The French Capital of India, Pondicherry, is the perfect blend of French and Tamil culture. This city offers beautiful French style urban architecture which is the main attraction for tourists from all over the globe. It is a serene city known for the array of activities that you can plan while you are here.
Visiting the place between October and February is the best idea as the weather is perfect. The retreating monsoons may even bless you with heavy showers that just add to the experience. This is when you can enjoy all the activities the most.
If you are planning a trip to Pondicherry, here are some must do things in your itinerary:
Go Sightseeing On A Bicycle
You can enjoy some of the best guided tours around the French colonies. The best way to do this is on vintage bicycles. You will get a good look of the French capital in about two hours on a bicycle. Of course, you can make regular pit stops to enjoy French and Tamil snacks and savories. These tours will cost INR 1700 and will include all the safety gear.
Take A Boat Ride At Chunnambar
The backwaters of River Chunnambar surrounded by the lush green plantations offer the perfect backdrop for a relaxed boat ride. Take a boat to Plage Paradiso or Paradise beach. This beach offers breathtaking views of the sunset and sunrise. You can even spot dolphins if you are lucky. The boat rides cost between INR 50- INR 650 per head depending upon the distance and the type of boat you choose.
Taste The Best Feast
If you love to eat, then Pondicherry is the place to be. You can explore a variety of cuisines from all over the globe. Of course, the most popular cuisines are French and local Tamilian foods. There are some restaurants such as Café des Arts, Kasha ki Asha, Rendezvous and Le Club that you must try. You can also explore Bakers Street for some lip smacking French delicacies. If you want good South Indian food, don’t miss Surguru.
Bird-Watching And Magnificent Sunrises At Ousteri Lake
Also known as the Osudu lake, the Ousteri Lake is one of the most beautiful man made lakes in Pondicherry. It offers the most breathtaking views of the sunrise and sunsets. It is also rich in its biodiversity because of the marshes around it. So, it is also a haven for bird watchers with several residential birds and migratory birds as well.
Enjoy Water Sports
Pondicherry is known for its great scuba diving experiences. You can wade through beautiful corals and colorful marine life including parrot fish, sea snakes, groupers, lionfish, banner fish and many crustaceans. These trips are organized by professional PADI certified guides and are, therefore, safe for beginners as well. You will spend about INR 5000 for two dive trips each day. With an additional sum of about INR 500, you can also enjoy Wreck dives and deep sea walking.
Peace And Quiet At Auroville
Auroville, also known as the Universal town is the perfect example of different communities living together in peace. People come here to enjoy the many meditation camps and sessions. In addition to that, you can also experience some retail therapy thanks to the boutiques and gift shops that bring crafts from across the world under one roof.
Explore The Different Beaches
Some of the most beautiful and untouched beaches can be found in Pondicherry. Beaches like the Promenade beach and Paradise beach are extremely quiet and calming. They give you a good blend of relaxing strolls and sunbathing and action packed water sports. The golden shores and the silver waters that thrash against them are a sight that you should not miss.
Visit The Ancient Churches
With the French colonies came many beautifully constructed churches. Pondicherry is dotted with some of the most splendid churches in India. Some of these churches were built close to a 100 years ago. These churches house some of the best remnants of ancient rituals such as burial urns and pots. One of the most well-known churches in Pondicherry is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that has visitors from all over the globe in large numbers.