One of the maximum beautiful places on the Eastern coast of India, Puducherry is an extraordinary place to go to for a chilled few days. Officially called Puducherry, it’s miles the official capital of the Union Territory of Puducherry. It’s a carefully populated, tiny region with a trifling location of 492 km. Puducherry elevation is averaged at sea degree, with a 2km long sea-wall in opposition to it to protect it from the sea.
The town falls beneath the Puducherry district and is bordered via Tamil Nadu. Most of its populace shares an identical culture as that of the nation. Puducherry is well-known everywhere in the country for its ‘French colonies’ and here’s why; In 1674, the French East India Company mounted its headquarters inside the metropolis. It remained part of ‘French India’ for the duration of the reign of the British till 1954, whilst it becomes integrated into the Indian Union with the relaxation of French India. It has set up itself as a main tourist spot inside the past few years, specifically due to its properly maintained, aesthetically pleasing infrastructure. It isn’t a dynamic location with a lot of factors to do, however, with the right humans, you may have a pretty serene couple of days. And we promise you, it’s sincerely well worth a visit.
Although Puducherry is positioned alongside the ocean and is relatively excellent nearly round the year, the pleasant months to visit this region are from October to March. It gets a touch too hot after that. So you can fly to Puducherry to get away the winters of the northern elements of India.
How to get there –
Puducherry has its very own independent airport and railway station. So if either of these is convenient for you, move for it. However, the fares for an immediate flight to Puducherry won’t constantly fall underneath the budget. A hack to this is that you may take a flight to Chennai, and then take a bus or teach from there to Puducherry.
If you take a flight to Chennai and decide to take a bus, you’ll find in numerous nearby and personal buses jogging to and fro Puducherry. The bus station is a little a long way from the airport but you will effortlessly find Ubers and Olas jogging at some point in the town. (You could have a little little bit of a language problem at first and that is going for any town with a prominent regional language, but you’ll be capable of speak with the general public in a few phrases in English) It takes a median of 2.Five to 3 hours to attain the primary metropolis of Puducherry. If you’re a set of 5-6 people, you may also hire a taxi or take an Ola//Uber Intercity. These might end up a tad bit luxurious, so maintain that during the mind. The journey from Chennai to Puducherry is quite exceptional once you get out of the primary town of Chennai. You may have the sweetest avenue journey dwelling your ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ second. However, if you’re searching out a pocket-pleasant manner to attain Pondy in its truest feel, try to discover a train. The closest railway station to the Chennai Airport is the ‘Tambaram’ railway station in place of the Chennai Junction. You will get a price ticket for mere ninety greenbacks. Most of those trains only have well-known booths and the trains get pretty full in Tambaram, so we would recommend you to take the educate at the same time as getting back from Puducherry, and no longer the other way around. But please have a look at the teaching time table before you decide on an alternative.
While getting back from Pondy, in our non-public experience we’ve felt that the quality manner is to take the 5:30 am teach to Tambaram station. It starts evolved from Puducherry so that you’ll get enough area to settle. But mind you, even as getting down at Tambaram, you will have to be short and green. So enough approximately those boring logistical details. Let’s pass directly to the better stuff.
Places to visit in Puducherry
Beaches-
The principal seashores which can be the nearest to the metropolis are the Promenade Beach and the Rocky Beach. As the latter suggests, they’re both rock seashores, now not sand. You can’t get into the water or make sandcastles or play volleyball. Both these seashores are nearly in one unmarried run and located at a kilometre’s distance from the railway station. We’d suggest which you do both of the 2 matters or even each if you have the time – Go watch the sunrise at the Promenade Beach. It’s a beautifully cathartic enjoy. You will discover a handful of people out for their morning walks, with the maximum adorable dogs. You can take a seat at the rocks that make the coast of these seashores and enjoy the view and experience the bloodless water touch your legs and run away. You can also revel in clean ‘nariyal pani’ (coconut water) across the seashore and begin your day all sparkling and healthy. But properly, in case you’re no longer an early riser, you may also go to those seashores for an ‘after dinner’ walk. Opposite to those beaches is a first-rate number of restaurants and shops. You will find a whole lot of humans sitting at the seaside with their family and enjoying the cool breeze of the night. You can sit for some time, play ludo or something with your buddies and even opt for a few desserts in the parlors throughout the beach.
Then comes the maximum unusual seashore of Pondicherry, Paradise seaside. It is situated in Chunnambar, near the Pondicherry town. It is a tiny isolated beach, and to attain this seaside, you need to get on a ferry journey of 20-half-hour. The ferry experience could be very cozy, secure and gives you the maximum luscious views. The seashore has lovely, golden sand. It is adorned with a few shacks, an area for some rain dance, volleyball nets for a typical seashore enjoy. You can pass inside the water, but they don’t let you cross in too deep. You ought to deliver a trade of garments if you plan to go in the water. There are a few eateries and in case you need to try your hand at seafood, that’s to be had too. There are a few activities to be had on the Paradise seashore too. Fishing rods and nets are effortless to be had for hire.
Another beach in Pondicherry that is simply well worth a visit is the Serenity seaside. It is placed at a ten km distance from the main city and is a fantastic getaway. Its coast is covered with fishermen, rocks, and lodges. Surfing is a famous game in the place and the methods are high enough to allow you the opportunity. You will also locate multiple surfing schools inside the area.
Auroville-
Auroville is an experimental township on an hour’s journey from Pondicherry. It becomes based by Mirra Alfassa, a disciple of Aurobindo and fondly referred to as the ‘Mother’ of Sri Aurobindo Society. You can set aside one entire day for Auroville and rent a cab to the vicinity. Auroville is an effort to promote peace and harmony amongst residents, a hub of development and schooling, where people have welcomed no matter color, caste, and creed. People from everywhere in the globe come to Auroville to commit their entire lives to the lessons of Sri Aurobindo. The most well-known traveler appeal in Auroville is The Golden Dome within the Auroville ashram, the ‘Matrimandir’, the temple of the Mother. It is a 30 m excessive globe, with a lotus fashioned urn. People have defined their revel in as extraordinarily tranquil and existence converting. The Auroville ashram additionally has lots of cafes and markets. Its markets are recognized for its fragrances. You can purchase scented candles, incense sticks and handmade perfumes in the stores. You can visit all of this without spending a dime however if you need to go to the ‘Matrimandir’, you will go to Auroville an afternoon earlier and ebook your tickets for the day after today. Make positive to look up the guidelines and the timings at the professional website of the Matrimandir. Mind you, you’ll be physically gifted to get a price tag for your self. Having somebody else go for your behalf does no longer paintings there. The price ticket gets you a guided excursion of the interior of the Matrimandir. We realize it’s loads of problem but trust us, it’s gonna be worth it.
Auroville additionally has its very own seaside, named after the town itself. It is situated 12 km away from Puducherry and lies at the right-hand aspect of East-Coast Road. The seashore hasn’t been tampered a whole lot via human encroachment until now. There aren’t a variety of meals shops or different institutions. It closes at around 6:30 inside the nighttime and the first-class vicinity to go to it’s far proper before sunrise and sundown. The beach is also popular for being a vital olive ridley turtle nesting floor.
Another vicinity that you could cover to your Auroville go-to is the Auroville Bakery and Boulangerie. It is one of the most popular food joints in the town. All the objects on the menu are made from substances from the Auro farm. Even the cheesecakes are crafted from the domestically produced cheese in Auroville. The bakery also has a devoted outdoor seating region situated amid sprawling garden space. Some of the other popular cafes within the location are Marc’s Cafe, The Greek Cafe and Bread, and Chocolate Cafe. Ararat Restaurant, Tanto Pizzeria, recognized for its wood-fired pizzas, also are exceptional alternatives. You may even discover a few ‘vegan-best’ alternatives in the location. Auroville also has beautiful Botanical Gardens that spread across 50 acres, making it the most important one in the vicinity. They function as a complete-fledged synthetic Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest (TDEF), which is native to the place. People frequently visit Auroville for a full day, make their reservations for tomorrow at Matrimandir, move around the alternative placed for the day and then go away the subsequent morning after a go to the temple.
Aurobindo Ashram-
Named after its founder, Sri Aurobindo, the ashram serves as an area installation to support human beings to achieve moksha and inner peace. It does now not have any branches and exists handiest in Puducherry. You can stay within the visitor homes of the ashram, though you furthermore might have quite a few inns around Pondicherry. Tours, exhibition and video applications are organized inside the ashram to impart the lessons of the founder. The centres presented through the Ashram, including the library and the primary building, may be accessed only after receiving a gate bypass from the Bureau Central or guest homes of the Ashram. Along with this, the ashram additionally has a spiritual centre which consists of 4 houses. These houses have been inhabited through the Mother and Sri Aurobindo for exceptional periods. There exists a samadhi as well beneath the frangipani tree where our bodies of Mother and Sri Aurobindo had been buried.
French Colony-
So we realize what tempts you the most to go to Puducherry. The pictures in front of these beautiful French partitions, isn’t that right? So, a tremendous part of Puducherry still holds in a little France in itself. There isn’t any pinned factor as to wherein this colony starts or ends. It is planned in step with the French grid structure and has perpendicular streets. The Heritage Walk inside the French Quarter of Puducherry is mainly via the four streets: RUE DUMAS, RUE ROMAIN ROLLAND, RUE SUFFREN, and RUE LA BOURBONNAIS. You will discover tens and hundreds of stunning partitions. This colony has a notable wide variety of cafes and accommodations and markets. You can both walk or hire a bicycle to take a tour of this region. It is normally full of tourists and additionally has a first-rate quantity of markets. You will locate boutiques all around the location promoting the most top-notch form of stuff. The homes and villas here have the most stunning landscapes, majestic doors, and huge verandahs. The outsides of these houses are usually painted in numerous colourations and decorated by way of bougainvillaea. The streets constantly appearance colourful, adorned with decorations and you’ll most probably run right into a girl seller selling hand-sewn pouches. You will get the most elaborate pouches for an insignificant 30 bucks.
Religious Places-
You will discover some of the temples and church buildings in Puducherry. The most well-known of all is The Basilica of the Sacred Heart Jesus. The only Basilica, and one of the 21 in India, it is located very near the Pondicherry Railway Station. One of the most lovely Catholic Churches of Pondicherry, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus marvellously showcases the Gothic structure. The lives of Jesus Christ alongside the saints of the Catholic Church have been portrayed inside the stained glass panels of the constructing. Thousands of humans turn to the Sacred Heart Basilica to find peace every 12 months. This stunning church is a precise ought to to-go-to in case you are making plans an experience to Pondicherry. It will seclude you and take you to a global of tranquillity and solitude, away from the fast-transferring existence of the city in a style of whole calm and composure. Apart from this, there are amazing many temples across the town. Most of them have a typical South Indian architecture, painted in lovely shades, embellished in certain, ornate sculptures. Few of these temples are the Gokilambal Thirukameshwar Temple, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple, and the ISKCON Temple. Most of the temples are located in the nearby villages of Puducherry, far from the principle city.
There are some monuments and statues around Pondicherry that you may likely see while you visit different places. There are also a few gardens that you can pay a visit to if you’re travelling Puducherry for a longer length. Apart from these, there are tones of markets that you could go to. Another considered one of our hints is the Goubert flower marketplace. It’s a completely closed and congested market however if you like plant life, you ought to visit this area. There’s additionally the Puducherry Sunday Market in which you’ll get a plethora of factors to pick from for extremely low fees. Mission Street is one of the predominant markets in Puducherry. The save ‘Casablanca’ is meant to be very well-known in this avenue. You get stuff starting from shoddy attired to pans and pots on this street. Oh, and we’d also endorse buying postcards from those markets. They’re made with the maximum lovely pix.
Places to devour-
Now moving to our favourite component, Puducherry has so many beautiful little cafes that it’s simply gonna soften your coronary heart. We’ll begin with Café des Arts, that’s an ought to go to, within the French Quarters. It has lovely indoors. Most of these cafes need to be preferred to head for breakfast. They serve scrumptious English and French breakfast dishes and provide a completely touristy vibe. Café de Arts is positioned in a bungalow of sorts, and in place of everyday halls, you get to sit down in real rooms.
Then, PY Café on Mission Street is one to be visited at night. The lighting sincerely enhances the place. You can sit down on the terrace and experience a pleasing breeze. Puducherry also has a tremendous choice for crepes in lots of cafes, especially Crepe in Touch on Mission Street. Another famous café is Café Stasi, which is understood for its 21-inch wood baked pizzas. Carte Blanche, Villa Helena, Le Dupleix are few amongst many different locations where you can revel in terrific French cuisine. You may even discover a few finances-friendly eating places facing the sea, opposite to Promenade Beach. We’d additionally endorse you to strive for the well-known Chicken Chettinad right here. Appachi Chettinad is a normally Tamil region in a French Puducherry wherein you may delight in yourself with amazing South Indian delicacies. Satsanga is every other that has to go-to the location. Their steaks are very well-known. It doesn’t have a nice ambience, however, they provide you meals worth your cash.
There are way too many locations in Puducherry with amazing meals for us to list all of them down. So we’ll simply go away you to use a few hit and trial within the metropolis. Just faucet into any first-rate area that you see at the same time as taking a stroll inside the town and be amazed. And do tell us what you discovered nice!
Things to do in Puducherry-
We’ll begin with what we instructed you in advance. Go watch the sunrise! A visit to Puducherry isn’t whole in case you don’t witness the sunrise at least once.
Next, SCUBA DIVING! Yes, you heard us right. In truth, Pondicherry is the most effective diving spot on the eastern coast of India. Scuba Diving is organized by using Temple Adventures, a certified PADI centre. Apart from Scuba diving, they provide marine conservation, defence training, films and movies, CSR, disabled diver education, and plenty more below the supervision of an enormously skilled team of divers.
Other diving spots in Puducherry –
Cool Shark Reef, Aravind’s Wall, Temple Reef, 4 Corners, Ravines, The Hole, and lots of more.
Opening Hours: 6:30 am – 7:30 pm (Open spherical the 12 months)
You should visit their internet site to discover the costs for custom designed guides as in step with your requirements.
You can also cross for some amusing stuffed water activities at the sandy seashores on Puducherry, consisting of jet snowboarding, motor boating and plenty of extras. You can also lease bicycles and take an excursion of the complete town. Trust us; it’s tiny enough for you to cowl the entire town.
Next, come browsing classes on Serenity Beach! We’d advised you earlier too, hit the waves and learn the ability of browsing.
Apart from those exciting sports, you can join a variety of leisure and meditational courses that appear everywhere in the town, try to discover a few quiet and peace.
Written by – Zoha Khan (visit website)
