Plan Your Trip
When is the best time to visit Pondy?
Diving is open 365 days a year in Pondy so any time of the year is good to visit Pondy and dive with us. Ocean dives rely upon the conditions of the day. Sometimes the weather and seas get very rough and taking the boats out to sea is difficult. These days we do have freshwater quarries where you can still experience the underwater world. This does not happen often though.
Getting to Pondicherry
By Flight:
Pondicherry has a small domestic airport with daily flights connecting from Bangalore and Hyderabad at present.
Chennai is the second closest airport which is well connected with all the major cities from around the globe. Once at the airport, you can hire a taxi to reach Pondy and the distance is roughly 150 km and takes about 3-4 hours.
By Bus:
There are private and state-run buses from cities like Kochi, Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Vijayawada, etc.
Buses from Chennai to Pondy start every 10-15mins during the day and every 30 mins at night. They take either the ECR or the Tindivanam bypass route, ECR is a scenic route if you are traveling during day time. It takes around 3 to 4 hours by bus from Chennai to Pondicherry.
By Train:
Pondicherry station has daily local trains to Chennai and has scheduled trains to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Mangalore, Howrah, Bhubaneswar, Kanyakumari and Tirupati.
Driving Down:
Pondicherry is well connected by road to all major cities like Bangalore(320Km), Chennai(152 KM), Trichy(207 Km), Coimbatore(378 Km), Madurai (340km), etc.
What to do?
Beaches
Promenade Beach
Also known as rock beach, it is pretty famous for sunrises. You can see a lot of local and non-local crowds in the mornings taking a walk or jogging here. You also have a variety of restaurants and cafes to choose from along the beach.
Eco beach
This beach is perfect for an evening moonlit stroll and also offers a wide range of food and entertainment stalls.
Serenity Beach
If you wanna get your feet sandy and catch the sunrise, ride down to this serene beach. If you go there nice and early, do try the freshly made seafood from the hawkers.
Auro Beach
Lil far away from all the hustle and bustle is this quiet and laid-back beach, ideal to chill in the evenings or take a swim.
Paradise Beach
Take a boat ride from the Chunnambar boat house to reach this beach. You can sit by the beach and chill. This beach closes by 5:30 pm and can get very crowded with tourists.
Auroville
Auroville Visitors Center
You can spend an afternoon here learning about the Matrimandir, and shopping in the artisanal stores of local artists. The food court has a nice spread of healthy meals. A quick 15-20 min walk from here will get you to the viewpoint to see the Matrimandir.
Matrimandir
Experience the calmness of guided meditation at Matrimandir. After booking your ticket at the visitors center and completing the AV class, you will be taken on a tour of the matrimandir followed by a guided meditation session.
Svaram sound center and sound garden
Experience the magic of sound by trying all the different instruments in their garden. You will be surprised by the sound a rock can make. You can also buy sound and healing instruments from them.
Places to visit
Churches
The churches in pondy take you back in time with their architecture and finesse. You will also notice how different each one of them are as Pondy has a variety of influences from the French, The Dutch, The Portuguese and The British colonists.
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
The resting place of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother is located in the ashram. Thousands of people visit the ashram annually from around the world to experience and attain spirituality.
Manakula Vinayagar Temple
Manakula Vinayagar Temple is a famous temple located in the white town of Pondy. The temple has a lot of beautiful murals of Ganesha and is worth visiting.
White Town
Take a walk down the beautiful lanes of our French Quarters. The French section is dotted with lovely cafes, and restaurants and one gets to see a lot of French architecture and a lot of cool spots for Instagram stories.
Heritage Town
You get to see a lot of old heritage buildings and local eateries in the heritage town. This area also offers some nice heritage homestays.
French War Memorial
A memorial for the French Indians who lost their lives during World War I. It is located on the promenade beach opposite the Gandhi Statue.
Places to Shop
Mandala Pottery
Found in the dry evergreen forest of Auroville, Mandala is a small ceramic studio that produces functional ceramics, aroma-therapy products, architectural installations and personal studio sculptures. They source raw materials locally and make their own clays and glazes resulting in food-safe and lead-free products.
Marbling Group
Started as a hobby in the 60s, offering marbled handmade paper to ‘THE MOTHER’. The Marbling unit in Sri Aurobindo Ashram has now expanded to silk and has developed into a fine art form with the production of various silk products like sarees, scarves, ties, dupattas and dress materials etc.
Vintage Woods
A furniture company that specializes in designing and producing custom furniture, as well as restoring and polishing antique wood. They offer a variety of antique, colonial and restored furniture, including bed cots, diwans, sofa sets, easy chairs, cupboards, dining tables, wooden pillars, chests and more.
Paper Factory
Produces fine handmade and marbled paper from cotton rag pulp. The factory has a showroom where customers can purchase handcrafted stationery and various items such as photo frames, wine bags, gift bags, business cards, notepads, and greeting cards made from handmade paper. The prices for these items range from INR 30 to INR 500, making them accessible to a wide range of customers.
Places to eat
Street food unique to Pondy
South Indian
Hotel Sri Kamatchi
Offers delicious south Indian Chettinad meals and biryani. Their meals and seafood are a must-try.
Salem Biryani Hotel
Authentic South Indian biryani and a variety of starters on the menu makes this place a must-visit for a nice lunch break.
Surguru
They offer a variety of south Indian and north Indian dishes. Their chutneys with breakfast are amazing
Indian Coffee House
Great place to stop for a quick bite or a nice filter coffee.
Ende Nadu
They have an amazing array of dishes from Kerala, and if visiting on a Sunday you should try their veg or chicken stew with appams.
Cool Cat
Great place to start your day with some nice authentic south Indian breakfast. Their Garlic dosa is a must-try.
The Mallu Kitchen
Just like the name suggests, the cuisine is based on authentic flavours/dishes from Kerala. It’s recommended to order in as the restaurant is quite small.
Fishaurant
Offers simple, homely but delicious chicken, vegetarian and fish thalis. It is a must-visit if you are a fan of spicy food.
Continental/Cafes
Cafe des Arts
Known for its aesthetic decor and picturesque walls. Grab a quick bite at this quaint cafe.
Coromandel cafe
This heritage building will have you feasting your eyes on its tasteful interiors and the food will have your taste buds tingling.
Villa Shanti
A wave of peace washes over you as you enter this restaurant, known for its ultra-fine dishes. It is perfect for a romantic candlelit dinner.
Rendez-vous
One of the oldest restaurants, rich in history, they offer a wide range of delicious food and cocktails. Enjoy your food with a panoramic view of the town
Palais de Mahe
Have a seat on the breezy rooftop of this restaurant and enjoy some amazing Indian continental fusion dishes. Their prawn mango curry and appams should not be missed.
Bread and chocolate
Flaky croissants, quiche, cake, smoothies and a whole lot more. This bakery will tend to all your sweet and savory cravings, they also offer a range of healthy options for health-conscious & vegan food too!!
Zuka
Chocolate chocolate and more chocolate, this place is every chocoholics paradise.
Baker Street
Quick stop for fresh baguettes and croissants, and their baguette sandwiches would be an ideal lunch for the go.
Auroville
Nowana
Authentic Korean restaurant in pondy offering a wide range of dishes and beverages.
Marc’s cafe
Best artisanal coffee in town with a very diverse menu. You can also take home a nice pack of coffee with you to remind you of your trip to pondy.
Sakura Sushi
Great place to try sushi in pondy with a great ambience and sweet hosts.
Auroville Bakery
Fresh baked goods at affordable prices and their cafe in the back serves great food.
Gastronomica
Take home a bit of pondy with you. You get to choose from a variety of cheeses, dehydrated fresh pasta and more to take home with you
Sustenance farm and cafe
Offers simple food but greatly satisfying and made from fresh produce from their farm.
Cafe 73
They have a nice range of veg and non-veg burgers with homemade sauces and their lemon soda is a must-try.
Bread and Chocolate
Flaky croissants, quiche, cake, smoothies and a whole lot more. This bakery will tend to all your sweet and savory cravings, they also offer a range of healthy options for health-conscious & vegan food too!!
Desserts
Richy Rich
The Mecca for dessert lovers. The Richy Rich parlour on the promenade has it all.
Gelateria Montecatini Terme
– Located on Promenade beach, this parlour serves the finest gelato in Pondicherry. You can experiment with the variety of flavors they serve, ranging from their fresh fruit flavors all the way to some alcohol infused gelato.
Eden Garden
Best known for their nitrogen and fried ice creams. They also have delicious Milkshakes, faloodas and their softy ice creams aren’t something you’d want to miss either.
Clubs/Pubs
Gone are the days of a quiet night out in Pondi
Today there’s always some event or the other happening at multiple venues throughout the week. We recommend you check out ‘nightlifepondy’ on Instagram, as they are always putting out updates on what’s happening where! If you aren’t on Social Media then feel free to ask any of the divers here on where to go and when.
