Mumbai05 Jan 23 1 Traveller Economy
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About Pondicherry
Officially known as Puducherry, Pondicherry is the capital of the Indian Union Territory of Puducherry. The city is on the coastal side and touches the Bay of Bengal. Known to have heavy Dutch, Portuguese, British and French influence, the city is also known as India's Little French City. Much of Pondicherry's lifestyle, culture, infrastructure, architecture and more, have tremendous influence of the French. In fact, you will feel like you're walking around a little French town when you visit the city.
Pondicherry has its own airport with decent flight connectivity. There are flights from Bangalore that fly to Pondicherry. The city majorly runs on tourism and hence, has some of the best accommodations and travel highlights. You can book your hotel in Pondicherry and probably opt for a sea-facing room.
Best time to visit Pondicherry
Pondicherry does see a spike in temperature during summers and hence, should be avoided at all cost. Even the lovely beaches and water will not be able to help you feel cool as the temperatures rise to 40 degree Celsius. The best time to visit Pondicherry is undoubtedly during winters as there are several perks that it comes with the season. The city witnesses winter from October to March. During winters, Pondicherry actually sees the temperatures drop to 15 degree Celsius sometimes, making it pleasant for tourists. The ambience of the place is certainly vibrant and peaceful.
Places to visit in Pondicherry
Pondicherry is a city of pristine beaches. As part of your Pondicherry diaries, you can start with beach hopping when you're in the city, much like what you would do in Goa. However, while you're on a beach expedition, do visit the Paradise beach. It is considered to be one of the best beaches in the city. From checking out the Karaikal Beach to visiting the Mahe beach, you will find some interesting attribute about all of them. Not to mention the amazing food that it follows.
The most famous establishment in Pondicherry is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Shri Aurobindo, a spiritual philosopher who carved a niche for himself in the world as a phenomenal personality. The ashram sees the highest number of tourists as his story is intriguing and quite inspirational. The ashram has exhibitions of his life and works.
Established by Shri Aurobindo's spiritual endowment is a posh settlement in Pondicherry. The complex is basically a way of harmonious living among people from different backgrounds, cultures, race, etc. It can be called a modern village for the astounding cultural fusion the people bring along with them. There are eclectic cafes, gorgeous boutiques, a bookshop and a bunch of restaurants serving global cuisine. The village comes with a sea view too as the Auroville Beach is located within the village premise.
Things to do in Pondicherry
With Pondicherry being a coastal city, water activities easily top the list of things to do. From natural coral reefs to acquainting with manta rays, kingfish, crustaceans, lionfish and more, scuba diving is a must-do activity in Pondicherry. You will be amazed by the beauty of marine life that resides in Pondicherry's coast. Add snorkelling, swimming, boat rides, surfing to the list of things to do, and you've got yourself a perfect itinerary for Pondicherry. Better known as Osudu Lake, at the Ousteri Lake you can actually go for a ferry ride and birdwatch. This is originally a human-made lake which comprises of mudflats and marshy lands. If you manage to wake up early then, you can also watch the sunrise while you're chilling around the lake. It is quite the experience.
One fun activity that many tourists opt for is to take a bicycle and explore the city with its gorgeous architecture and vibe. It is so quaint and stunning that you'll have a good time coming across new cafes and beaches. You should also catch the sunrise or sunset at the Promenade Beach.
Food and Restaurants in Pondicherry
Being called the Little France of India puts Pondicherry's food culture in the limelight. Well, the French do believe that they are the best artists of culinary in the world. So when people do visit Pondicherry, it is with the hopes to be surrounded by the sparkling Bay of Bengal on one side and French cuisine on the other. Interestingly, the city doesn't just acquire the French cuisine but also influences from other colonial powers such as Portugal, England and Netherlands. The blend of international flavour in the quaint city of Pondicherry is exciting and will be memorable. From whimsical cafes to eclectic cuisine, the city will acquaint you with some of the finest food for which, you wouldn't have to travel to Europe.
To experience the best of French culinary in India, Le Dupleix is the place for you. Right from the white walls and European setting to the aroma of onion soup and baked croissants, the restaurant will take your senses through a French rendezvous. Its location is a little away from the city centre's hustle bustle but close to the shores. For Italian cuisine, head straight to Tanto Pizzeria which is on Auroville main road. The restaurant's highlights are Mediterranean pizza, Romana, Funghi and multitudes of dishes that you'll have trouble choosing from. Cafe Xtasi's wood-fire pizzas give Tanto quite the competition. Xtasi also has over 25 types of pizzas along with the special house pizza called Xtasi. If Mediterranean food is not something you relish then don't worry, the city also has Asian restaurants for your gastronomical delights.
Bay of Buddha is one of the best as it combines Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese cuisines with the advantage of facing the bay. The setting is romantic and beautiful for an evening of fine wine and dine. Lighthouse Rooftop Grill is yet another favourite of the city with a seaside setting and lip-smacking food. Satsanga's organic menu teamed with a refreshing vibe, makes it one of the best restaurants in the city. They grow their own vegetables and serve fresh catch of the day to their customers. Run by an all-female crew of cooks is Kasha Ki Asha, a restaurant known for its creative setting, menu and best breakfast. Everything about the restaurant, including the fusion food, will leave a smile on your face.
How to reach Pondicherry
By Air
Pondicherry does have its airport called Pondicherry Airport in Lawspet. The airport is located over 8 km away from the city centre (exact distance measured is from the Aurbindo Ashram). The flight connectivity to Pondicherry from other cities is not up to mark. In fact, Bangalore is the only airport from where you can find direct flights to Pondicherry. Airlines Air Pegasus has stationed flights to Pondicherry from Bangalore. This means for your trip you will have to board a connecting flight to Pondicherry from Bangalore. This is the only option by air that you can pick to travel to Pondicherry. Earlier, SpiceJet had dedicated flights to Pondicherry from Bangalore and Hyderabad. But the services have stopped and instead Bangalore is the only airport that connects flights to Pondicherry. There are airport shuttles from Pondicherry Airport to the city centre so traversing within the city is comfortable.
By Rail
Although flights might reach at a quicker duration in comparison to trains, the connectivity of Pondicherry to other big cities in India is exceptional. The Puducherry Railway Station has excellent network of trains connecting to cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Mangalore, Bangalore, etc. There are numerous express trains that halt at Pondicherry, making travel convenient. Flight tickets to Pondicherry are usually on the expensive side as you are expected to change flights from Bangalore. Compared to this, trains, especially express trains such as Auroville Express, Delhi Superfast Express, Mangaluru Express, Kanyakumari Express and more, will reach you without much hassle. Another alternative that many opt for is to take a flight to Chennai and then catch a train from the Chennai Central or Egmore station. Chennai is the closest city to Pondicherry and has phenomenal flight connectivity, making travelling to the Union Territory easier.
By Road
Chennai city has excellent roadway connections to Pondicherry from the popular East Coast Road route. The domestic route to Pondicherry passes through Mahabalipuram and is the most preferred route. There are regular buses from Chennai serviced by the Tamil Nadu State Transportation (TSRTC) which connects the city to Pondicherry. This route is further connected to other cities and small towns in Tamil Nadu namely, Cuddalore, Velankanni, Tiruvannamalai, to name a few. Even cities such as Hyderabad, Bangalore and Mysore are connected to Pondicherry via road and several national highways.
The state, as well as private companies, offer bus services for Pondicherry as many travellers opt for the Chennai route to Pondicherry. You can find AC, Non-AC, Deluxe, Semi-Deluxe and many such options of buses heading to and returning from Pondicherry. If you're an avid rider, then you can also get your motorcycle out and reach Pondicherry. The roads are not as well-maintained as one would hope. But they will reach you to the beautiful city.
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