Pondicherry travel guide: tips, sights and practical information
The charming coastal town of Pondicherry is a three-hour drive from Chennai. It was in the hands of the French for centuries and you can clearly see it as you walk through the city - you will find beautiful churches, colorful colonial buildings, atmospheric Parisienne cafés and luxury French restaurants. In this travel guide I share the best sights and best tips for your trip to Pondicherry.
Sights
Pondicherry has not really great sights and is primarily a place where you can wander and relax. Yet there are a number of sights that you should definitely not miss when you are in Pondicherry.
White Town
White Town is the French part of Pondicherry and as you can see from the name, this neighborhood used to be reserved for whites, in this case, the French. When you wander through the wide avenues, you will come across old colonial buildings and beautifully decorated gates and you will spontaneously forget that you are in India. Because it can get quite hot in Pondicherry, it's best to wander around here early in the morning or at the end of the afternoon.
White Town is the French part of Pondicherry and as you can see from the name, this neighborhood used to be reserved for whites, in this case, the French. When you wander through the wide avenues, you will come across old colonial buildings and beautifully decorated gates and you will spontaneously forget that you are in India. Because it can get quite hot in Pondicherry, it's best to wander around here early in the morning or at the end of the afternoon.
The French churchesBecause Pondicherry has been in the hands of the French for so long, there are several churches in the city. The best known are the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Eglise de Notre Dame Des Anges and the age-old Immaculate Conception Cathedral, which was once visited by Mother Theresa.
The
Pondicherry promenade does not really have a beach, but it does have a beautiful, clean promenade. On the 2 km long boulevard you can enjoy the view on a bench in peace or stretch your legs, while the cooling wind blows through your hair. Especially on sunset and in the evening it is cozy on the promenade.
Pondicherry promenade does not really have a beach, but it does have a beautiful, clean promenade. On the 2 km long boulevard you can enjoy the view on a bench in peace or stretch your legs, while the cooling wind blows through your hair. Especially on sunset and in the evening it is cozy on the promenade.
Sleeping and eating
From large hotel chains to luxury boutique hotels to basic guesthouses - you'll find it all in Pondicherry. We slept during our stay in Run Elite, which in itself was a great hotel, but which is actually too far from White Town. I really recommend finding a place to sleep in or around the French Quarter, since that is by far the nicest place in Pondicherry and you can find most of the restaurants and cafés there.
If you are looking for chic but affordable accommodation, La Villa, Palais De Mahe and Villa Shanti are the best options. If you have a little less to spend, it is best to go for Valentine Hostel (€), Blue Lotus Hostel or Micasa Hostels. These all score 9 or higher and cost a maximum of 15 euros per night.
For a fantastic dinner you have to go to Villa Shanti in White Town and for tasty and healthy smoothies and fruit salads The Smoothie Bar is the place to be. At Cafe Ole and Cafe Des Arts, they serve delicious coffee and you can also have a nice lunch. And for insanely good French crepes you absolutely must go to Crepe in Touch. We had breakfast here twice and both times we enjoyed it so much!
Transport
The easiest way to get to Pondicherry is to fly to Chennai and then take the bus or taxi to Pondicherry. We booked an Uber and took about three hours from the airport. Pondicherry also has its own airport, but you can only go there from Bangalore (1-hour flight) and Hyderabad (1.5-hour flight). You can hire your personal cab from a taxi service in udaipur.
If you have the time, it is definitely worth going to Mahabalipuram if you travel from Chennai to Pondicherry or Pondicherry to Chennai. In this seventh-century port city there are various historical monuments carved out of stones that have managed to secure a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Pondicherry is just a small town, so you can easily walk to all the sights. If you find it too warm to walk or are in a lazy mood, you can of course also just take a rickshaw, which you will find on every corner of the street.
Good to know
- From February it gets very damp and hot in Pondicherry and after three steps the sweat gushes from your body. Because it rains a lot during the summer months, it's best to visit the city between October and January.
- Pondicherry is known for the French vibe and appearance, but of course it remains just India. Here too you will encounter poverty, tramps and a lot of trash on the street, so don't be shocked.
Best time to visit Pondicherry: October to January.
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