Pondicherry is an exotic tourist destination in south India. It has beaches, temples, and several other tourist attractions. Though a small town, it still draws a sizable number of tourists each year. The best part about it is its exemplification of both Indian and French culture. 

Pondicherry is also officially known as Puducherry or Pondy. The town along the Bay of Bengal has emerged as a popular destination for backpackers in recent years. It is also ideal for those fond of beaches and places of historical importance. 

To help you plan your trip, here are some top places that you must visit on your trip to Pondicherry.

Taking a bus will cost you far less than renting a car, along with full comfort and fun. zingbus offers you several discounts on your first booking. You can directly book bus tickets to travel to Pondicherry.

Paradise Beach

The beauty of Paradise Beach can captivate the attention of any human on earth. Its blue water, white and golden sand and greenery all around make it the best destination for selfie lovers. By strolling for a while on its soft sand, you can relieve your mind of all worries. Gazing the pretty sight as you walk along will give you a good reason to admire the beauty of nature.

Located at Goubert Avenue in Pondicherry, the beach remains open for visitors on all days between 9 am and 5 pm. You can enjoy your presence free of cost. But you must remember two things before setting towards this beach. Firstly, it remains crowded for the most part of the hours through which it remains open. And secondly, drinking is not allowed on the spot. However, if you want, you can indulge in fishing on Paradise Beach. Don’t forget to carry your own fishing rod if you want a quality fishing experience.

 Sri Aurobindo Ashram

If you wish to experience total peace on your visit to Puducherry, you must visit Ari Aurobindo Ashram at least once. The sprawling ashram located near Manakula Vinaynagar Koil Station was founded by Sri Aurobindo in 1926. It has many libraries and is popular for activities related to physical education. These include swimming, strength training, asanas, and certain other sports activities.

Sri Aurobindo Ashram is meant for those with a spiritual mind. Even those who have an interest in physical or sports activities can also visit this place. The ashram remains open on all days at two distinct timings: between 8 am and 12 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm. If you plan to come to Sri Aurobindo Ashram by bus, get down at Pondicherry Bus Stand. The bus stand is just 2.6 kilometers away from the ashram.

Auroville

Auroville Ashram, just like Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, is closely linked with Sri Aurobindo. Its structure resembles that of a large-sized golden globe. The other name of the ashram is the “City of Dawn.” The rationale behind setting up Auroville Ashram was to unite people from different sections and bring them under a roof. You can spot this aspect even today upon visiting the ashram. It is currently a place wherein people embrace and accept each other, setting aside their differences in terms of their religion, status, creed, caste, and other such barriers.

More than an ashram, Auroville is a mini township that showcases a well-planned project. It has soil from 124 countries that were mixed to form an urn. If you wish to see the urn, you can find it at the amphitheater of the ashram. You can enter the ashram free of cost and the Pondicherry Bus Stand.

Promenade

Are you a photographer, or do you have a fondness for taking photos? If yes, you wouldn’t want to miss out on the opportunity of visiting a sought-after place in Pondichhery. The town has a rocky promenade which is the outcome of natural processes. Whether you come here with your family or friends, you can look forward to some fun moments here. To make your experience of visiting the place invaluable by exploring its beauty, you can stroll along.

The promenade is located in Pondicherry’s White Town. The venue has several restaurants around it. If you are a foodie or feel the need to taste cuisines, you can head to one of these restaurants. Also, you can buy cotton candles and peanuts from hawkers. The restaurants around Promenade are ideal for a culinary feast.

Serenity Beach

If you are looking for the ultimate beach experience in a calm and peaceful environment in Pondicherry, you’d hardly find a better option than Serenity Beach. It is a wonderful sightseeing spot for tourists of all ages. It has blue waters and a panoramic view that touches both the heart and mind at first sight.

Other than lazing around, you can also take to surfing on Serenity Beach. The best thing about the beach is that it remains open 24×7 for all visitors. And it also provides a free-of-cost entry for them. From Pondicherry Bus Stand, Serenity Beach is just seven kilometers away.

Arikamedu

As a site of historical significance, Arikamedu showcases the architecture of the 19th century. It is made of many high-quality materials, including stone beads, glassware, and Roman lamps. Besides, it also has ceramic statues in black and red colors. Arikamedu remains a site of historical importance today as it attracts excavators in large numbers.

Arikamedu, which is located at Ariyankuppam, remains open for visitors between 10 am and 4 pm. While the ticket for entering the site costs INR 50 for foreigners, the fee for buying a ticket for adults is INR 10, and for kids, it is INR 5.

Auroville Beach

If you already know about Auroville Ashram, which was founded by Sri Aurobindo, you can easily make out that Auroville Beach is located in proximity to the ashram that goes by the same name. It has shallow waters, due to which it is perfect for surfing. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, you can get started with surfing here without any worry.

Auroville Beach boasts a calm atmosphere and remains open for visitors round the clock. You can spend quality time on the beach free of cost as you do not need a ticket to enter it.

The Pondicherry Botanical Garden

Built at the time when Pondicherry was under French occupation, the Pondicherry Botanical Garden stretches up to 22 acres. It is home to plant species from different countries across the globe. The garden has as many as 1500 distinct species of plants, and each plant is separated from the other neatly. You can find out the name of each plant by seeing its name on the placard next to it.

Final Thoughts

If you consider the above destinations in Pondicherry, you’d understand why it has all the elements to make your trip turn into a dream vacation. When you visit Pondicherry, do not forget to explore these gems to maximize the fun element throughout your stay.