Explore the Beauty of Pondicherry [5 Days Complete Guide 2022]

We reached Pondicherry in December last week from Delhi. Flights to Pondicherry are on the expensive side and so we booked DEL - MAA (Chennai) flight and took a cab from MAA airport to our stay. The cab was booked from online app.
Travel Duration : 3 hours (Flight) + 3 hours (Cab)
Travel Cost : Flights (Rs  5-7k per head one way) and Cab (Rs 2500) The road from Chennai to Pondicherry is very well maintained and we didn't find any issues commuting.

Our Stay : If you crave a natural and aesthetic inclusive stay, I recommend you Kariappa House. It has the best rooms in Pondicherry and it's a magical experience! A stay defined by 1920s architecture and blending in modern facilities of 24×7 WiFi and hot water, AC and impeccable cleaning. The staff is amazingly polite and it is also home to a beautiful cat named Dee Dee. 600 square yards of pool, library and greenery will make your stay enjoyable and relaxing.

Cost : Room (Rs. 5-8k per day) + Complimentary Breakfast.
Location: In the heart of Pondicherry and very close to White Town where all the fun happens.

Scooty is available for Rs.500 (Activa) and Rs.700 (Vespa) per day, exclusive of petrol.

One of the classic places to visit is Auroville. It was about 7kms from our stay. Auroville is known for its peaceful atmosphere enclosed in the serenity of Matrimandir. It is a dome structure and has an inside museum which tells you about its existence and the rationale of the establishment. You can park your scooty at the entrance and then take a nice walk inside. The entry is free. Best time to visit is 9 AM to 1PM or 3PM to 5PM

Facilities : You have a very big cafeteria there with a lot of delicious Gelato/Organic ice creams ( premium quality ones!) and other quick bites. You can also find a local mart inside which has handmade products like  earrings, cutlery, men/women garments and wearables.

Auroville Cafe : Highly rated one where you can have a hearty breakfast which makes you completely full upto the evening. There will be a long waiting there and the staff is rude but then what can you do? There is also an Auroville Bakery inside. Please remove shoes before you enter!

Cost for Two : Rs. 500 - 1000

Auro Beach : Near Auroville we have this beautiful beach which is actually really close to waters. On the beach you'll have a line of vendors who serve you fresh prawns and squid. It will be great if you visit it in morning to watch the sunrise. Afternoon has some rush and somehow the beach gets a little dirty then! You can also go for boating.

Pondicherry isn't just about the town, it surely has a bunch of places nearby for a 1 day visit. Mahabalipuram is one of them located ~95kms. There are 3 exact places you can visit here to chill apart from the temples (if you love grand architectures and heritage sites).

Cost for cabs : Rs. 3800 (two way trip)

1. Radisson Blue Temple Bay : At Radisson you can have private beach access. Impeccable cleaning there and mind-blowing vibes. It has 2 amazing restaurants inside - The Wharf and Water Edge. Both are fairly economical.

Stay at Radisson : Rs. 10k per day

The Wharf : Rs. 3000 for 2 people
Water Edge : Rs 1500 for 2 people

2. Crocodile Bank : The Crocodiles are the next level tourist attraction. This bank has 2400 crocodiles from saltwater to gharials. You would simply love them! Best part is that they are like 10 feet from you. Watching them is simply magical. These beasts have a Thor in them which is a short tempered 4.4 mts long croco living in isolation because of his massive size and strength. Apart from this you can see the snake shows.

Cost for Entry : Rs 100 per head. 

3. Lighthouse and Nearby Temples: Temples would be nearby so you can check the maps for locations and drive your way to them. Lighthouse is a fun place to be as you can watch the entire city from there.

*Make sure you do not miss the Coconut Water. It's sweet like anything and highly refreshing. Also, the raw mangoes or Carri! Pure love!

After we returned to Pondicherry from Mahabalipuram we had to visit Pichavaram which is backwaters and mangrove forest infused boating experience which we missed due to rains! But then we started going deeper into Pondicherry where White Town got the rest of the bliss sorted. So what's there in White Town?

1. Colorful homes! Yess there's the bloggers delight. You'll find tons of people clicking themselves on the streets of White Town and why not? It's brilliant how maintained this place is. Also, white Town is at rock and promenade beach so you can chill there.

2. Tons of Cafe! White Town is loaded with 4+ rated cafe's and some of them have a sea side view rooftops. Seafood and Alcohol will be a great combination. For the non drinking folks we have cafes near rock beach where you can have delicacies from French to Italian.

Recommended Restaurants :
- Bay by Buddha
- Zuka
- Rasna Buzz
- Flaming Dragon
- Cormandel Cafe ( hard to get a seat there!)
- GMT Ice Creams
- Le Cafe

Pro Tip for each day :
1. Go for photoshoot in the morning when less crowd is there.
2. Make sure your parking your scooty in the right spot.
3. 6 pm visit the cafe/ restaurant of your liking because then the first come first serve game happens. In the morning and afternoon please go for quick bites where you can grab some delicacies and then walk around.
4. BEWARE of some drunk folks and other miscreants who would be looking for money. Do not stop or entertain them simply leave the spot.
5. Return to your stay by 11pm. Trust me it gets weird as the city may be safe but it surely does not have a night life ecosystem.
6. Make sure your scooty has the right alignment and tire pressure. It is difficult to drive in Pondicherry. There are NO red lights almost, no helmets no rules. Traffic can come from any side.

I hope this detailed trip opens your mind to a great visit. Pondicherry is lovely. Please visit it and enjoy! Create memories that you're going to miss soon!