Puducherry formerly known as Pondicherry is a beautiful coastal city in the South India. Pondicherry is extremely famous for its unique colonial French architecture, serene beaches and vivid culture. It is situated very close to Chennai and hence it is very commonly visited as a short trip (day trip or just 2 day trip) by anyone travelling to Chennai. Here I am sharing a detail guide on how you can spend 48 hours in Pondicherry – Pondicherry 2 Days Itinerary.
BEST TIME TO VISIT PONDICHERRY
Being a coastal city the best visiting time of the year is from October to February. Weather is pleasant around this time with temperatures typically ranging from 20°C to 30°C.
HOW MUCH WILL 2 DAY TRIP TO PONDICHERRY COST
- Round Trip Flight (Chennai) Cost: Approx. Rs 15,000 – 20,000/Person
- Internal/Local Transit Cost: Approx. Rs 3000 – 7000/Person
- Hotel Cost on Twin Sharing for 2 days: Approx. Rs 7,000 – 25,000/Person
- Food: Approx. 7,000 – 15,000/Person
- Misc.: Rs 5000 – 10000
Total Approx. cost for Pondicherry 2 Days Trip: Rs 40,000 – 80,000/Person
HOW TO REACH PONDICHERRY/ HOW TO TRAVEL WITHIN PONDICHERRY?
To visit Puducherry take a flight to Chennai as it has good connectivity from all major cities and is 150 kms drive from Pondicherry. There is a small Airport in Pondicherry but is not well connected so it is always advisable to use Chennai Airport.
There are numerous private cabs available to reach Pondicherry from Chennai. Google search for cab service in Chennai and check out the ones with good rating. State run buses are also available in case if budget is tight.
Pondicherry can also be reached through train journey which is more feasible from cities in Southern part of India. Villipuram Railway Station is well connected to major cities and is just 35 kms from Pondicherry.
A self drive road trip to Pondicherry can easily be planned major cities in South India as roads are generally in good condition.
BEST AREA TO STAY IN PONDICHERRY/ WHERE TO STAY IN PONDICHERRY
If you want to experience Pondicherry in the best way, then stay in White Town/ French Quarter. This town is full of colorful French inspired buildings, amazing restaurants & Café’s, plenty of hotel options to stay, close to majority of attractions like Promenade beach, Sir Aurobindo Ashram, Gandhi Statue etc.
Below are some of the options of Hotels to stay in White Town:
People whose main purpose is visiting Auroville can plan to stay in Auroville which is 10-12 kms from Pondicherry.
People with interest for beach side can plan to stay at Serenity Beach.
MUST VISIT PLACES IN PONDICHERRY
Pondicherry is not that big and almost all the places can easily be covered within 2 days.
White town or French Quarter is the main highlight of Pondicherry. All those pictures of vibrant colonial style building with large windows and colourful facades is this White Town only. Just scrolling around this area will give you vibe of Pondicherry’s French connection. There are plenty of Café’s, restaurants in White Town and one cannot get enough of it.
In this White Town area only is the very famous Promenade Beach. Walking around this beach is the best and peaceful way to spend the sunset or sunrise in Pondicherry.
Auroville is another highlight which is approx. 10 km from Pondicherry. It is a town established to promote global peace and harmony. The very famous Golden Globe structure called Matrimandir is situated in Auroville only.
Lastly a boat trip to Paradise Beach through Chunnambar Boat House is one of the peaceful retreat for nature lovers. Paradise beach is extremely beautiful and is accessible through a boat ride only. The boat ride itself is another experience as it passes through back waters offering stunning views all along.
TIPS FOR TRIP TO PONDICHERRY
- Visit the historic town Mahabalipuram for a short 1-2 hours while on the way from Chennai to Pondicherry.
- Pondicherry is unlike Goa. If you are expecting loud night life, bathing in beach, enjoying lot of water sports or beach side activities then Pondicherry is not that place.
- Pondicherry is not an appropriate place for scuba diving. Reason its water is muddy. There are much better places in India for Scuba like Goa, Andaman etc.
- Travelling all through to South India just for Pondicherry will be very disappointing. Clubbing it along with Chennai, Tirupati Balaji or Rameshwaram will be a good choice to make most from your trip to South India.
PONDICHERRY 2 DAYS ITINERARY
Day 1: Mahabalipuram, Reaching Pondicherry, Exploring White Town and Promenade Beach
Mahabalipuram
While on the road trip from Chennai to Pondicherry on the way will come this beautiful coastal historic town Mahabalipuram, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It can be given a quick 2-3 hours visit if interested in history, ancient architecture dated 7th-8th century and culture. Mahabalipuram beach is another stunning attraction and offers amazing view of Bay of Bengal.
White Town/ French Quarter
This is the main highlight of Pondicherry. Entire area is full of vibrant colourful colonial era buildings with French Architecture giving such a unique vibe. Strolling around White Town is the best way to explore Pondicherry cultural and historical side.
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
As it is situated in the heart of White Town only give this ashram a short visit. People from all over the world visit this ashram for seeking meditation following Sri Aurobindo’s teaching. This ashram is also a resting place (Samadhi) of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother (Mirra Alfassa).
Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple
This is a very beautiful temple dedicated to lord Ganesh situated in opposite lane from Sri Aurobindo Ashram. This can be given a quick visit after the Ashram as the temple is very beautiful, full of vibrant architecture and divine energy.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
This Gothic style church is the oldest church of Pondicherry. The church’s architecture and its serene ambiance is very peaceful and you may stop for sometime. This church can be given a quick visit if time permits.
Promenade Beach
It is one of the most popular and scenic spots in the city. Located along the coastline, the Promenade offers a beautiful stretch of road by the sea, where you can enjoy a peaceful walk, relax, or simply take in the natural beauty of the area. The Gandhi statue, The War memorial, Old Lighthouse are some of the landmarks you can find in Promenade. Promenade is all full of numerous café’s and restaurants offering different variety of cuisine.
Rock Beach
Very close to Promenade Beach is Rock Beach. Just sitting by the beach watching waves crashing over the rocks is the best sight to enjoy. It is one of the most distinctive beaches in the city due to the large rocks that line its shore, creating a unique and rugged coastline. Compared to Promenade Beach, Rock Beach is generally less crowded, making it a good option for those seeking some solitude or a more relaxed atmosphere.
All the places mentioned above can be covered easily by walking in White Town
- 08:00 AM: Chennai to Pondicherry Road Trip
- 09:30 AM: Mahabalipuram
- 03:00 PM: Reaching Pondicherry, checking into Hotel.
- 04:00 PM: Covering White Town Area on foot – Aurobindo Ashram, Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus etc
- 05:30 PM: Sunset at Promenade Beach & Rock Beach
- 08:00 PM: Dinner
Day 2: Day trip to Auroville and then Paradise Beach through Chunnabar Boat House in the evening.
Auroville
Trip to Pondicherry is incomplete without visit to the very famous Auroville. Auroville is a township founded by Mirra Alfassa (The Mother) a great collaborator of Sri Aurobindo (a great yogi, philosopher and a spiritual leader). It is an International township preaching unity, peace and sustainable living. Over here people from all over the world can come and live together harmoniously, regardless of their nationality, religion, or background.
At the center of Auroville lies the Matrimandir, a large, golden globe structure surrounded by beautiful landscape garden. It is a great spot for photography. Visitors can tour the Matrimandir and its surroundings, but entry inside the central sphere is restricted to those who have committed to deep meditation.
If time permits, then while returning from Auroville back to Pondicherry give a quick stop at Serenity Beach in between.
Paradise Beach via Chunnambar Boat House
Paradise beach is one of the secluded beaches of Pondicherry. Its has clear water, pristine beauty and peaceful atmosphere. The most unique thing about Paradise beach is that it is accessible by boat ride only, which is taken from Chunnambar Boat House.
The Boat ride takes 20-30 minutes and offers stunning views of the back waters and the coastline as you head towards the beach. Boat rides are very economical and are available all throughout the day.
- 10:00 AM: Trip to Auroville
- 01:00 PM: Lunch at one of the Auroville’s Organic Restaurant
- 02:00 PM: Leaving Auroville and reaching back Pondicherry
- 04:00 PM: Chunnambar Boat House
- 05:00 PM: Paradise Beach
- 07:00 PM: Back to hotel in White Town
- 08:00 PM: Dinner in White Town
