This was a last minute trip to Pondicherry that we four friends decided and planned exactly 3 days prior leaving. This was the most exiting sojourn and personally this was my first backpacking tour. All in all it was a lovely journey and a great learning experience being a tourism student. 23rd December 2019, we four friends started off our travel from Mumbai to TamilNadu by the ‘Pondicherry Express Train’. This was one of my longest train journeys, precisely 2d 9h 45m. Albeit, really cool fellow passengers who vibed to the music we played and amazing travel buddies beside made it worth a while. We reached Pondicherry on Christmas Morning and headed straight to our accommodation. Being on a backpacker tour we booked hostels. We stayed in ‘Droid Hostel’- which was easy on our budget and at the same time excellent in comfort and facilities. Bonded with our hostel room-mates which filled our travel diaries with a lot of memories to cherish for a lifetime. On your way to Auroville check out ‘Bread & chocolate’ for a wide range of exquisite Croissants. This flaky, layered French pastry in the shape of a crescent, is simply divine. For those of you who wish to indulge in the French Cuisine and culture, this is surely the destination to add to one’s bucket list. Looking for an ideal place that could add an extra flex on the gram and a feather to every travel or food blogger- Café Hope in white town is your go to spot. Every dish on their menu is given a personal touch of love, joy and happiness. The entire concept of the café and personalisation of the above three elements is beautifully explained by the manager. The Pizzas, Pastas and the ‘Joy Crêpe’ are a must try here. You could end your day by dinning at ‘Grand Hotel D' Europe’ in white town or you could simply order a takeaway and chill and sip some cool beer with your hostel mates like we did. Sights explored in Pondicherry Rock beach- We had a lovely walk along the beautiful promenade and enjoyed the sea breeze with some tasty treats and to add to an aesthetic effect to our vlog we bought some beach bubbles. Auroville- This little township in Pondicherry is a whole new different world in itself. There is so much warmth and hospitality in welcoming people of different races, culture and countries. If you ever want to know how a township with such varied diversity could have so much peace within, Auroville is an epitome for what you seek. Matri Mandir- This well-crafted architectural structure is known as the soul of the city and although we could not have a visit inside the Matri Mandir, we had a small glimpse of the peacefully environment within through a short documentary. Aurobindo Aashram- After a long day of exploring and sightseeing we ended up visiting this ashram to spend some time in meditation and rejuvenation. White Town- We explored this colonial era French town on bicycles. Indulged ourselves in the delicious French cuisine, filling our Polaroid cameras and travel diaries with picturesque and exciting memories. All in all a trip, I can never forget my very own #lastminute trip
