Places to Visit in Pondicherry

A fascinating, small town with enough elements to charm its visitors, Pondicherry whose official name was changed to Puducherry in 2006, was once the largest French colony in India.

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Things To See & Do

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Peaceful Ashram
Founded by Sri Aurobindo and Mirra Alfassa (The Mother) in 1926, the ashram is the place of the Samadhi of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother.

40 minutes to 1 ...

Suggested Time

Basilica Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus Pondicherry

Basilica Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus Pondicherry

Beautiful Gothic Church
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is one of the highly revered religious places in Pondicherry, and is located on the south boulevard of the town.

1 hour

Suggested Time

Promenade Beach

Promenade Beach

Stunning Rocky Beach
Also called Rock Beach, it stretches for approximately 1.5 kms. The statue of Mahatma Gandhi, the old lighthouse, and the remains of the old pier can be spotted from here.

1 to 2 hours

Suggested Time

Paradise Beach, Pondicherry

Paradise Beach, Pondicherry

Lively & Gorgeous Beach
Located along Cuddalore Main Road, and approximately 8 kms from the city centre, this beach has many upscale resorts and well-decorated restaurants along its shores.

1 to 2 hours

Suggested Time

Chunnambar Boat House

Chunnambar Boat House

Ideal for Boating
Surrounded by beautiful backwaters and stunning white sand beaches, Chunnambar Boat House is ideal for boating and is also a great picnic spot in Pondicherry.

2 hours

Suggested Time

Tranquebar, Tamil Nadu

Tranquebar, Tamil Nadu

Popularly known as the Land of Singing Waves
Placed at the confluence of the Kaveri river and the Bay of Bengal, Tranquebar is decorated with swaying palms and rugged houses overlooking glittery waves of the ocean. The Town Gate welcomes you with the royal Danish emblem inscribed on it while the mingled Indo-European colonial architecture adds to the glory of Tranquebar, also known as Tharangambadi.

1 day

Suggested Time

Auroville

Auroville

Unique Experimental Township
Auroville is an experimental township designed by the famous architect Roger Anger. It was founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, also called 'The Mother'.

1 to 1.5 hours

Suggested Time

Serenity Beach

Serenity Beach

Golden Sand Beach
Swathed with pristine golden sands and lapped by shimmering waters of the Bay of Bengal, this treasure trove of nature is secluded, quiet and totally gorgeous.

1 to 2 hours

Suggested Time

Best Time To Visit Pondicherry

Ideal winter destination

  • OCT-MAR

    Peak Season

  • APR-JUN

    Moderate Season

  • JUL-SEP

    Off-season

  • What To Expect:The weather is comparatively cooler.
  • Things You'll Love:Sightseeing, beach fun and water sports.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

Bastille Day_France's National Day): 14th July

Rishi Aurobindo�s Birth Anniversary15th August

Book Your Trip to Puducherry

From

Travel Options to reach Puducherry

Our Recommendations

Flight to Hyderabad Airport, then Flight to Pondicherry Airport

5h 25m . One way

Booking Options Starting From

₹10,332

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Flight to Chennai Airport, then Train to Pondicherry

Booking Options Starting From

₹6,160

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Stay in Puducherry

Recommended Options

VIEW ALL

3 STAR HOTELS

Recommended For You

Average Price

₹3,510

EXPLORE
Pondy Heights - Suites and Studios

Pondy Heights - Suites and Studios

Near Pondicherry Train Station, Pondicherry

4.5/5

₹4,318

Onwards

Ginger Pondicherry

Ginger Pondicherry

Central Pondicherry, Pondicherry

3.7/5

₹4,499

Onwards

Hotel O Heritage Town formerly Vasavi

Hotel O Heritage Town formerly Vasavi

Central Pondicherry, Pondicherry

3.9/5

₹1,714

Onwards

4 STAR HOTELS

Recommended For You

Average Price

₹4,751

EXPLORE
Shenbaga Hotel & Convention Centre

Shenbaga Hotel & Convention Centre

Anna Salai, Pondicherry

4.2/5

₹4,600

Onwards

Le Royal Park

Le Royal Park

Kamaraj Salai, Pondicherry

4/5

₹4,555

Onwards

Anandha Inn

Anandha Inn

Anna Salai, Pondicherry

3.7/5

₹5,099

Onwards

5 STAR HOTELS

Recommended For You

Average Price

₹9,821

EXPLORE
Radisson Resort Pondicherry Bay

Radisson Resort Pondicherry Bay

Central Pondicherry, Pondicherry

4.5/5

₹15,500

Onwards

Bellani Villa Maya

Bellani Villa Maya

Auroville, Auroville

4.9/5

₹4,914

Onwards

The Residency Towers Puducherry

The Residency Towers Puducherry

Subbarayapillai Chathiram, Pondicherry

4.6/5

₹9,050

Onwards

Best Places to Visit in Pondicherry


Pondicherry is a small city but the list of Pondicherry attractions is endless. With boulevards and rues and churches to beaches in pondicherry, the places to visit in Pondicherry will entice you with their charm. Moreover, there are a few hill stations near Pondicherry that add to the overall charm of the city.


Tourist Places in Puducherry

Serenity Beach, Promenade Beach, Basilica Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus Pondicherry, Tranquebar, Tamil Nadu, Chunnambar Boat House

State

Tamil Nadu

Best Time to Visit in Puducherry

October to February

Things to Do in Puducherry

Auroville, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Paradise Beach Near Puducherry, Poudou Poudou, Kofi Bar

Places to visit in Puducherry with Family

Toxic, Cafe Xtasi, L' Aqua Bar, Bay of Buddha, Le Dupleix Near Puducherry


Most Loved Places to Visit in Pondicherry


Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Aurobindo Ashram is among the most beautiful places in Pondicherry. Ashram is a place of samadhi for Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, and you can explore these places to visit in Pondicherry in 1 day.


Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Holding great religious significance, this Gothic-style building is a must-explore in the places to see in Puducherry. If you are in search of peace and quite, then this religious shrine will prove to be worth a visit.


Promenade Beach

Promenade Beach is one of the most popular places to go in Pondicherry. Moreover, it is also popular among the places to visit in Pondicherry at night, the beach looks equally alluring. You can unwind at this beach with your loved ones or simply stroll along the shore.


Serenity Beach

The serene Serenity Beach is among the best tourist spots in Pondicherry, attracting thousands of tourists with its sparkling water and scenic beauty. Here you can catch a stunning sunrise or sunset or simply gaze at the crashing waves.


Chunnambar Boat House

Chunnambar boat house is among the top places to visit in Pondicherry and is famous for its serene beauty along with its pristine beach.


Best Time to Visit Pondicherry


Summer

Summer is considered off-season, for tourist places in Pondicherry. The months from March to June experience the hottest of days that offer unfrequented beaches and a soothing vacation.


Winter

The months from October to February offer ideal weather for the popular places in Pondicherry. The days are relatively fine for water sports, sightseeing, and beaches.


Monsoon

The months from July to September experience heavy rainfall and during the season you can explore the unique places to visit in Pondicherry.


Places to Visit With Family and Friends


Auroville

Auroville is a unique experimental township and is one of the major attractions in places to visit in Pondicherry.


French War Memorial

Dedicated to the soldiers of WWI, the French War Memorial is a great place to spend with your family and friends.


Pondicherry Museum

Displaying a fascinating collection of sculptures, the Pondicherry museum holds the archaeological findings from Arkimedu Roman Settlement.


Best Places for Couples


Botanical Garden

Home to a wide array of rare and exotic plants and an aquarium, Botanical Garden is a fine place to explore with your significant other.


Paradise Beach

Another popular spot in the places to visit in Pondicherry for couples is Paradise beach. A little secluded from the crowd with golden sand, the pristine beach is a mesmerising site.


Auroville Beach

Among the most popular places in Pondicherry, Auro beach is a great sight for spending your day and mesmerising Pondicherry sightseeing.


Places to Visit at Night in Pondicherry


Le Club

With cosy ambiance, Le Club offers great food, and a variety of alcohol with an outdoor sitting, for enjoying the best of Pondicherry nightlife.


Kofi Bar

Known for its tranquil atmosphere, Kofi Bar is an amazing bar to unwind your day after exploring the places to visit in Pondicherry.


Toxic

Toxic is a rooftop cafe that is an open bar cafe with a wide, variety of drinks, alcohol, and so much more along with a stunning view.


Best Places to Visit Around Pondicherry


Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram is famous for its intricately carved stunning temples and rock-cut cave and is a well-known tourist spot around the places to visit in Mahabalipuram.


Vedanthangal

Known for its bird sanctuary, Vedanthangal is home to nearly 30 thousand bird species during the migratory season. The bird sanctuary is among the popular places around Pondicherry and attracts tons of tourists and bird lovers every season.


Thanjavur

Among the places near Pondicherry is Thanjavur, which is known for its Tanjore paintings and cultural value. It is among the places to visit in Pondicherry in 2 days, you can enjoy every bit of the Tanjore antiquity in the town.


The places to visit in Pondicherry are a fine amalgamation of gorgeous French architecture and traditional Indian sensibilities making it an ideal place for your vacations. If you are looking for a fun time in a complete off-beat location, then you can definitely plan a trip to Pondicherry.

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions about Pondicherry

What are the things that you should not miss out on when you are in Pondicherry?

If you are a true traveller, you should definitely not miss out on Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Promenade Beach when you are in Pondicherry to make a funfilled vacay.

What are the best places to visit in Pondicherry?

Pondicherry has loads of places that you can visit on your vacation. Our recommendation of the best places to visit in Pondicherry include - Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Promenade Beach. Apart from these, there are multiple other places to visit that you can explore if you are on a longer trip!

What are the top things to do in Pondicherry?

Pondicherry is an incredibly lively place and is popularly known for its topmost things to do like Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Promenade Beach. You will have a great time here, then why wait? Book your trip now!