"The French Riviera of the East"
Pondicherry Tourism At A Glance
Puducherry, a former French colony is one of the best places to get a glimpse of colonial heritage with its lanes having small yellow walled houses along with French cafes serving delicious steaks.
Pondicherry, now known as Puducherry and commonly referred as just Pondy, is one of the seven Union Territories of India. It was under French rule till 1954 and French influence on the culture can be very well felt over here. The older part of Pondicherry is a stark contrast to the surrounding South Indian cities with small houses, hotels, cafes, street-side shops selling an alternate world of French to the Indians. The tourists usually come from the nearby towns of Bangalore and Chennai, whereas foreigners also flock to this town studded with beautiful beaches. The town's Auroville with the famous Shri Aurobindo Ashram is another prominent reason why people come over here. Pondicherry is a centre to learn the art of yoga, meditation and spirituality. The food, the beer, the beaches, the ashrams, the tranquil in the air, the breezy shores, Pondicherry has a colour for everyone.
Hotels in Pondicherry
Pondicherry is visited by a lot of tourists both from within India and abroad, and there is a wide range of options available to you - right from youth hostels to luxurious hotels. The central part of the town around the Gandhi beach has the most number of hotels - and people find it convenient to stay here since it is close to the railway station and the bus station.
What's Great?
Good Beaches. Get a first hand taste of French culture and architecture. Beautiful scenery. Delicious French cuisine.
What's not so Great?
Communicating with locals could be difficult. Summers can be very humid.
For Whom
Pondicherry is mainly a city for the explorers. The city gives you the opportunity to explore a French town in India, which is an exciting endeavour in itself. Another highlight of this beautiful city is the beautiful beaches along the Bay of Bengal. These beaches are an amazing place to relax and enjoy.
The food in Pondicherry is outlined with a dominant influence of the French cuisine, especially in its elements and styles. A lot of restaurants serve authentic French food - definitely the best place in India for French cuisine.
Some of the popular items here are Baguettes, Croissants, Italian Baked Beans, Stuffed Cabbage and many more.
The Union Teritory also derives flavours from the neighbouring South Indian states and you can find countless South Indian preparations (specially Tamil) in the city.
Commuting Within Pondicherry
A lot of people prefer to rent their own motorcycle and car in Pondicherry, since some of the main attractions - Auroville and the Paradise beach are far from the main town. If you would not prefer to drive yourself, there are a lot of taxi and shared autos available which can give you a ride to and from the main promenade.
Itinerary
Day 1- Arrive at Pondicherry, visit the Paradise beach and enjoy local food at food joints. Day 2- Bike ride through the French quarters, have exotic French cuisine for lunch and then visit the local shopping bazaars. Day 3- Spend the day at the Aurobindo Ashram. Day 4- Visit Chunnambar Beach and then depart.
French Culture and Architecture
Pondicherry was a French colony till 1954. Therefore, this city is more like a miniature version of France in India. It gives out colonial, bohemian and serene vibes through its French civilisations. The houses are built in straight lines and are draped wit Bougainvillea. The streets are extremely clean and lined with trees. The people also follow French cultures and talk in French, either with an English accent or a South Indian accent.
Spiritual Calling at The Aurobindo Ashram
Founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo and a French Lady known as 'The Mother', the Aurobindo Ashram is a place where you can relax and calm your inner being. Aurobindo's teachings mainly talk about integral yoga and a path towards supramental consciousness, which exactly what the ashram preaches. Devotees from across the globe come here and participate in various activities, gaining the experience of a lifetime.
Reviews about Pondicherry
- The best way to see Pondicherry and its surrounding areas is by renting out a Pedal cycle"" or a ""motorcycle"" or ""gearless scooter"". Renting a taxi is also a good idea."
Nice place with very calm atmosphere. Good place to understand Aurobindo's philosophy.
It is located Little far from rest of beach .if u have chance u can see some shootings .there is a island over there which is nice .rest there is nothing which made me interesting
This is one of the good place for side walk and chatting with frnds. The beach has rocky shore which is good .nice place
Questions about Pondicherry
By Rohit Shroff
What are the best beaches in Pondicherry?
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