Pondi Diaries !!

Tripoto
25th Apr 2017
Photo of Pondi Diaries !! by Bedi Sisters
Day 1
Photo of Pondi Diaries !! by Bedi Sisters
Photo of Pondi Diaries !! by Bedi Sisters
Photo of Pondi Diaries !! by Bedi Sisters
Photo of Pondi Diaries !! by Bedi Sisters
Photo of Pondi Diaries !! by Bedi Sisters

Pondicherry is hot and humid throughout the year. The best time for visiting the place is from October to March. We planned our trip in March, 2015. We took a cab from Chennai airport to Pondi, it took about 2 and a half hrs and the cost was around 3k.

There are plenty of luxury hotels and home stay options in Pondi. Some of the good hotels would be Windflower, Le Pondy, Promenade, Neemrana, Villa Shanti. Prefer a property near Promenade beach. Aurobindo Ashram properties are also a good option, they are very well kept and economical, there are two at Promenade itself. We stayed at Dumas Guest House at Rue Dumas Street coz of its old world charm. Its an ancestral property managed by Jackie & Bala. The rooms are very spacious, have some lovely old furniture. The owners and the attendant Noel were friendly and helpful. Its located at the best street in the French colony and is at a walking distance from the busy Promenade beach. Promenade seems to be everyone's favorite place for a stroll be it early mornings or evenings.

You would come across a lot of college students in Pondi over the weekends. It would be difficult to just walk in to a property around Promenade and get a room. So, book in advance. Pondi is best explored on foot, you may also rent a bicycle or a scooty.

Some of the places one may visit would be Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville. Please do check on the timings for both the places. If you are planning to go to the Matrimandir at Auroville, please go and take a slot personally the day you reach as there's a waiting of at least 1 day and you are supposed to collect your pass personally, carry an id as well. Or else, its a shaded walk from the Visitors' Centre to the viewing point to the Golden Globe. Free bus service is available for the return journey. P.S. Matrimandir is not a tourist site; its a place for meditation, so, take a call accordingly. We went up to the viewing point. You may do some shopping at Auroville, best buys would be t-shirts, incense holders, incense sticks, oil diffusers from Auroville shop. You may also pick up some terracotta pieces as gifts from Kalki at Auroville. A rick from the city to Auroville Ashram and Auroville beach would cost around Rs. 500, to and fro. You may book a cab as well.

Next would be Auroville beach, though the beach is not clean as it has a fishermen colony, however, a must try would be a meal at Theevu Plage, do try the fish!! We came across a lot of surfers there, and a surfing school as well.

Back in the city, enjoy your breakfast at Café des Arts, its a quaint, cozy place, great to chillax.

You may also try having a meal at Villa Shanti and Le Club. Food is not very expensive at any of these places.

Please do not go to Le Café at Promenade beach, it only has the best location and that is all. We walked out after taking a look inside.

Hidesign is also headquartered at Pondi. And there's a discount store as well of Hidesign, however, we could not find a good buy and ended up having coffee at Hidesign café.

Pondi is a great place to spend a relaxed weekend and soak in the beauty of the quiet streets of the French colony.

Have a great stay at Pondi :)

Photo of Pondicherry, Puducherry, India by Bedi Sisters
Photo of Pondicherry, Puducherry, India by Bedi Sisters
Photo of Pondicherry, Puducherry, India by Bedi Sisters
Photo of Pondicherry, Puducherry, India by Bedi Sisters
Photo of Pondicherry, Puducherry, India by Bedi Sisters