Pondicherry is a tourist destination in South India. The city has many colonial buildings, churches, temples and statues which, combined with the town planning and French style avenues in the old part of town, still preserve much of the colonial ambiance.
Here are the lists of the best Tourism Places in Pondicherry.
1.Rock Beach
The Rock beach with golden sands in one of the topmost photogenic Pondicherry sightseeing places with friends and family. The beach is well-kept and spectacular that you can spend hours gazing at the beautiful sight of the undulating waves touching the rocky shores. You can also walk along the long stretch of the beach breathing in the fresh ocean air.
The beach does get crowded on weekends but still is well-maintained and clean. There are many restaurants and eateries along the shoreline to savor some scrumptious snacks. Visit the beach at the morning hours when the beach is less crowded and witness the ball of fire rising from the blue water in its full glory.
Timings: It is open for 24 hours
Price: Entry Free
Location: White Town, Pondicherry
Distance from Pondicherry Bus Stand: Rock Beach is located 3 km away from the bus stand in Pondicherry.
Highlights of Rock Beach
1. Sit in a café and enjoy the view
2.Shop at the elegant boutiques
3.Jog, walk or stroll at midnight
4.Visit the War Memorial
2. Auroville
Coveted as the “City of Dawn”, Auroville Ashram is a futuristic township that is the brainchild of the Mother, the spiritual collaborator of Sri Aurobindo. Auroville aims to unite humans from all walks of life and from all parts of the world against barriers like caste, creed, status, and religion and to let them live in harmony with one another and it is one of the best places to visit in Pondicherry.
The huge golden globe-like structure at the center of Auroville is the Matrimandir, which is actually a massive meditation center where one could just sit and focus on one’s inner self. While building this township, soil from 124 countries was brought to the ashram and were put together in an urn and mixed. Today, one can find the urn in the amphitheater amidst Matrimandir Gardens.
Price: Free
Location: Viluppuram District, Pondicherry, India.
Distance from Pondicherry Bus Stand: It is located at a distance of 14 kilometres from the bus stand.
Explore More: Most amazing things to do in Pondicherry
Highlights of Auroville
- International City Of India
- Auroville Beach
- Mathar Mandir Globe
- Nature Of World
3. Sri Aurobindo Ashram
One of the most peaceful and spiritual Tourist Places in Pondicherry, Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry is well-known across the world and was founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo. The ashram is sprawling and has libraries. It hosts many physical education activities such as sports, asanas, strength training, and swimming.
At the centre of the ashram is the Samadhi or mausoleum of Sri Aurobindo under a frangipani tree. If you have an inclination towards spirituality, yoga, and meditation, this ashram is one of the best places to visit in Pondicherry to find your inner self.
Timings: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: Near Junction of Manakula Vinayagar No. 9 Marine Street, Manakula Vinayagar Koil St, Near Junction of, Puducherry, 605002
Distance From Pondicherry Bus Stand: Sri Aurobindo Ashram is situated at a distance of 2.6 km from the bus station which is a journey of 9 minutes.
4. Paradise Beach
Located at Chunnambar along the Cuddalore road, Paradise Beach is one of the spectacular Places to visit in Pondicherry. A ferry ride from Chunnambar takes you to this pristine beach that fascinates every traveller with its blue waters, white and golden soft beach sand and tranquil environ. The picturesque beach has pre-built shacks to lounge below, decent changing rooms, showers, and clean toilets.
The beach is frequented by locals and tourists during the weekends and gets extremely crowded. Visitors are not allowed to booze around at this beach and swimming at Paradise Beach is not advisable. However, you can rent a fishing rod from the nearby shop and try your hand at fishing.
Timings: The opening hours from 9 am to 5 pm
Price: Free
Location: 40, Goubert Avenue, Pondicherry
Distance from Pondicherry Bus Stand: It is located at a distance of 8 kilometres from the bus stand
5. Serenity Beach
For those looking for a day filled with tranquillity, Serenity beach is a mesmerizing visit in Pondicherry sightseeing for all the tourists. It boasts of the resplendent beauty of nature with its golden sands and blue waters that greet the visitors with a panoramic view.
The beautiful beach offers surfing and serves a great spot to laze around under the shade with your book or just enjoy the company of your loved ones with a refreshing day in Pondicherry.
Timings: It remains open 24 hours for visitors
Price: Free
Location: Kottakuppam, Pondicherry
Distance from Pondicherry Bus Stand: It is located about 7 kilometres from Pondicherry Bus Stand
6. Pondicherry Botanical Garden
Spread across 22 acres of land, The Pondicherry Botanical Garden is one of the no-miss Pondicherry sightseeing places. This lush green garden was built by the French colonists who brought exotic plant species from all across the globe and nurtured them here.
Today, the garden boasts of 1500 species of plants and there are placards that indicate the species’ names and their common name. Additional information like the uses of the tree, the amount of oxygen generated and its medicinal value make this outsmart other Tourist Places in Pondicherry. The main entrance of the garden characterises the French architecture.
Timings: 9:00AM – 6:00PM
Location: Marimalai, Maraimalai Adigal Salai, Near Anna Statue, Orleanpet, Puducherry, 605001
Distance from Pondicherry Bus stand: The distance between Pondicherry bus stand and botanical gardens is 1km and it takes nearly 2-3 minutes to travel.
7. Pondy Merinaa
Welcome to Pondy Marinaa! The future beach is in the making of adventurous and amusement activities by the bay. First of it’s kind in Pondicherry. Comprising Shopping mall, Eating out, Pubs, Sea Sports, Beach Acts, MICE, Events & Entertainments for all.
This interesting spot in Pondicherry is a delightful visit for those fond of history and looking for places to try their hand on photography.
Location:23, Goubert Ave, White Town, Puducherry, 605001
Distance from Pondicherry Bus Stand: It can be reached at a distance of 3 km from the bus stand in Pondicherry.
8. Chunnambar Boathouse
Also known as “Plage Paradiso”, Chunnambar Boathouse is a spectacular boating and picnic spot located on the backwaters where the Chunnambar River meets the Bay of Bengal. At Chunnambar, you can sun lounge and get sun-kissed and even play beach sports with your family and friends and one of the famous places to visit in Pondicherry.
You can also enjoy boating in motorboats, speed boats, sailboats, rowed boats, water scooters, paddled boats, and pedalled boats and sail through the placid backwaters amidst thick mangrove trees. There are many restaurants here that serve delicious, piping-hot Chinese and Tandoori food. Adventure lovers can enjoy jet skiing and have an unlimited thrill.
From Chunnambar Boathouse, there are frequent ferry services to Paradise Beach.
Timings: 9:30AM – 4:00PM
Price: Entry fee is Rs. 10 per head, with extra charges for different water sports.
Location: National Highway 45A | Near Water Sports Complex, Nonankuppam, Pondicherry, India
Distance From the Pondicherry Bus Stand: The two places are 6.4 k away. If you travel via Cuddalore Road, it will take around 15 minutes to reach the destination.
9. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Known for its elegant gothic architecture, Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is one of the most popular places to visit in Pondicherry. Offering prayers to the Almighty, devotees congregate here at this revered place of worship.
It is known for having the glass pictures of 28 saints and many glass panels depict the life of Jesus adding to the interesting sights of this church in Pondicherry.
Timings: The mass timings here are 5:30 am, 12:30 pm and 6:00 pm from Monday to Saturday. For Sunday, the mass timings are 5:30 am, 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm
Price: Free
Location: MG Road Area, Puducherry
Distance from Pondicherry Bus Stand: It is about 2 kilometres away from Pondicherry bus stand
10. Manakula Vinayagar Temple
Manakula Vinayagar Temple is one of the very ancient Hindu temples in India that is believed to be built before the 15th century. Manakulam translates to “sand pond” in Tamil and this temple is dedicated to Bhavaneshar Ganapathy (Ganesha). The temple is built in the royal Tamilian style of temples with a sprawling mandapam, raja gopuram and praharam and the walls have astounding paintings of events from Hindu mythology.
The chariot at this temple is the key attraction here which is made from 7.5 kg of gold and teak wood. Visit this temple during the Vijayadasami day of Dussehra when the Lord is carried out on this richly ornate chariot for people to witness. A list of places to visit in Pondicherry is never complete without Manakula Vinayagar Temple.
Timings: 5:45 AM – 12:30 PM, 4:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Location: Manakula Vinayagar Koil St, White Town, Puducherry, 605001
Distance From the Pondicherry Bus Stand: The temple stands at a distance of 2.7 km from the bus stand. It is hardly a 10 minutes journey. If you are Lord Ganesa devotee, this is good news for you.
FAQ
Puducherry (Pondicherry) was a French colony and it is famous for alcoholic beverages in cheap price compared to other states. Apart from the drink, places like Stone Beach, Aurobinda Aashramam, White Town (streets are parallel), Matrimandir, Manakula Vinayagar Temple and Foreigners.
If you thought that Pondicherry is a small fishing town with a laid-back air and lots of French people milling around, sorry you may be in for a surprise. Pondicherry is capital of a union territory (named Pondicherry and having 4 areas: Pondicherry, Yanam, Mahe and Karaikal). Here, I am not going to tell you what all places to visit in Pondicherry but the reasons why Pondicherry is is so special and quite different from other places in India.