beach.

​​ 6. A must do is a Bicycle Tour of the classical Portuguese, colonized part of the town. The tour includes the Muslim Quarter (also called Green Quarter), Tamil & French houses, various cultural centers, and traditional & historical places. There are also walking tours offered for those who prefer walking. The tour ends with a breakfast after you have worked up an appetite. And this is a lovely way to see the place.

7. Pondicherry is one place where you can get both Portuguese and South Indian Food. One must try the amazing restaurants while they are there. They also have a great nightlife. 8. No holiday is complete without souvenirs and knick knacks and Pondicherry will not disappoint. Visit small indigenous shops and boutiques to get local products. 9. Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a peaceful ashram that tourists visit. It is very calming and harmonious. One can even take part in collective meditation around the Samadhi. The Ashram is the most popular tourist destination in Pondicherry. There is also a lovely gift shop with natural products.

10. Sita Cultural Centre: Use the excuse of a holiday to enjoy some recreational classes. These classes cover a wide range of subjects and you can pick what interests you. Try and customise your vacation to suit your own taste and have a great stay at Pondicherry.

References: TravelTriangle. “13 Things To Do In Pondicherry For A Fulfilling Retreat.” 13 Exciting Things To Do In Pondicherry, 24 July 2017, traveltriangle.com/blog/things-to-do-in-pondicherry/. Accessed 5 Sept. 2017.​