In September 2006, Pondicherry’s name was changed to Puducherry, but just like people still call Mumbai, Bombay, people like to call Puducherry by its former name, Pondicherry. The locals call it “Pondi”. It is a Union Territory of India that was once under the rule of France, is still influenced by the French culture. The colony of French had been seen till 1954. If you still want to experience French architecture and French influenced city and streets, Pondicherry is your quick weekend getaway if you live nearby. If you stay far from the city, you can plan a family trip for three to four days and see what may appear unique and mesmerizing in every possible way. Known as “The French Riviera of the East” or as they say in French “The Indian Côte d’Azur”, one can’t get bored in this tinsel city. It makes one feel at home.
Something you will love witnessing there in Pondi are the French Quarter’s streets that are painted yellow. You will love the way the streets look making it different from any other streets in India. If you are in Chennai, you can plan a weekend getaway from Chennai with friends or family or your loved one and witness a different facet of life. Even people from Tirupati can plan trips to this place.
The distance from the closest metro that is Chennai is 140 kilometers, from Tirupati is little over 200 kilometres. The distance from Hyderabad is 786 kilometers, from Mumbai, it is 1300 kilometers and from the capital of the country, it is 2371 kilometers. Depending on the distance from different places, you should plan your trip with friends or your partner to this French Riviera. Although, family trips won’t disappoint you either. Other cities that you may want to know the distance from Pondicherry are Madurai, Bangalore and Vijayawada. The distance from Madurai is 330 kilometers. The distance from Bangalore is 300 kilometers and the distance from Vijayawada is 600 kilometers.
No matter with whom you plan your trip. Be it with friends, family, your partner or colleagues, or even solo trips, you need to have a list of things to do and places to see around the city. Read on and know about them.
As the name says it, this beach is a paradise on this planet. It is popularly known as Plage Paradiso and situated in Chunnambar. You will love the sea breeze that blows to make this beach a pleasant one for everyone. This type of beach is perfect for summer holidays when the temperature elsewhere is either too hot or humid. The beach is also famous for its golden sands, and to reach here, you will have to hire a ferry which will take you through backwaters, which, trust us, becomes sight to sore eyes after monsoon.
Shri Aurobindo after his retirement from Politics took to Pondicherry for his settlement. His disciples followed him and gathered around him at this place since 1910. As a result, this place had got converted into Aurobindo Ashram. If you believe in spiritual trips, this place can be one of the best you would want to visit and even revisit. It is not even a bad idea to be here during your weekend getaway.
Usually we have heard or seen beaches that have sand in the coastal areas. This beach is little different. This beach has more rocks to your sight than the conventional sand. Hence, the beach is different from the rest available in any part of the country. Waves can be best witnessed and admired in such beaches. What are you waiting for? Checkmark and visit this beach when you are in Puducherry.
This place is popular for glass bead manufacture. Therefore, it is also known as the mother of bead centres not just of India but of the world. Arikamedu is a port town that you must visit to see the influence of France, Cholas, and Rome. If you love to go on a solo trip, this place will talk in silence through the old walls that stand alone.
Take shelter in this popular Chunnambar boat house and enjoy the ride in the backwaters, also Chunnambar Boat also drops your to the Paradise beach that is pristine and breathtaking. The crystal colored water has made this beach one of the most visited in Pondicherry.
Your adventure trip gets adventurous with water sports, picnic and trekking that you can enjoy there.
This church is not just meant for the locals but for the tourists too. If you are religious follower and don’t want to miss your daily prayers, Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the place you should visit. The peaceful ambiance and the Gothic styled architecture will bestow a unique experience while praying. There are a total of 25 Basilica in India, and this church was given the status of a Basilica in early 2010s.
You can also visit temples such as Gokilambal Thirukameshwar, Chidambaram, Varadaraja Perumal, ISKCON temple, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple and more. You can also visit various mosques in Pondy like Meeran Mosque, Muhammadia Mosque, apart from the various churches.
Pondicherry being a place that has beaches and water bodies, one can enjoy water sports, scuba diving, boat rides and banana boat rides. One can also rent a bicycle and go cycling of the city. Live your childhood days once again. The Adventure activities that will be offered in Pondi will be second to none.
Pondicherry was under the governance of Francois Dupleix. This phase was prevalent till 1754. In the year 1830, in order to honor the Governor Francois Dupleix, a 3 meter statue was erected. It is a beautiful statue that leaves everyone stunned.
There are more places that you can visit in Pondicherry. You need to do a little more research so that you find the best places for you.
It is not an expensive place. You can manage with a budget of at least Rs 4000 for a two days trip if travelling is kept aside. Now, if you are travelling from places such as Mumbai and Delhi, the cost will definitely increase calculating the travel fare and other miscellaneous expenditure. The maximum budget depends on your capacity to spend, the place you stay, and other variables. It is always advisable to keep a budget on the higher side when you are on a family trip or an adventure trip with friends.
Many people love to use the bus ride while travelling to Pondicherry. That is, however, not possible from every part of the country. Travelers from cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, Trichy and a few more can take the bus ride and enjoy the scenic beauty.
If you want to take a train with family, it is Villupuram railway station that you will have to deboard at.
For most, air mode of transport has always been the best one. The nearest airport is Chennai International Airport. If you take a flight to Pondicherry, you land in Chennai as it houses the nearest airport. From then, you cover a distance of approximately 140 kilometers in another 2 to 3 hours by road transport.
There are two seasons when you can visit Pondicherry and experience the best of the place. The two seasons are Winter that is from November to February and in Monsoon. The monsoon phase that is from July to early September, however, may not be preferred by people who don’t love rain. Otherwise, it is a great time of the year to visit this city. It is an ideal place for adventure trip with friends and a cozy stay for honeymoon couples.
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