India retains an air of surprise and mystery amid the modern-day blitz of bustle and noise. While Goa continues to be an allure to tourists on its Western seaboard, the Eastern coast packs a French Riviera vibe. Welcome to Puducherry!
Goa has its Portuguese past, Puducherry, formerly known as Pondicherry, is still within the cool embrace of its Gallic amour. There is a French Quarter, street names are in French, a cafe culture, and other hints from its architecture, down to its excellent food. Bizarrely, to reaffirm its French love affair, the city even has its own Notre Dame equivalent in pink.
How To Get There
Puducherry, in the state of Tamil Nadu, is easily reached by road or air. It has an airport that opened about two years ago. However, most travellers tend to land in Chennai, around 90 miles away, and then complete their journey, around three hours, by bus or taxi.
IndiGo Airlines now offers 14 flights a week between Puducherry Airport and Bengaluru and Hyderabad, enabling travellers to utilise onward connections across India and internationally. Fares are around $30 one-way.
If you fancy arriving by train, the Chennai to Puducherry (Villupuram) route takes around four hours to complete.
When you get there, Puducherry is mostly flat, with well-maintained roads and pavements. You can rent bikes for $2 a day, while hailing auto rickshaws is easy and costs $0.60–$1.20 locally. Taxis to Auroville cost $18 round-trip, while you can hire scooters for $5 a day.
When to Visit
The best time to visit is between January and March when temperatures are a milder 20–30°C during the day, and the risk of rain is low. April to June will see 40°C heat, while July to September could be doable with the area experiencing light monsoons. Heavy rains come in between October and December.
What To See And How Long To Stay
Many travellers recommended a stay of up to five days to cover what is needed to see in Puducherry.
There are still traces of its Gallic past with the feel of a French town plucked from the 1700s. In fact, the city remained under French colonial rule until 1952, so the traces remain, including the lovely churches and cafes, particularly in the little French Quarter known as White Town. It also offers a wealth of images for photographers.
Tapping into your spiritual side could be highly beneficial, as it is home to numerous ashrams, the most renowned being the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. If you have time, take in the centuries-old and highly colourful Manajula Vinayagar Temple.
Several travel sites recommend dropping into a host of galleries and museums that dot the city, as well as local shops for a unique experience. There is the Puducherry Museum and, adjacent to it, the Puducherry Contemporary Art Gallery, a government-run creative space. There is also the Tasmai gallery for modern pieces to wander around.
If sunsets are your thing, then stroll along with the locals on Goubert Avenue (Beach Road) to witness the sunset and catch the family-fun vibes that abound. Start at Our Lady of the Angels Church’s blue-tiled nave through Joan of Arc Park.
For a beach to chill on, travellers recommend Serenity Beach, among the cleanest in the area. However, bear in mind that the beach is 20 minutes from the centre, so opt for a lift either by auto rickshaw or taxi to get there.
Andy Probert is a freelance journalist whose work about global travel news, aviation, business and human-interest features has appeared internationally in print and digital formats.
