Puducherry (Pondicherry)
is Provence on the Indian Ocean
Welcome to Puducherry (Pondicherry)
The union territory of Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry; generally known as ‘Pondy’) was under French rule until 1954. Some people here still speak French (and English with French accents). Hotels, restaurants and ‘lifestyle’ shops sell a seductive vision of the French-subcontinental aesthetic, enhanced by Gallic creative types and Indian artists and designers. The internationally famous Sri Aurobindo Ashram and its offshoot just north of town, Auroville, draw large numbers of spiritually minded visitors. Thus Pondy’s vibe: less faded colonial-era ville, more bohemian-chic, New Age–meets–Old World hang-out on the international travel trail.
Top experiences in Puducherry (Pondicherry)
Amazing hotels and hostels
We've pre-picked the best hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.
Travel guides
Starting at $45.49
Puducherry (Pondicherry) activities
Indian Cooking Class in Pondicherry
The class starts at 10:00am and, accompanied by your cooking teacher, you will go to the Goubert Market, a traditional Indian market of Pondicherry, by auto-rickshaw to buy ingredients and prepare a typical Indian lunch. It is a great occasion to discover the market and its scents and color. As we are located in Pondicherry, we propose mostly South Indian meals, but please discuss with the chef if you prefer North Indian cooking.After you finish ingredient shopping and return to the center, with the instruction of our chef Manisha, you will learn how to recognize Indian spices and vegetables, how to mix them, and how to prepare a delicious traditional South India style meal. Chef Manisha is happy to answer all your questions regarding food in India. After cooking you will share your meal served in banana leaves during a convivial moment at Sita’s garden. You will be given a booklet with the recipes of the day and detailed explanations about vegetables and spices.
Pondicherry and Auroville Private Full-Day Tour
Pickup will be arranged from centrally located hotel in Pondicherry at 8:30am by our experienced professional driver with well maintained air conditioned private vehicle, to visit the below famous tourist attractions of Pondicherry (not as per the order) on this tour, Admire the colonial architecture and historic landmarks as you stroll along Seaside Promenade in the former French territory of Pondicherry, and spend some time at the Rock Beach. French War Memorial is dedicated to those soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country during World War I. It was built in 1971. Statue Of Mahatma Gandhi is 13 ft height stands on the Beach Road, surrounded by eight magnificent granite carved monolithic pillars. Pondicherry Museum is especially noted for its collection of fine lost wax bronzes form the period of the Chola Empire. The Museum's collection includes 81 Chola bronze sculptures, ranking as one of the largest collections of Chola bronzes. Bharati Government Park - is surrounded by some of the most important government buildings like the Lt. Governor's Palace, the Legislative Assembly, Government Hospital, Ashram Dining Room, the Cercle de Pondichéry private club, and the old Hotel Qualité. Sri Aurobindo Ashram which consists of an interconnected block of houses, including those in which Sri Aurobindo and the Mother lived for most of their lives. At its centre, in a tree-shaded courtyard, lies the Samadhi, a white marble shrine where their bodies are laid to rest. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus an oriental specimen of Gothic architecture. It contains rare stained glass panels depicting events from the life of Christ and saints of the Catholic Church. Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges - The original structure was built in Greco Roman architecture by Napolean III in 1855, with the architect being Louis Guerre. It is the only church that offers mass in three languages namely French, Tamil and English. Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar ancient temple was constructed three centuries ago and still stands in all its magnificent glory. Auroville is an experimental community in southern India. It was founded in 1968 by the spiritual leader Mirra Alfassa as a town where people from all over the world could live in harmony. Its focal point is the Matrimandir, a futuristic, spherical temple covered in gold discs. Auroville Botanical Gardens protects the region’s tropical dry evergreen forest. At the conclusion of your 6- 8 hour tour, return in comfort to your hotel in Pondicherry in the early evening.
Pondicherry City Morning Bike Tour Including Breakfast
Meet up at the designated location in Pondicherry at 7:00 am for brief instructions and pike pickup. Then starts the tour at city center and discover some amazing hidden places of the city. Tour starts with the Muslim Quarter also called Green Quarter. Then, you'll continue to Tamil and French quarters with its colonial houses. While riding along the streets of Pondicherry, you will understand what makes it a multicultural place: architecture, urban city design, and of course, the people on the streets. Pondicherry combines French touch with a typical Indian taste. Once back to your departure point, you will be offered a special breakfast: Indian with idly, chutney and sambar or French with baguette, butter and homemade jam. It is served in the garden with hot drinks and fresh juice.
Pondicherry Sightseeing Tour Including Transportation to Chennai
Your chauffeur will meet and greet you at your hotel in Pondicherry and proceed to the French Quarter. Pondicherry is a former French colony on the sea with French street names, croissants and Indian policemen in French-looking uniforms. It is attractively set on the Bay of Bengal with delightful beaches, this surprising town is a throwback to colonial times when it was a French enclave, but nowadays it is richly blended with Tamil culture. Those used to the British colonial architecture will enjoy the Gallic imprint with the fusion of Catholic churches and distinctly French buildings such as the beachfront Hotel de Ville and excellent French restaurants. En route, visit the Auroville, an intentional community where people of 40 different nationalities have come together with the goal of building a harmonious township where creed, nationality and color are ignored. Their utopian vision is inspirational, and we'll take time to see how they make it work. You will be visiting the Shri Aurobindo Ashram, the Ganesha Temple, the Church of our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and the Gandhi Statue on the boulevard. You'll also have more time to enjoy French baguettes for lunch. After the city tour, your chauffeur will drop you off at your hotel in Chennai.
Day Tour to Pichavaram Mangrove Forest and Thillai Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram from Pondicherry
You will be picked up in your hotel at Pondicherry, then start drive to Pichavaram, at the mangroves, if you wish you can take boat ride for an hour oprated by TTDC to explore the mangrove water ways and watch over 177 species of birds and different habitat types such as channels, creeks, gullies, mud flats and sand flats and adjacent sea shore offers ideal habitat for difference species of birds. Then drive to Chidambaram after the lunch visit to the world famous Nataraja Temple this great temple complex (covering an area of 40 acres) is one of Tamil Nadu's Dravidian architectural highlights visit 4 gopurams, the north and the south ones towering 49 metres high. Two of the gopurams are covered with the 108 classical postures of Nataraja - Shiva in his role as the cosmic dancer. Other notable features of the temple are the 1000 pillar hall, the Nritta Sabha court looks like a gigantic chariot. After the visit start return drive to your hotel in Pondicherry
Day tour to Gingee Fort from Pondicherry
Pick-up from your hotel at 7:30am by our experienced professional driver with well maintained air-conditioned private vehicle, reach at Gingee Fort after roughly one-hour 30 minutes, explore the massive architecture of three hillocks namely, Krishnagiri to the north side, Rajagiri to the west and Chandrayandurg to the southeast. You need a lot of energy to climb both forts on same day, however you have options to visit in the ground surfaces, there is a seven-storeyed marriage hall, prison cells, granaries, and a temple dedicated to its presiding goddess called Chenjiamman within the intricacies of the fort, after visits you will be drop-off at your hotel in Pondicherry.