Pondicherry

Long weekend ahead? – Pondicherry is the best budget option for you!

For a laid back, relaxing and not-in-the-mood-to-do-too-much weekend, Pondicherry is the place to be (Remember: only in winters)

With its French colonial vibe, small hidden cafes, and scuba adventures, Pondicherry makes a great mix for both adventures and lazy vacations.

Located 3 hours from Chennai airport, the route to Pondicherry is a beautiful stretch to drive along.

Language: The official language in Pondi is Tamil, however communication is easy in English and Hindi, sometimes even French

Currency: Indian Rupee

Climate: Pondicherry is hot and humid to be mindful of the summers. Best time to visit would be between October to January

Getting around: My recommendation is to rent a self- drive scooter if the weather is pleasant or even simply bi-cycle around the city. If humidity is a problem, rent a self-drive car and you’re set to go. The city is quite small so you can easily get from one side of town to the other in an hour.

Local taxi’s are probably a little expensive so best to be ready yourself.

Where to Stay: Pondi has the nicest Boutique Hotels and Bed n Breakfasts but I picked an Air-BnB named Gulkand house on Serenity Beach. The choice was obvious since serenity is a relatively isolated beach and Gulkand house was located right on it. With a laid back mini-garden and seating and view of the beach, there’s really not more that I would want from the city.

But if you’re looking for some good hotels, here’s my personal recommendation:

Le Dupleix : Located in the French quarter – white town of Pondicherry, Le Dupleix is a charming and quaint heritage and the house of the last French Mayor named ‘Dupleix’. Along with it’s exquisite food and central location, Le Dupleix is a great balance between modernity and tradition.

Where to eat:

Theevu Plage - The best belgian hot chocolate
Le Dupleix - Quite the French experience
The Indian Kaffe Express - Pancakes and waffles,  a cup of coffee and goodlife!
Café Xtasi - Woodfire pizza heave 

Things to do :

1.      Go for a scuba dive date to discover the underwater coral. I accidentally hurt my back during my visit, but I strongly recommend those planning their trip to keep this on their list. Temple Adventures - an excellent PADI centre organises sessions on scuba diving and snorkeling. They also offer certificate courses and training's in Temple Reef, Open Water, Advanced and many other variations. This is absolutely safe for new joiners, beginners as well as advanced professionals. 

2.      Visit the Aurobindo Ashram : Most think that the visit to the Ashram is a must-have, but personally I don't agree. However, if you’re in Pondicherry you may as well the visit. Aurobindo is a spiritual community where you may encounter many foreigners who migrate for the spiritual courses conducted. There is a small garden you can walk through and a small café in the main area. The café serves authentic French food that one might be eager to try.

3.      Take a bicycle tour to visit the inner colonies 

4.      Walk around the sea-front and white town area at night

All in all, worth the weekend!
Eat, dream, discover!