They say when you travel, a place chooses you and holds you there, creating a feeling that you are home. And you would come back to it whenever you could, wherever you are..and enough would never be enough. That is what Pondicherry is to me.
The first time i went to pondy, i fell in love with that small cute town, and i ve never been able to get enough of that place ever since. It has a serenity and an alluring magic to it, that will slowly grow on you and capture your heart. Opposed to popular word that pondy is a place where people go just to get drunk and chill, it is a place which offers more than just cheap liquor and fancy wines. Its not a party place like most of the beach places in India. It is a place where you get to soak in the culture, the warmth of the diversity, get a taste of the french food, experience the integrity of the tamils and french, their harmony of cultures and spirituality. All you need is to rent a bicycle or a bike to go around..no place is too far to walk too. The french quarters is very quaint and has more to offer than you think. The beaches and auroville are the usual attractions people would direct you to, but the thing with pondy is to explore and get to know her better. You get the best coffee @KBS coffee stall located in a small lane next to the secretariat. The chocolate and cream pastry in Bon bakes near Jawaharlal Nehru street is to die for. The simple breakfasts you could get anywhere in any small place would stay in your heart for a long time and will be very light on your pocket. Shopping is another joy, where you could buy street ware and bargain as much as you could..sometimes you dont have the heart to bargain too :) I have been backpacking to pondy for years now and every time i visit, i discover new things, new places and each time feels like the first. There are lot of home stays where you could stay in comfortable budgets. Its a safe place for lone travelers, specially girls. The ashram in the french quarters is something which will give you peace at heart if you just be there. The people in the town are used to living a simple life, so the whole town shuts down around 10 in the night. There is just one club ( a very small one ) called the Asian place, where the music is good and the food is decent. Top knotch is a good liquor shoppe located right next to the Asian house, where you have good options to buy liquor. Night walks at the promenade could be relaxing. Before you plan a trip go through this link to know a little about pondicherry- http://www.toutpondi.com/
Come with no expectations to Pondicherry..i am sure you ll fall in love with her like me..i bet you ll want to visit her again even before you leave :)
Its an offbeat beach inside the fishing colony of Thandavarayan kuppam..the road to the beach is decent. Autos, two wheelers, four wheelers can easily go through the kuppam till the beach. There are few coffee shops there to eat and chill. Its a very scenic place to watch the sunset, watch people surf, take a dip in the ocean, relax and sip a beer :)
The lighthouse beach is another not so popular beach, which is absolutely stunning with the fishing boats going in and out of the bay. Ideal for fishing and riding a bike. Its quite isolated so its better to leave before it gets dark. Pack your own food and drinks if you plan to spend some time there.
One of the most popular beaches in Pondicherry, this beach stretches forever. Its great to take a long walk and find a spot which is not so crowded and relax. If you are lucky to get friendly with any of the fishermen there, they might agree to take you on a boat ride into the sea- which i guarantee would be the awesomesttt experience you could have (you will have to pay them some money ranging from 400 to 700 bucks..its worth every penny you spend, i swear)
Located right next to hotel ajanta in the main promenade, this place has good food and the interiors are tastefully done. Their burgers and cocktails are delicious.
Hidesign cafe is one of the best eat outs in Pondy. This cafe serves the best daiquiris-frozen/ chilled/ salted, and the sides are soo yummy you wouldn't stop with one order. The best part is that the prices are reasonable and the place itself is so cozy, you could spend time reading a book, watching tv or simply reading its unique menu-which is in the form of a newspaper. Dont miss the curried mayonnaise prawns in tomato cups. Its the best.
At the end of mission street, nestled in one cute corner, this pasta bar has got excellent range of pastas and drinks. If you go during the happy hours, anything you pick (from the few of the brands listed) would cost you just 99 bucks..its a good deal for a place like that. Right opposite to that place is a chocolate shop called 'Zuka' which has lot of chocolate options to explore. The chocolate spoon they have for 30 bucks is my favorite and dont fail to ask for their day's special. It would surprise you!
True to its name, this is one paradise. One has to either take the motor or the speed boat to go through the backwaters to reach this beauty. There are small shacks there to chill and thankfully a small canteen, where they sell knick knacks and some beer ( there is just one strong beer there and it might be too strong for a light drinker. So plan to carry your picnic ration if you arent able to stomach strong beer and spicy snacks ) There are few water sports options available there too. The boat services stop at 5.30 PM and the beach closes around 6 PM. So plan your trip for late afternoons or early mornings to avoid the heat and the timing.
It is a basic room with a cozy bed and a clean bathroom. The reason i chose to stay there was the location-it is the third street from the main beach and all the food joints, the ashram, the park and other places are in walking distance. Its located exactly opposite the french institute- alliance francaise. I liked it for the budget and the location ( It was 1500/ day and no breakfast )
