My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry

Tripoto
18th Jun 2016
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 1/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
The Bussy Street
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 2/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
The elegant houses
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 3/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Rock Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 4/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Quiet seaside, Rock Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 5/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
The lanes
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 6/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Cycle Rickshaws
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 7/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Rock Beach in evening
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 8/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Beach side Cafes
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 9/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Arulmigu Manakula Vinaygar Temple of Lord Ganesh
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 10/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Lord Ganesha Temple
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 11/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
One of the 16 forms of Ganapati
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 12/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Gajanan himself blessing us
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 13/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 14/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
The elegant avenues
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 15/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 16/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 17/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 18/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Rock beach-evening stroll
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 19/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 20/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Rock Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 21/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Shopping
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Ashram area
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 23/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Our Lady of Angels Church
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 24/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
French War Memorial
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 25/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
French War Memorial
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 26/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Fishermen
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 27/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Rock Beach, evening walk
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 28/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
The Bay of Bengal
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 29/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Gourbert avenue on Rock Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 30/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Chunambar Backwaters
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 31/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Chunambar Backwaters
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Statue of Dupleix - Rock Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 33/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Government Park
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Paradise Beach
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Museum
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Rock Beach road
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Goubert Avenue,Rock Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 38/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Goubert Avenue, Rock Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 39/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
White Town
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Goubert Avenue, Rock Beach
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Goubert Avenue, Rock beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 42/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Goubert Avenue, Rock beach
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Rock Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 44/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Old Light House, Rock Beach
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Gandhi Statue, Rock Beach
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Tourist information Center, Rock Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 47/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Tourist information center, Rock Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 48/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
French area, white Town
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 49/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Statue of Joan of Arc
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 50/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Gandhi Statue
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 51/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Watch Tower, Bussy Street
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Pubs of Pondicherry, Bussy Street
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 53/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Hotels, Bussy Street
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Serenity Village
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Serenity Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 56/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Serenity Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 57/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Serenity Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 58/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Serenity Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 59/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Serenity Beach
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Serenity Beach
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Kottakuppam Village
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Serenity Beach
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Kottakupam Village
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 64/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Kottakuppam Village
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 65/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Kottakuppam Village
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 66/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Kottakuppam Village
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 67/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Gandhi Statue, Rock Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 68/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Rock Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 69/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Chunnambar Backwaters
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 70/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Chunnambar Backwaters
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 71/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Paradise Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 72/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Chunnambar Backwaters
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 73/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Le Cafe, Rock Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 74/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Chunnambar Backwaters
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 75/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Paradise Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 76/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Paradise Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 77/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Serenity Beach
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 78/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Chunnambar Backwaters
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 79/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Boating at Chunnambar Backwaterse
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 80/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta
Chunnambar Backwaters
Photo of My first solo to the little French village, Pondicherry 81/81 by Shoumava A Sengupta

What could have been better for a relaxed weekend than the Indian union territory of Pudducherry, earlier known as Pondicherry, the little France of India. Separated from the hustle and bustle of boom town India, Pondicherry is an idyllic and picturesque location for every traveler, well depicted in the beginning of the movie 'Life of Pi' where the young Pi grows up.

It has been a home to the famous freedom fighter, Hindu social reformist and Yogi Shri Aurobindo Ghosh and a brilliant collective of beautiful beaches, backwater, churches, temples and the French settlement.

If you are a solo traveler, you can always grab a bike or cycle on rent or can walk around the town and explore the beautiful avenues of the French quarters and rest of Pondicherry. If you are travelling with family or friends it's better to hire a car from a service provider like zoom or you can book an Ola sedan/micro ( the only options available in scarcity) or can even take a local auto to go around. Pondicherry is hot & humid during the summer and may be a bit better during the monsoons or winter. Travel from Chennai or Bangalore does not cost much, you can always book a nice bus on the red bus/MMT apps and get discounts ( I booked AC sleeper for 600 bucks each way from Bangalore - 1200 bucks for journey), train from Bangalore costs approx same in AC 3 tier. Hotels, inns and resorts are in plenty, try to book something near the Rock Beach or on the Bussy street so that you have accessibility to the beach, the nearby places, market and hospitals in case of emergency and also the bus stop which is at walking distance. I got an excellent deal on Red bus hotel app with 65% off and booked an average non AC room for 1200 bucks for 3 nights. There are plenty of restaurants around, especially on Bussy street serving a variety of cuisines and French food, but remember to have you dinner before 10 as most of the restaurants shut down early. 

What did I miss? Yes I missed the Auroville experimental township & beach situated around 14 kms from the Pondicherry bus station. Best place to stay is near the rock beach on Bussy street which is the most happening part of Pondicherry with the Aurobindo Ashram, Rock Beach, French Quarters, shopping markets,the major churches & temples, pubs & restaurants and the Pondicherry bus stop just walking distance.

Important places to visit are Rock Beach ( Pondicherry/Pomenade beach), French quarters, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Bascilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Botanical Gardens, Serenity Beach, Paradise Beach, Chunnambar backwaters, various water sports activities at the beaches. 2-3 days trip would be enough to see entire Pondicherry. Do not miss the Rock Beach, Paradise Beach & boating on the Chunnambar Backwaters.If you want to enjoy beach life and water sports you can stay back for few more days. Booze is tax free and cheap for all party goers ;).

Don't forget to carry a pack of sunscreen as the sun is going to tan you up badly. So get your back packs ready, get your phone GPS & maps in order and take the next flight, car, train or bus to the lovely city with a great scenic landscape and friendly people, Pudducherry, you won't regret. Bon Voyage Amigos!