Pondicherry is the largest city in the Union Territory of Puducherry. It is also called the French capital of India which you can see in the French-inspired architecture and cuisine in the city. I have compiled a list of 10 best places to visit in Pondicherry which are among the best tourist destinations in Pondicherry.
If you love beautiful buildings that are colorful yet classy and reflect a French vibe then you surely got to visit Pondicherry! It is a very lucrative tourist place and makes up for a great weekend trip destination from nearby cities like Bangalore, Chennai, and the other cities in the neighboring States. In this article
Here are the 10 best places to visit in Pondicherry that you must include in your itinerary.
Rock Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Pondicherry and is a famous tourist destination. It is also known as ‘Promenade Beach’ or ‘Pondicherry Beach’. The location is great as it is surrounded by so many cute cafes, restaurants, and art galleries. You cannot take a dip in the water from this beach nor there are any water sports activities, but it’s famous for watching the sunrise and sunset from here.
The beach is quite crowded as you will find a lot of people sitting on the shore. Vehicles are not allowed on the paved path, you can park your vehicle at the parking space near the entrance for a fee of just Rs. 5/-. You should definitely include this in you list of best places to visit in Pondicherry.
This is undoubtedly the most beautiful beach in Pondicherry! It is clean, serene, and peaceful. You have to take a boat ride for about 30 minutes to reach this beach from Chunnambar Boat House. The tickets for the boat ride cost Rs. 354/- per head for a round trip and the boat timings are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The beach is a no-plastic zone, hence the beach is very clean and beautiful.
You can dip in the water at this beach, unlike Rock Beach and is another famous tourist destination in Pondicherry. In the official website of Chunnambar Boat House they have mentioned that there are a lot of water sports options at the Beach but when we visited there in September 2023, the activities were closed.
Here is a video on the journey to Paradise Beach with all the details.
White Town or French Colony is a residential area in the town where you will find a mixed culture of the Tamils and the French families. One of the best places to visit in Pondicherry, with colourful houses and contrasting shades, the colony retains the vibe of the ancient French Quarters.
Most of these houses have been converted into heritage hotels, restaurants, cute cafes, and art galleries. Every corner of the place is picture-worthy so make sure to plan your visit to White Town during the daylight so that you can experience the beauty of the colourful walls and buildings.
The history of the Ashram dates back almost 100 years. It was founded in 1926 by Shri Aurobindo Ghosh and Mirra Alfassa, or “The Mother”, who was a spiritual collaborator of Shri Aurobindo. The Ashram has grown from a small group into a large and diverse community of more than 2000 people.
At its center, is a courtyard where the Samadhi of Shri Aurobindo and The Mother lie in a white marble shrine. When you visit Pondicherry, this is a must-visit place if you are into spirituality. You have to switch off your mobile phones before entering and photography is not allowed inside.
Auroville is a city with no religion, no politics, no caste, and everyone is treated equally. Also called the City of Dawn, is an experimental township situated mostly in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, with some parts in the Union Territory of Pondicherry.
There are about 3000 people from 60 different countries living here and the citizens of Auroville are called Aurovilians. Here people are free to contribute to whatever work they are interested in and everyone is paid equally!
Auroville was founded by the Mother, Mirra Alfassa who was the spiritual collaborator of the Indian sage, Sri Aurobindo and the purpose of Auroville is to foster human unity. Auroville is recognized as the first and only internationally endorsed ongoing experiment in human unity and sustainable living.
In the middle of Auroville is the Matrimandir. The entire area surrounding the Matrimandir is called the Peace area. When we visited the inner chamber, we experienced something that we never felt before. Meditating with a group of people in a white marble room, in an absolutely silent and calm environment.
Matrimandir is a golden dome structure with an outer layer built up of gold-plated discs which are made of stainless steel and the discs are plated with gold leaves.
I Highly recommend visiting the inner chamber of the Matrimandir. The visit is completely free and I have explained the whole process in a separate article which you can visit here. You can get a free ticket to the Matrimandir viewpoint from the visitor’s center for which you don’t need an advance booking. This is one of the most famous and among the best places to visit in Pondicherry.
Serenity Beach is pristine and beautiful. The beach is less crowded hence it is ideal for people who want to spend some time in the nature. You can also try surfing here. You can try some great sea food and enjoy a peaceful walk along the shore of the beach. This is another famous tourist destination is Pondicherry.
Chunnambar Boat House is a place where you can experience the backwaters of South India. You can take a pedal boat from the boat house to sail through the Mangrove and Palm forests lined along both sides or you can take a ride to Paradise Beach as mentioned before.
You can also spend some time inside the premises of the Boat House as it is like a park, there is cafeteria inside, you can have some food and enjoy the day! The entry ticket to the house costs just Rs. 10/- per head. If you like water activities then this is one of the best places to visit in Pondicherry.
The French War Memorial located at the end of the Rock Beach was built in honor of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during World War 1. On the occasion of Bastille day each year, the memorial is illuminated and people pay homage to the soldiers who fought for their freedom. If you visit Rock Beach then forget to visit this famous tourist destination in Pondicherry.
Auroville Beach or Auro Beach is one of the unexplored beaches of the city that has a calm and peaceful environment. If you are looking for a secluded beach and away from the crowded areas then you can visit this beach. The beach is great for surfering as it’s shallow waters make it beginner friendly as well.
I have a couple of videos on my YouTube channel on Pondicherry where I documented the travel experience, I have linked it below.
In Pondicherry you will find a mixed culture which is reflected through the French-inspired houses, French cuisine, and a place where you can get connected to the spiritual purpose which Sri Aurobindo and The Mother endeavored.
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