Pondicherry tourism and travel guide
Overview
Just guess what is common among the following. Colonial architecture, clean virgin beaches, tree-lined boulevards, endless stretches of, backwaters, conversation in French, roads converging exactly at right angles. You are right, it is Pondicherry or Puducherry also called the French Riviera of the East.
Pondicherry is a curious combination of French suaveness with traditional Tamil culture. However, the real charm of Pondicherry lies in its laid back attitude. Nobody seems in a hurry and the city moves on its own easy pace. Thus it becomes a perfect weekend getaway for the stressed-out workforce of nearby cities like Chennai and Bangalore.
Pondicherry has also a mystical connection to it. The great revolutionary and saint Sri Aurobindo chose Pondicherry as his abode then came Mira Alfassa aka Sri Ma or mother, the French disciple of Aurobindo.
History: Renowned relations outline the beginning of this city to Rishi Agastya, the well regarded erudite of the south. And excavations near Pondicherry expose that a Roman settlement existed here around 2000 years ago. Pondicherry acted as a place of a fight between the British and French. It was the capital of French India till the time it attained independence in the year 1954. French reverie of an Indian domain has taken life but it also quickly came to an end in Pondicherry. Among the isolated territories of the territorial units of Pondicherry, it is in Pondicherry itself that we can determine what has represented the French sway in India. That is also what makes this territory unique and especially, the French district. Something quite different from the rest of India. Pondicherry has been the theatre of many battles in the wars between the British and the French.
For the stressed out weekend travelers or for the serious truth seekers Pondicherry offers everything needed for the jaded souls. Reaching Pondicherry is very easy. Pondicherry has a good railway network with 2 stations. One is at Pondicherry while the other is situated at Villupuram some 36 kilometers away.
If you prefer roads then please note that Puducherry is very well linked to all districts and major towns of the Southern states. Places in AP, Tamilnadu,Karnataka and Kerala are easily accessible by road. As of yet there are no direct flights to Pondicherry. The nearest one is at Chennai some 135 Km away.We give here three modes of transport for reaching Pondicherry.
Driving Directions
Pondicherry, the union territory is situated in the Southern India. The long line of palm trees, French edifices, and the pleasant weather makes this destination famous amongst the bohemians who love to savor the French culture in their own country. French ruled this city for three centuries and the impressions of colonial reign can easily be noticed. While on a tour to Pondicherry, the travelers can visit French War Memorial, Arikamedu, Jawahar Toy Museum, Pondicherry Museum, Botanical Garden, Plage Paradiso and Aurobindo Ashram are the best travel attractions worth visiting. The nearest airport to Pondicherry is Chennai International airport, which is around 135 km away. Chennai is well connected to all airports in India and many cities abroad. The people who want to travel by rail can board train from Villupuram rail head. This railway station is well connected to Madurai, Trichy and Chennai. The travelers who want to visit other cities from Pondicherry can board state transport service up to the cities like Thanjavur, Trichy, Chidambaram and Coimbatore. The bus services back to above mentioned cities to Pondicherry. The NH 66 road links Ponidcherry to the major cities of India
Festivals: If you are planning to travel to Pondicherry then this piece of information might be of help to you. October to March is the right season to be in Pondicherry. The weather is comparatively pleasant for you to discover the city. After March it really gets hot and humid. Other than the peak period for tourists ( oct- mar) there are some other events which seas people thronging to this coastal place. Some of the important festivals are highlighted here for you to think and decide for yourself.
Christmas and New Year Rendezvous ( 24th to 31st Dec )
Christmas and New Year are a big celebration time in Pondicherry. The whole Pondicherry wears a festive look during the whole week. Visitors can look forward to having a gala time out there. Shopping, feasting on special menus offered at restaurants, hanging out in the public beaches, dance at beach parties organized by various resorts outside the city, etc. On Ist January you can head to Aurobindo Ashram to participate in morning meditation with New Year music.
Pongal (13th to 16th January )
Pongal the festival of harvest at Pondicherry is celebrated among local Tamil populace with pomp and gaiety. During Pongal, the city parks and beaches are given a colorful look and the whole place flooded with people. There is an air of celebration all over the place. Visit for an altogether different experience.
French Republic Day (July 14th )
 French Republic Day or `Fete National` or Bastille Day is another popular attraction of Pondicherry. You get a feeling that you are in any French city as the French anthem is sung and a wreath placed at the foot of an Unknown Soldier on the premises of the War Memorial. The war Memorial illuminated during the night looks spectacular.  As a part of the celebration, the day`s activities include march past by uniformed war veterans singing ``Marsellaise``as well as ``Jana Gana Mana``through the streets of Puducherry. Though Pondicherry is hot at this time but misses this regal event at your own cost.
Masquerade ( March/ April )
Masquerade is a popular mask festival held annually. People in bright and piquant costumes put on masks and dance on the streets of Pondicheryy, to the musical tunes.
Villianur Temple Car Festival
The annual car festival of the Thirukameeswarar temple in Villianur is a major attraction of Pondy. In this event, the temple deity Thirukamemswara Kukilambal is taken out for procession in a decorated chariot. People join in hauling this chariot. Join the event if you are religiously minded.
Fete De Pondicherry (15th to 17th August)
Fete De Pondicherry is a cultural pageant that is held to coincide with the Liberation Day and Independence Day. A cultural extravaganza takes place here for three days. Though the event is slated from 15 to 17 th August, the cultural fest is now held in the month of May due to rains. Fete de la Musique organized by Alliance Francaise of Pondicherry is turning out to be an annual event that is held in the month of August.
Activities & Adventure
We at kiomoi.com have identified 10 solid reasons that have a magical charm to beckon you time and again to Pondicherry. Here are those.
Move around the Colonial Architecture: Puducherry`s Architecture of the resplendent past is sure to attract visitors. Colonial buildings and bungalows with shuttered windows and color-washed facades, courtyards spilling over with bougainvilleas. Buildings like the French Institute, French Consulate, Raj Nivas are the finest examples of French Architecture.
Revitalize Your Spiritual Aura: There is a distinct spiritual aura about Pondicherry that catches your attention right at the moment you enter Puducherry. You are bound to feel something changing inside your heart. You are filled with joy and peace. The atmosphere is more serene and silent. Sri Aurobindo and the Mother of Pondicherry is still alive in the hearts of the local populace and helps keep Pondicherry as an oasis of serenity.
Play Boules or Petanque: This amazing game is played nowhere else in India. Petanque is an outdoor game popularized by the French. There are around 30 Bolues clubs in the city. It is sure to give cricket a tough fight.
Savor French Cuisines: Pondicherry is a gastronomer`s delight. Food in Pondicherry is really very good as well as reasonably priced. You can expect authentic South Indian food, exotic seafood, French cuisines, North Indian delicacies and Chinese food on a platter. Some real Sattvik treat too awaits you at Ashram Dining room.
Enjoy Beaches and backwaters: With a 45 km of coastline, Pondy offers some exotic beaches. Watching the sunrise at the beaches is a heavenly experience. Paradise Beach and Auroville Beach with golden sands and beautiful palm trees is a memory of an unparalleled kind. Sea Cruise is also an attractive option. Chunnambar( 8 km) and Pichavaram provide excellent sight of the famous backwaters. As you cruise along in a boat past the lush greenery is a treat for the eyes.
Take Leisurely Walks: Nothing is better in discovering Pondicherry than to walk along the city streets, monuments and the Beach road. Wandering can be a truly rewarding experience if you just drift along without caring about particular locations.
Stay at Tree Top Houses: This is perhaps one experience that you will remember for your life. This is possible at the Chunnambar Beach resorts run by PTTDC. It`s an adventure worth trying.
Play Water Sports: Chunnambar is also a renowned center for water sport that offers yachting, wind-surfing, high speed rides on hydro-plane and boating.
Do Yoga: Pondy is a prolific center for Yoga. There are well-known institutes that take cares of both your physical as well as mental wellness. Visit in January during the International Yoga festival is an enlightening experience
Pondicherry is divided into two parts that run north to south. The French rulers referred to them as the French Quarter (also known as the `white town` or `Ville Blanche`) and the Tamil Quarter (as Ville Noire or the black town). This distinction still exists today albeit in a subtle form. The French Quarter is obviously more spacious and better planned while the Tamil side has all the usual rumblings of any Indian city.
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There are many attractions for tourists strewn across the whole of Puducherry. Some of the well-known places are described here.
Beaches: With a long coastline of 32 km Beaches of Pondi beckons tourists from India and abroad
Vedapureswarar Temple: The Vedapureswarar Temple is located around half a kilometer to the west of Aurobindo Ashram. The Presiding deity is a Swambhu Lingam.
Manakura Vinayakar Temple: The Manakura Vinayakar Temple is located approximately 200 meter west of the Aurobindo Ashram. It has a long history much before that of the French Colonizers. Read More...
Varadaraja Perumal Temple: Varadaraja Perumal Temple is located next to the Vedapureswarar Temple. The presiding Deity here is Lord Vishnu
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church: Sacred Heart of Jesus Church or Eglise De Sacre Coeur De Jesus is noted for its gothic architecture and is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The stained glass panels here depict the complete life of Jesus Christ.
Aurobindo Ashram: Spiritual Seekers as well as casual tourist alike throng this place. The Ashram is located at a short distance from The Beach Road. ..
Museums of Pondicherry: There are three museums in Pondicherry each displaying their own unique Exhibits. They are really worth visiting.
Romain Rolland Library: It is one of the oldest libraries in India with a rare collection of books. It is located at Rue Romain Rolland.
Mansion of Ananda Rangapillai: Palatial 18th century mansion of Ananda Rangapillai,is situated on the street named after him. He was a courtier of a French Governor...
Government Park: Government Park is really worth visiting. Located in the old Colonial part of the city it is the most beautiful public space in Pondicherry. Read More...
Anglo-French Textile Mills: Anglo-French Textile Mills commenced its operation way back in 1898. The products of this mill make for good gifts.
Botanical Gardens: The Botanical garden in Pondy is a real treat for visitors for it is home to several rare species of plants and trees. It was planned by C.S. Perrott and executed in 1826.
French Architecture & Connection :
Churches, Colonial Buildings, French institutions provide Pondicherry with an authentic French feel. Read More...
Pondicherry is not a very big place. So if you want to visit the tourist attractions of Puducherry, there are abundant modes of transport available. You can hire auto-rickshaws (beware of overcharging) or hire a bike, or bicycle. Depending upon your age and riding ability this is the best option. No hassles involved all you need is to have a valid license for the bikes and give a security deposit. These are available at various important parts of the city.
Local Sightseeing Tour
If you are short of time and energy then the best option is to go for the local sightseeing tour organized by the Puducherry Tourism & Transport Development Corporation. They conduct a daily sightseeing Tour which takes you to in and around Puducherry. The tour begins from the Beach Office and new Bus Stand and runs seven days a week.
Pondicherry has a strong French flavor which gets reflected in every aspect of the city as it goes about its daily business. Be it the colonial buildings, neatly laid out roads, Beautiful street names, sacred churches, fusion as well as authentic French cuisines or even with the Police uniforms- there is the unmistakable French connection. There are French Nationals in Pondicherry who had never been to France but can vote for the French Presidential elections. Let`s find out what makes Pondicherry to be called as the "The French Riviera of the East".
Office of French Consul: This is the office of the French Consulate General which is situated in the Rue De La Marine.
Statue of Duplex: Duplex was Pondicherry`s most illustrious French Governor. Humbled by the British he was forced to return to France in 1754. Nevertheless, recognition by the French Government came a century later when in 1870 they commissioned his statue at Pondicherry. Originally The 2.88-meter tall majestic statue was erected over six ornamental granite pillars at Place Du Republique. The Statue now stands relocated to the southern end of the beach overlooking the Children`s park.
French War Memorial: Located on the Beach Road or the Promenade Goubert Avenue, the French War Memorial was constructed to pay a tribute to the French soldiers who laid their lives during World War 1. It is maintained by the French government. Every year to commemorate Bastille Day on July 14th a ceremony is held here.
The statue of Joan of Arc: The statue of Jeanne d Arc or Joan of Arc is located on a well laid out garden across the entrance of the Notre Dame des Anges. It`s a typical French marble statue. The statue set in a triumphant posture commemorates the valor of this French Damsel.
The French Institute: The French Institute of Pondicherry is one of the important landmarks of Pondicherry as a centre for academic excellence. It was inaugurated on 20th March 1955. An eminent French Indologist, Dr. Jean Fillozet was its founder. It`s a classical colonial building with a well decked up entrance gate, arched staircases, large windows, and pediments. It is located at St. Louis Street.
Raj Niwas: The 18th-century building "Palais Du Government is now known as the Raj Niwas. Once occupied by the French Governor Dupleix , it is now the official residence of the Lt. Governor of Pondicherry.
The Lighthouse: The 19th-century lighthouse on Goubert Salai is still one of Pondicherry`s prime tourist attractions. It was built in the year 1836 and stands on the edge of the sea close to the Place Du Government.
Eglise De Notre Dame Cathedral: The Eglise De Notre Dame Des Agnes or Church of the Capuchins, is located on the Rue Dumas. The locals call it Pink Church because of the color. Built-in the year 1865 it was modeled on the Basilica in Lourdes. The church is believed to have been donated by the French emperor Napoleon III. Prayers are still conducted here in French.
Sacred Heart Church: Sacred Heart Cathedral aka Eglise De Sacre Coeur De Jesus is situated on South Boulevard. This 100-year-old cathedral is well acclaimed for its Gothic architecture and the immaculately stained glass panels. The glass panels show the complete life of Jesus.
Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception: Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception lies in the heart of Pondicherry at Mission Street. It has a 300-year-old history attached to it. After much destruction, the present church was built in 1791.
Hotel Lagrenee de Meziere: Hotel Lagrenee de Meziere dates back to 1774. It is located at Romain Rolland Street. This imposing colonial building was gifted to the religious order of Saint-Joseph de Cluny.
LA Ecole Francaise d Extreme Orient: LA Ecole Francaise d Extreme Orient or the French Institute of the Far East is located on the corner of Rue Dumas. The institute consists of two impressive buildings diagonal to each other. You need permission beforehand to visit this place.
Lycee Francais: Lycee Francais is located at Rue Victor Simone. It was established in the year 1826. It has a good collection of old photographs and rare coins belonging to the French East Indian Company.
Pondicherry is the place to indulge your gastronomical cravings. It is truly a gourmet`s delight. Here is a place where you can savor diverse cuisines from French, continental, Thai, Vietnamese to the Indian fares of authentic South Indian, Gujarati, Bengali and typical North Indian Stuff. And yes prices are affordable too. So be it breakfast or lunch, and dinner gets ready for some tantalizing foods. Some of the typical Pondicherry stuffs to try are Assad and Podanlangkai. Another favorite is the smoked Aubergine crush, a mouth-watering preparation that is slowly rustled up on charcoal fire.
Daily Bread
On Mission Street, as you come out of the Cathedral, there is a smell of baking wafting in the air. You can watch out for the plum cake at Geeta Bakery it is really tasty. On the road to Ambour Salai, you can find Stanley and Natraj`s Daily Bread bakery-cum-restaurant. Here you can find an assortment of bread, rolls, pies, tarts, and doughnuts. The restaurant here serves piping hot soups, delicious Pizzas, fresh salads, burgers, etc. Paradise serves some very good Pizzas both veg and non-veg and is located near the entrance of Auroville. "Au Feu de Bois" serves mouth-watering wood-fired pizzas.
Inside Auroville, the Auroville Boulangerie, make some of the finest confectioneries in Pondicherry. You get 15 different kinds of bread, 100 different cakes, croissants with chocolate and apple centers, an assortment of biscuits. You can`t just ignore this joint.
Beach Side Sacks
The Beachside restaurants are located on the fringes of Pondy town. Theses restaurants with French-sounding names also serve French sounding dishes on the menu along with local fare. You can get mouth-watering Seafood at affordable prices. A must-try is the Crab Malabar preparation. It is crab with corn kernels and poppy seeds. As for restaurants, you can try the Banyan Tree resort among others.
Breakfast
For breakfast, there are quite a few good options in the city that try Rendezvous for continental breakfast. La Promenade is also a good choice. For typical South, Indian fare try the Surguru restaurant. Saravanabawan also offers South Indian food (Idly, Vada, Pongal)
Cafe Bistro part of the Le Club group is known to serve the best breakfast in town.
Krishna sweets
( Breakfast and Tiffin Rs 10-180)
French Cuisine
Pondicherry, as we all know, had a French past. Still, now it has a lot of tourists from Pondicherry. So no doubt you will find a lot of restaurants serving French Fare. Though the authenticity of the French food served at most restaurants is a bit doubtful. Rendezvous is one of the best in Pondicherry. Le Club though costly serves quality French cuisine. Satsanga a colorful restaurant at Labourdonnais Street also serves good French food with high points being luscious steaks and crispy French salads. Then there is Le Dupleix which also gets lots of patrons (more sophisticated kind). The food here is contemporary French with a strong emphasis on presentation. Try out the three lettuce salad that is served on a bed of bright lettuce and cherry tomatoes. Flambéed coffee is another item to look for.
Aurobindo Ashram Dining Room
The ashram dining room, a few blocks away from the guest house north of Government place is unique. Around 2000 people can be served here (ofcourse not at the same time). It serves non-oily, non-spicy Satvik food at very affordable prices.
Come here if you are not a food aficionado
Indian Food
There are a lot of very good South Indian and North Indian restaurants. A2B(Adyar Ananda Bhavan) restaurant on Jawaharlal Nehru Street opposite the Vak Bookshop serves good vegetarian North Indian dishes like Tandoori items and chat along with Chinese, Continental and South Indian varieties. Anugraha Restaurant at Hotel Surguru is known to serve authentic south Indian meals including lavish Thalis. The Park Guest House at the south end of Goubert Salai also offers good vegetarian food. You could also try out Selva Restaurant which is just diagonally opposite Gandhiji`s statue on Beach Road. It`s a vegetarian fast food restaurant. For lunch, South Indian dishes like idli, dosa and various rice dishes are really good. All in all vegetarian food is available on a platter in Pondy. Surguru Restaurant.
(Buffet Meal Lunch and Dinner- Rs70- 140)
Hotel Jayaram
(Lunch and Dinner- Rs 70 -140)
Non-Veg
Chettinad
Hotel Annamalai International
Buffet Lunch and Dinner( Rs 180-400)
Hotel Aachiamma
Buffet Lunch and Dinner( Rs 100-250)
Hotel Appachi
Buffet Lunch and Dinner( Rs 95-200)
Italian Food
Madam Santhes at 10 Lal Bahadhur Street offers rooftop dining and Mediterranean-inspired food. Look out for stuffed seasoned crab, garlic squid, hearty pastas and salads.
Sweets and Snacks
Ungal Agarwal Sweets on Mahatama Gandhi Road offers really delectable sweets. A special item of theirÂ?s is the Tirupati Balaji laddu. You can also try ghee laddu, cashew sweets and boondi paaku. Badaam kheer and chaats are also an attraction here. Amirtham sweets on the Anna Salai is another good sweet shop where you can try the typical south Indian Sweets.
Coffee
For having a cup of leisurely coffee with sandwiches or just as it is Pondy offers several places. There is La Lune on Rue Romain Rolland Street. Picnic is located at Canteen Street. Both would take you back down memory lane. For some modern ambiance, you can visit Kasha Ki Aasha. It is located at the end of Surcouf west of the Canal. They are also known to serve mouthwatering nutritious breakfasts and lunches. Try Coffee.com on Mission Street for an altogether digital experience. It is air-conditioned and you get a computer with internet access, a huge collection of DVDs and a giant screen to view them. Here you can watch movies for money. Try out their Vietnamese coffee besides pastry, cake and nice ice-creams.
Chinese
Blue Dragon at Rue Dumas and China Town, Rue Suffren is known for serving very good Chinese fare.
China Town( Dinner- Rs 200-600)
For the health-conscious
Kovai Pazhamudhir Nilayam(KPN) on Chetty Street is just the right place to be. Here you can have exotic as well as popular fruits and vegetables. Their specialty is fresh juices without water. Also on offer are fruit and vegetable salads.
Pondy is every shopaholic’s dream come true. You can buy a multitude of items from the shops strewn across the city. Sales Tax is low here and compared with affordable prices makes shopping a delightful affair. Primarily the shops in Puducherry are located in Mahatma Gandhi Street, Anna Salai, Cathedral Street, Nehru Street, and Rue Romain Rolland. During Deepavali when there is festive mood all around there is a Deepavali Bazaar at Anna Tidal. There is also a shopping festival held every year around December-January to cash on the tourist inflow.
For shopping you could turn to the shopping malls, Khadi and Village Industries Board outlets, Aurobindo Ashram run shops and scores of other big and small shops. On Sundays, many of the roads are closed for traffics and the roadsides become huge bazaars. A variety of items at affordable prices can be shopped from here. The only problem is that you have to jostle with the bustling crowds. As most of the times, villagers from the nearby places arrive here in droves for shopping.
Items to look for
Pondicherry offers a lot of knickknacks and other decorative items that can be bought cheap. The following are some of the products.
Handcrafted items: Bedcovers, Stoles, table mats, Handmade paper jewelry, etc, all typically hand-made. You can try Boutique Auroville and Kalki for some great stuff.
Incense and aromatic stuff: You can buy a lot of stuff like herbs, candles, incense sticks, mosquito and insect repellents, etc. You can get a good variety of these items from shops run by the Aurobindo Ashram near Rue de Mannakula vinegar. (Rue means street in French)
Fabrics: In Pondy, you get a good range of fabrics at affordable prices. Khadi fabrics, twill, satin, corduroy, chambray, poplin, oxford are all available. The legendary Anglo-French mills are known for their range of crinkle-free printed cotton and they give discounts too. Fab India, Casablanca, and Titanic are good stores. Also, check out for a good range of export-surplus clothes from Tirupur. Here you can have high-fashion clothes at unbelievably low prices.
Leather products and accessories: You get top-notch leather products and accessories here. The leather products of Pondy are highly acclaimed for their quality, finish, and designs. Hidesign offers its products which are slightly cheaper as compared to other cities.
Ashram Products (from the Ashram): Aurobindo Ashram offers quite a few products like Books being published by SABDA. You can buy books written by and about Sri Aurobindo and Mother of Pondicherry. Besides this, you get a lot of eatables, Ayurvedic soaps, toothpaste, lotions, balms, hair care products, etc. You are helping many self-help groups if you buy these products.
Pottery and Ceramic pieces: Pottery and ceramic pieces created by the local artisans of Pondicherry are something that you can’t just ignore. They can be found all over Pondicherry as well as Auroville. The pottery and ceramic artifacts are manufactured with certain varieties of clay and glazes in kilns that are environment-friendly. Check out for the "Golden Bridge" and "Rhinestone Art" range available at Casablanca among others.
Miscellaneous Items: For the movie buffs you can get the latest Movie DVDs (pirated of course) very cheap. It costs something around Rs.30.
Kiomoi Tip: Please remember that between 1 and 3 pm. The city almost closes down for afternoon siesta.
Kiomoi recommend the following stores to look out for in Pondicherry
Casablanca: 165, Mission St.
Fab India: 59, Suffren St.
Nilgiris: Mission St
L’art Naturel: 52, Canteen St,
Hidesign: 31, J.N St,
Boutique Auroshree: 18, Nehru Street,
Cohinoor: 54C, Ambour Salai,
Kalki: 134, Mission St,
La Boutique d` Auroville: 38, Nehru St,
Little Shop: 21, Rue de la Compagnie,
Splendour: 6, Goubert Avenue,
Nirvana 53, Suffren St,
Wonders: Mission Street, Shalimar
Gift Shop: Nehru Street
Archies: Mission Street
Hallmark: Needarajaper Street
