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Destination Guide
Pondicherry
4.1
2-3 Days
15 Attractions
About Pondicherry
Commonly known as Pondy and officially Puducherry, Pondicherry is a Union Territory on the southeast coast. A French colony until 1954, the French Quarter
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A Perfect Day
Our editors' pick for the ideal day in Pondicherry.
06:30 AM
Rock Beach Promenade
Walk the seafront boulevard as fishermen launch boats. The Gandhi statue and French war memorial catch golden morning light.
10:00 AM
French Quarter Heritage Walk
Stroll pastel-coloured streets with bougainvillea walls. Stop at Café des Arts for croissants and filter coffee.
02:00 PM
Auroville & Matrimandir
Visit the City of Dawn's golden meditation sphere. The banyan tree, visitor centre, and international community are inspiring.
05:30 PM
Paradise Beach Sunset
Ferry to the secluded beach for sunset. The golden sand, gentle waves, and zero commercialisation are rare on India's coast.
The Collection
15 placesTop Attractions
4.4
·4 km from city centerPlay on the Paradise Beach
Paradise Beach, also known as Plage Paradiso, is situated in Chunnambar, close to Pondicherry town. Adorned with the golden sand, this is a little-isolated beach. To reach here, you have to take a ferry across the backwaters, which takes around 20-30 minutes. There are a few shacks along the main entrance to the beach, and you can get fresh coconut
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3.8
·3 km from city centerAurobindo Ashram
The Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a spiritual community or ashram located in Pondicherry, is the outcome of a small community of disciples who had gathered around Sri Aurobindo after he retired from politics and settled in Pondicherry in 1910. On 24 November 1926, after a major spiritual realization, Sri Aurobindo withdrew from public view in order to cont
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·3 out of 48 places to visit in PondicherryAuroville
Auroville is one of those towns which appear to come to life right out of fiction. In the union territory of Pondicherry, this township runs on the principles of peace, harmony, sustainable living and 'divine consciousness' which was the philosophy of the Mother of Sri Aurobindo Society, Mirra Alfassa. This universal township was inaugurated on 28
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3.5
·2 km from city centerScuba Diving in Pondicherry
Packed with enchanting marine life, Pondicherry offers an amazing adventure of scuba diving off the country's East Coast. A dive into the sea will let you explore the rich life comprising of beautiful natural coral reefs and other exotic creatures such as manta rays, kingfish, sea snakes, lionfish, butterflies, crustaceans, moray eels and many more
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3.8
·2 km from city centerExplore the sites of Arikamedu
Arikamedu are the ruins which carried the remnants of the Roman trade in India. Recent excavations have brought out wine jars and ancient roman coins hinting on the Roman links in the ancient history of Pondicherry.
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·5 out of 48 places to visit in PondicherryCafes in Pondicherry
Pondicherry is famous for its French culture and that is mostly reflected through the variety of cafes here. From the ones that are set in a colonial era building to the ones that are located on the beach, you can choose from a range of cafes for a hearty meal or just for some snacks and coffee.
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3.6
·3 km from city centerTake a Leisure Walk by the Seaside Promenade
One of the things that does justice to Pondicherry's French Roots is its beautiful Seaside Promenade. The area is well maintained, clean and beautiful and you can actually feel foam spray on your face while sipping a cooler in one of the many cafes at the promenade. Whether you're visiting during the sunny day or the starry night, the Seaside Prome
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3.8
·12 km from city centerPondicherry beach
Pondicherry beach is a different kind of beach with less sand and more rocks. It offers a very peaceful place to its tourists and visitors to sit and enjoy the waves.
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·7 km from city centerSerenity Beach
Located at a distance of 10 kms, on the outskirts on Puducherry in Kottakuppam, Serenity Beach gets its name from the Spa-Resort-Inn located at the spot with the same name. Originally, the beach was called Thanthirayan Kuppam Beach or plain Kottakuppam Beach.
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·10 out of 48 places to visit in PondicherryCycling in Pondicherry
One of the most exciting and picturesque things to do in Pondicherry is to tour the beautiful territory on traditional vintage bicycles. You can also go for guided tours around the stunning French Quarters, charming mustard streets, colonial villas and vibrant Tamil settlements. Besides a very picturesque view of the lovely alleys and narrow lanes,
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·9 km from city centerAuroville Beach
Auroville Beach, also known as the Auro Beach is located in Pondicherry. It is a part of the Auroville Ashram and is situated about 10 kilometres away. The beach is about 12 kilometres away from Pondicherry and lies on the right-hand side of East Coast Road. Auro Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Pondicherry. It attracts a lot of tourists
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3.8
·3 km from city centerChunnambar Boat House
Chunambar is a quaint little hamlet located along Cuddalore Main Road, around 8 km from Pondicherry. This serene town is visited by tourists for its beach, which is know as Paradise Beach, situated near the mouth of the backwater. With pristine sand and crystallized water, it is a perfect place for one to spend a day out playing water sports and ba
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3.6
·2 km from city centerBasilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
This Gothic style building is a highly revered place of worship in Pondicherry. Visitors comprising of both tourists as well as devotees, who are staunch believers, visit to offer their prayers to the All Mighty here.
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4
·4 km from city centerWater Sports in Pondicherry
With a unique, peaceful coastal beauty to it, Pondicherry is quickly becoming every beach lovers' favourite hideout. A number of water sports options along its white sandy beaches are another reason for travellers to love Pondy, as it is lovingly known.
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3.2
·2 km from city centerBotanical Garden
A popular tourist attraction of Pondicherry, Botanical Garden was established by C.S. Perrotet in the year 1862. The garden is home to several exotic varieties of rare plants as well as an aquarium.
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Rating
4.1/ 5.0
Best Time
Duration2-3 Days
Attractions15
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