Pondicherry, alternatively known as Puducherry is famous as the French Riviera of the East and is one of the most mesmerising and beautiful places in the South India. So dear wanderers, this time our blog is going to be all about things to do in Pondicherry!
This quaint little town was a former French colony and amazingly, even after so many years, it has retained its old French charm. Although miles away from France, this place is the closest thing to France that you will find in India. Its French culture and French influence is evident from its cuisine to its architecture.
Spending time in Pondicherry can be an incredible experience for you. We bet that after reading this blog you’ll be on your way to plan a trip to Pondicherry.
So let’s jump in to explore what are some of the best things to do in Pondicherry.
Table of Contents
Things To Do In Pondicherry
Explore The Paradise Beach
Paradise Beach is one of the most iconic beaches in Pondicherry that attracts tourists from all over the world. Alternatively known as Plage Paradiso, it is situated in Chunnambar, nearby Pondicherry town. This little beach is beautifully adorned with golden sand and is absolutely surreal. To reach this beach, you need to take a ferry that takes approximately 20-30 minutes. Reaching the beach through the ferry is a wonderful experience in itself. The backwaters on the way to the beach are incredibly stunning and look even more beautiful after the monsoon. What’s more? You get to spot some birds on the way, so it’s a treat to wildlife lovers. The gorgeous surroundings give you the opportunity to click some great pictures.
To treat your taste buds, you can have some coconut water and simple snacks. There are a lot of water sports facilities available here. You can try them out if you want to have a little adventure. If you want to try something different, then you can try your hands on fishing. There are fishing rods and nets easily avais on rent.
Timings : 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Time Required To Explore: 1-2 hrs
Entry Fee : INR 150,
Chairs: INR 75 per hour
Best Time To Visit : November to March
Things To Do: Photography, Walking, Eating, Playing a Sport, Watching the Sunrise.
Cruise And See Dolphins At Chunnambar Boat House
Chunambar is a little hamlet located along Cuddalore Main Road, approximately 8 km from Pondicherry. This peaceful town is popular for housing a very popular beach which is the Paradise Beach. Boasting of pristine sand and crystal clear waters, this place is an amazing spot for those who want to sunbathe and enjoy water sports. Not just this, a short cruise is also there for tourists which allows them to have an overall view of the nearby surroundings. What makes this place even more interesting is that you can spot dolphins playing around in the waters which is an absolutely delightful experience.
Also Read: Best Places To Visit In Pondicherry
If you want an escape from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life and want to spen some moments in peace, then this place is perfect for you. The serene environment of this place gives you the opportunity to relax and self introspect. This is one of those places which is enjoyed by people of all age groups alike.
Timings : 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Time Required To Explore: 2-3 hrs
Entry Fee : Adults- INR 5,
Children (between 4 years and 8 years)- INR 3
Best Time To Visit : January to March and September and December.
Things To Do: Boating, Watching The Sunrise, Trekking, Picnicking, Enjoying The Restaurant Food.
Book Now: Pondicherry In A Day
Scuba Diving
Pondicherry has an amazing marine life which makes it perfect for scuba diving. Scuba diving here can add a touch of thrill to your trip to Pondicherry. Diving into the sea gives you an opportunity to explore the rich marine life. During your dive, you can witness exotic creatures like manta rays, kingfish, sea snakes, lionfish, butterflies, crustaceans, moray eels and a lot more. If you are lucky, you might even spot whale sharks, turtles, sharks and dolphins. Pondicherry is indeed a perfect destination for trying scuba diving.
Time Required : 2-4 days
Entry Fee : Approximately INR 5000 per dive
Best Time To Visit: February – April and September – November
Indulge In Water Sports
If you are an adventure fanatic and water sports fascinate you then you are going to love Pondicherry even more! Pondicherry has incredible coastal beauty which makes Indulging in water sports an even more exciting experience. Pondicherry offers water sports activities like scuba diving, parasailing, banana boat rides and a lot more. If you are looking to have some adrenaline rush, then Pondicherry is not going to be a disappointment for you!
Must Read: Solo Trip To Pondicherry
Time Required: 2-3 days
Entry Fee: ₹1500 onwards
Best Time To Visit: October – February
Explore The Sites Of Arikamedu
Arikamedu is an underrated destination that is unique and definitely worth paying a visit. It is situated within a half hour drive of the French colonial town of Pondicherry. This place is an ancient Roman trade centre and is a unique destination. Its name literally means ‘eroding mount’ in Tamil. What’s more interesting about this place is that the glass bead manufacturing factory of Arikamedu is known as the mother of all bead centres in the entire world. This place was was occupied by the people of Rome, Cholas, and French and also served as a very popular maritime centre from 1st century BC to 2nd century AD.
Book Now: Best Of Pondicherry
Apart from sites of historical importance, you can also see mango trees and coconut trees in this region. What’s more? You can see the final few columns, bricks and mortars of the structure in ruins standing like a ghost along the river. Fascinating, isn’t it?
Timings : 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Time Required To Explore : 2-3 hrs
Entry Fee : No entry fee
Best Time To Visit: October – March
Get Some Peace At Aurobindo Ashram
If you want to declutter your mind and get some peace, then the Aurobindo Ashram is the best place for you. This ashram is named after its creator, Sri Aurobindo Ghosh. It was established in 1926 on 24th November. The foundation of this ashram was laid with the objective of helping people to attain moksha and inner peace. This ashram is quite popular and thousands of tourists from across the world come to this ashram to seek solace. This ashram only exists in Pondicherry and does not have any other branches.
Also Read: Why Is Pondicherry A Paradise Of Peace?
Mirra Alfassa, one of Aurobindo’s followers actively participated in the establishment of the ashram. After Sri Aurobindo Ghosh passed away in 1950, she took care of the Aurobindo Ashram and came to be known as the ‘Mother’ of the ashram. Currently, the Ashram has more than five hundred devotees, five hundred students involved in the democratic progress school and thirteen hundred patients. All these people live in the Ashram’s main building which comprises a block of houses, connected with each other. These houses are situated nearby the ashram at walking distance.
This ashram also has a spiritual centre which consists of four houses which were inhabited by the Mother and Sri Aurobindo during different times. There is a samadhi as well in the courtyard under the frangipani tree where the bodies of Mother and Sri Aurobindo were buried. People come here to pay their respects every day by laying flowers on it.
Timings : General timings- 4:30 AM – 11:00 PM, Visitor’s timings- 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Time Required To Explore: 1-2 hrs
Entry Fee : Free
Cycle Through The Town
Okay this might not sound like a very exciting thing to do, but trust us, this is an amazing opportunity to marvel at the beauty of this town! Cycling through the town on traditional vintage bicycles is one of the most exciting things to do. You can also choose to go on guided tours. Apart from enjoying the views of gorgeous alleys and narrow lanes, you can also enjoy the views of the gorgeous architecture of the French Colonial settlements.
Time Required : 1 – 2 hrs
Shopping
If you are tired exploring the city and want to do something different, then you can go for shopping. If you are a shopaholic, then Pondicherry has got you covered. It has some of the most amazing shopping spots that are going to leave you amazed! Here are some of the best shopping spots in Pondicherry:
Serenity Beach Bazaar
If you are out shopping, then you cannot miss this bazaar. Located near the Serenity Beach, this bazaar is 5 km north of the city. Located in a natural setting, this place has vendors from all over the country gathering every weekend. From jewellery to garments to handicraft items, you can get everything here. If you start feeling hungry while shopping, then this bazaar also has local food stalls here. You can eat here and delight your taste buds.
Location: Serenity Beach, Kottakuppam, Pondicherry
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM
Open Days: Open all days
SUND’art
SUND’art is a place that can give you amazing, typical Pondicherry vibes! This is the place where everything is handmade. A wide range of clothes for adults and kids can be found here. Apart from clothes, this place also has wallets, stuffed toys and handbags.
Location: 44 Rue Aurobindo Street, Pondicherry
Timings: 10 AM to 6 PM
Open Days: Open all days
Casablanca
Casablanca is an interesting name that literally means white house in Portuguese. This three floored shop has an air of glamour and is very enchanting. It has all the necessities and has a bit of European touch. This place has a huge variety of accessories and jewelleries. You can also get a huge variety of men and women ready to wear items. What’s more? There is a huge variety of international perfumes as well and a huge pottery section that is incredibly amazing! Souvenirs and books are also available and you just cannot miss the home section of this shop!
Book Now: Pondicherry Markets Tour
After all the exploring, if you find yourself hungry, then you can treat yourself with some food in the small cafe that is right in the middle of the store.
Location: 165 R D Mission Street, Heritage Town, Pondicherry
Timings: 10 AM to 10 PM
Open Days: Open all days
Anokhi
This is one of the best places to be visited for shopping in Pondicherry. It’s located in one of the French quarters. Here you can find ethnic cotton wear for men and women. The best part is that the prices here are affordable. It has a lot of outlets spread across the country. Apart from clothes a huge variety of furniture, jewellery, stoles, toilet accessories are also available.
Location: 1, Caserne Street, Pondicherry
Timings: 10 AM to 8 PM
Open Days: Open all days
Auro Woodworks
This shop is not located in any of the most popular market areas of Pondicherry, but it’s definitely worth visiting. Specialising in wooden amenities, this place is just perfect for you to buy some items for your home. Woods like oak, teak, Portia and jack are mostly used to create the articles here. What’s more interesting is that you can get your items customised here and they will ship your item to any part of the country.
Location: 44, M.G road, Kottakuppam, Auroville way, Pondicherry
Timings: 10 AM to 8 PM
Open Days: Open all days
La boutique D’Auroville
If you wish to take back home some gifts for your loved ones, then this is the perfect place for you. Located opposite to Metro shoe shop, this little shop has a huge variety of trendy items. From trendiest tops to ethnic wear and jewellery, this place has everything. This place has little gift boxes as well.
Location: Jawaharlal Nehru Street, M G Road area, Pondicherry
Timings: 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM
Open Days: Open all days
Summing Up
- A trip to Pondicherry can be a memorable one. With so many things to do in Pondicherry, taking a trip to this town can be an amazing adventure. Whether you are fond of shopping or exploring places of cultural and historical significance, Pondicherry has it all.
We hope you found our blog insightful and had fun reading it. So when are you planning your trip to Pondicherry? If you have already been to Pondicherry then what did you do there? We would love to hear about your experiences in the comments section!
FAQs
All modes of transportation are available to reach Pondicherry. You can reach Pondicherry by air, bus, car and rail.
Couples can create some romantic moments in Pondicherry by indulging in a rain dance session, indulging in a fish spa, trying the bungee trampoline, walking alongside a beach and doing a lot more.
Famous beaches in Pondicherry in include Rock Beach, Paradise Beach, Promenade Beach, Serenity Beach, Veerampattinam Beach and Auro Beach to nake a few.
Adventurous activities in Pondicherry include surfing, scuba diving, boating, kayaking, zip-lining, hiking, windsurfing, go-karting, rock climbing, canoeing etc.
In Pondicherry, you can buy jewellery, pottery items, clothing, handicraft items, textiles, candles etc.
Pondicherry is a place that has a warm climate. The best time to visit Pondicherry is from October to March. The climate during this time is generally very relaxed and cool, suitable for visiting beaches, sightseeing and indulging in adventurous activities.
Generally, 4 days are sufficient to explore all the tourist attractions in Pondicherry. If you are short on time, then 2-3 says enough to explore all the major attractions.
The best time of the day to visit Paradise Beach is during early morning hours which allows you to witness the breathtaking view of the sunrise on the eastern coast.
Yes, there is an entry fee to visit Paradise Beach. The entry fee is INR 150 per person. The beach remains open for its tourists from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on all days. Typically, it takes around 3-4 hours to explore the beach.
The only way to go to the Paradise beach is by a boat ride from the Chunnambar Boat House. This boathouse is present along the highway between Cuddalore and Pondicherry.
