As a traveler, you seldom come across places that still live up to the beauty and fame they are known for. Of all the places I have been to in the Southern part of our country, Puducherry is one such destination that steals the heart of thousands of travelers for its exquisite Indo-French cultures. Fill your eyes with the vibrant colors splashed on the walls of the buildings, admire the beautiful architecture, have a lovely dinner by the beach, visit the famous Auroville town, or simply just grab a drink and star gaze on an empty beach till sunrise.
While you are on a vacation in Puducherry, the beaches are the first thing that will grab your attention. However, apart from strolling on the serene beaches, you may want to indulge in the plethora of water sports activities that fill your hearts with adventure, and sip on the aroma of freshly baked pancakes and brewed coffee as you go for a leisure walk around the picturesque tree-lined boulevards.
Time to visit:
You may want to avoid summers in Puducherry as it gets hot. It’s better to visit in the months of October to March when the weather is not that hot and the temperature ranges from 15°C to 30°C.
How to reach:
By air: Puducherry airport is located at Lawspet. Easily accessible by bus, autorickshaws, private taxis.
By rail: The nearest railway station that connects Puducherry to the rest of the country is Villupuram Railway Junction.
By road: You may reach Puducherry from major cities like Chennai (distance 174 km- 3 hours and 30 minutes, Bangalore (360 km- 7 hours and 30 minutes), Trichy (199 km- 3 hours and 15 minutes), and Coimbatore (378 km- 6 hours and 30 minutes).
Expense:
Packages for Puducherry begin at INR 15,000-20000 for 2 nights for and 3 days for 2 people, and the average cost for meals is around INR 400 and accommodation for double sharing starts at 1500 INR.
What to do:
The French Quarter (White Town) is possibly the most Instagrammable area of this city.
• Beach hopping.
• Take a boat ride (Motorboat-50 INR; Speed Boat: 350 INR; Jet Ski: 500 INR) to Paradise Beach Island.
• Enjoy a picnic at Ousteri Lake.
• Try watersports at the beaches like kayaking.
• Scuba diving (The Discover Scuba Diving Course costs INR 9,322 including GST). Other than this one can take heritage walks here and explore the city on a scooter. YOU CAN’T MISS THIS!!!
• You could also visit the 2nd largest mangrove forest in the world at Pichavaram (74 km from Puducherry). Spread across 1100 hectares area, it takes you to throw 4,400 narrow canals and some 50 islands of various sizes. You could do boating from 8 am to 5 pm.
The best Beaches in Pondicherry are:
1. Rock Beach
2. Serenity Beach
3. Paradise Beach: This place is magical 😊
4. Promenade Beach
5. Mahe Beach
6. Auroville beach
Cafes and Hotels:
• The Lighthouse: Visit this roof-top restaurant in the Promenade Hotel. The view from this restaurant is breathtaking.
• La Pasta to taste the exclusive Italian dishes.
• Café des Arts, a Bohemian-style restaurant is known to serve authentic crepes and coffees. Also, the wall art in this café is sure to catch your attention.
• Rendezvous: Do try the local flavors here. This is an uptown restaurant perfect for a candle light dinner.
• Baker Street: This is a must-try place for having English-style breakfast and bakery items. Do try the heavenly chocolate croissants.
• Crepe In Touch: Do try the authentic crepes here.
Hotels:
• Dune Eco-village and Spa (6000 INR per night)
• Bonjour Bonheur Ocean Spray (5200 INR per night)
• Le Pondy (12000 INR per night)
• The promenade (7000 INR per night)
What To wear?
Well, the brightly colored walls of Puducherry deserve outfits that do justice to the pictures clicked against them. Its best to pack some contrasting color outfits that goes with the colorful background. As, this place can get a little humid, its best to pack breezy and casual cotton t-shirts, and shorts for the beaches. Also, don't forget to carry your glasses and sunscreen!
Safety:
Puducherry is a safe city and one can find a few bars in the French colony operating during the late hours here. If one wants to venture out at night, it is advised to go out in groups.
What are you waiting for? Plan your next vacation to Puducherry and experience the Indo-French cultures at the finest.
Happy Traveling!
