Pondicherry Itinerary for 3 Days – Feeling French

This Pondicherry itinerary for 3 days will guide you to the must-visit places, where to eat, where to stay along with the cost. If you have been planning to visit Pondicherry, here is the suggested Pondicherry itinerary for you! Explore the best of this charming city.   

OVERVIEW 

Pondicherry, officially known as Puducherry, is one of the 8 Union Territories of India. This fascinating small town gives you a close feel of French influence and architecture.  

3 Days is enough to explore this charming City (including Auroville). Our curated Pondicherry Itinerary will let you explore Pondicherry at a normal pace.   

HOW TO REACH 

Arrive at Chennai Airport. Chennai is about 155 km from Pondicherry. Try to reach in the morning (or a previous night) to get the remaining day (or one full day, as the case may be) for sightseeing.

From Chennai, you can take a bus from one of Asia’s largest Bus depot CMBT (Chennai Moffusil Bus Terminus) at a nominal fare. In addition to this, there are private buses as well.

Pro Tip: Do not hesitate to hop on to one of the AC state-run buses. Their buses are in good condition and the journey is smooth. The fare of state-owned buses ranges between INR 200-300. The buses run around every 15-30 minutes and the journey takes about 3-4 hours. 

If you are not on a tight budget, hire a taxi or pick up a self-drive rental car. 

 

DAY-WISE ITINERARY 

DAY 1 

Explore White Town  

Get a glimpse of France in India. Walking around the White Town, you will spot European styles streets, beautiful yellow & white walls, lush green trees, and colourful flowers making it a picturesque view! 

French Memorial 

About 250 meters from Aurbindo ashram is “The French War Memorial”. This memorial in Pondicherry is dedicated in the honor of residents of French India who lost their lives in World War I.

Located in Goubart Avenue, White Town, you will see this memorial at the start of the Promenade. It doesn’t take much time to stroll through this small yet captivating memorial.

The Memorial is open for public everyday between 10 am to 5 pm. Entry is FREE.

The Promenade:

This is absolutely a perfect spot if you love to stroll along the sea. This 1.2km long stretch starts from the French War Memorial. This classic promenade (or rocky beach) is one of the most popular ones in Pondicherry. The best part is that the vehicle entry is banned in the evenings and people can freely spend time and relax here.

Don’t miss a splendid 4-meter high statue of Mahatma Gandhi right in the middle of the promenade.

DAY 2 

EXPLORE AUROVILLE 

Leave early morning for Auroville. Hire a Vespa, which will cost about INR 250-300 per day. Alternatively, there are autos too that are available. The distance to Auroville is about 11kms.

Conceived as “Universal Town”, Auroville is India’s first experimental township. Auroville belongs to nobody in particular, instead, it belong to humanity as a whole. The idea is to create a township where people from all over the world, with vast diversity and culture, come and live together peacefully.  

The highlight of Auroville is “Matrimandir”, the most important edifice of the Auroville township. The massive golden dome, the architecture and the massive garden are worth visiting. The silence and peace you witness at this place are incomparable. You can check more details of Matrimandir here.   

If you reach early, or you wish to grab a bite, visit “Café De Flore”. This is located inside Auroville and you will see for yourself how this rustic forest café soothes your soul! Try their speciality, which is Salads, Hummus falafels and burgers. 

On the way back (or on your way to Auroville), visit Auroville Beach. It’s known for its bluewater, sunrises and sunsets!

Aurbindo Ashram 

After your lunch or early evening, visit Aurbindo Ashram.

One of the famous attractions in Pondicherry, it is a spiritual community located in White Town. If you wish to experience holistic and divine vibes, this is the place.

It is open to the public every day between 8 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm. Entry is FREE. Children below 3 years of age are not allowed into the Ashram. Photography is allowed only with the permission of the authorities. Please respect the rules.  

Shri Manakula Vinayagar Temple 

This ancient grand and magnificent Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha.

Built before the 15th century, the architecture and décor is worth visiting for.

This temple is located about 400 meters from White Town and 130 meters from Aurbindo Asharam

The temple is open to the public from 5:45 am to 12:30 pm and 4 pm to 9:30 pm. Entry is FREE.            

DAY 3 

Our Lady of Angles (Or Eglise De Notre Dame Des Anges)

This French church is located in White Town. It is the fourth oldest church in Pondicherry. The original structure was built in Greco Roman Architecture and it is believed to be based on Notre-Dame Paris and Basilica at Lourdes.

The church is open to the public between 9 am to 7 pm from Monday to Saturday, and on Sundays between 9 am to 12 pm. Entry is FREE.

Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus 

Located on the south boulevard of Pondicherry, Basilica of Sacred Heart of Jesus is a perfect specimen of Gothic-styled architecture.

It is popular for its rare stained glass panels depicting events from Christ’s life. It also houses 28 pictures of saints who were related to the church. With its stunning chandeliers and floodlights, it is a beautiful sight to hold. A must visit if you are in Pondicherry!   

Street Shopping 

If you love street shopping, Pondicherry won’t disappoint you. Shop without burning a hole in your pocket. Again, there are lot many options but a popular line of shops right outside Manakula Vinayagar Temple is worth a lot more.

Make sure your bargaining skills are up to the mark, as it is needed for the street shopping in Pondicherry.  

Paradise Beach (For the Sunset)

Paradise beach is by far, one of the gorgeous and serene beaches in Pondicherry. The beach is around 12 km from Pondicherry town and you can either hire a motorbike or take an auto. Taking a stroll on this serene beach and enjoying the soothing sea breeze is the best thing to do!  

In addition to above, check these top beaches in Pondicherry and visit atleast one of them as per your time availability! 🙂 

Café Hopping 

If you are not in the mood to travel to the beach, then do some café hopping instead! Café Des Art, Artika Café Gallery, Le café, Bakers Street are the most popular ones.  

If time permits and if it interests you, visit Pondicherry Museum and Botanical Garden. The Museum has many sculptures, and archeological findings from the Roman settlement. The Botanical garden houses some of the rare species of flora and striking 1500 exotic varieties of plants.

WHERE TO STAY 

I strongly recommend unwinding French colonial splendour and staying in White Town. Most importantly, most of these sights are a walking distance from White Town. These are some of the best options for a price ranging between INR 2500-6000 per night. It may cost you higher during the peak season.

Villa Krish 

This boutique property is located in the centre of White Town. It comprises about 10 decorated spacious rooms. The property offers easy access to most of must-see places and cafes in Pondicherry.

Villa Du Ocean 

This is relatively a new property, few steps away from Villa Krish. Close to the centre, it is close to most of the popular sights.  

Gratitude Heritage 

A heritage home situated in White Town, this classic French-cum-Tamil style homestay will win your heart. Lovely yellow painted walls, high columns and pretty inner courtyard make this property an amazing getaway.

Dumas Guest House 

This 17th-century colonial heritage guesthouse is located in a quiet neighbourhood of the French quarter. It is located about 20 meters away from the beach. The property has its own distinctive style. The guesthouse has comfortable teakwood furnished rooms with a private garden or terrace to relax.

The Richmond 

This 3-star hotel is located in White Town, next to Artika Café Gallery. The hotel is just 500 meters away from the Promenade. Richmond has 14 well-appointed rooms with in-room facilities. Pondicherry is easily accessible from this location.

Le Dupliex  

I am adding this one for my luxury lovers. The hotel offers a fusion of rich colonial and contemporary flavour. It is located near the beach. It is a 14-room luxury heritage hotel, now modernized, and is an architectural masterpiece. All 14 suites are distinct in style and furnishing. The price of this property will be from INR 9000 per night onwards. 

WHERE TO EAT 

Pondicherry is a foodie’s delight. It offers a wide range of cuisines and will not dishearten you. Apart from being a tourist spot, Pondicherry houses some of the best cafes and restaurants and offers cheap alcohol! 

To start with, one of the most popular restaurants – Villa Shanti tops the list. This modern-style chic restaurant, located in White Town, is known for its aesthetic appeal and variety of food that it offers. From continental to Indian Street Food, it has a wide menu. The restaurant is housed in a 19th-century colonial building.  

Pondicherry has a great café culture and you can’t miss the cafes when in Pondy! Some of the popular cafes are:

Café Des Art: The Bohemian charm ambience offers a vintage setting and would mesmerize you with its French décor. The must-try food items are Masala chai, Waffles, Banana Nutella Crepe.  

Artika Café Gallery: This beautiful low-key courtyard café and art gallery is a local favourite for coffee and croissants. It doesn’t have an exhaustive menu, but if you are looking for value for money, this café fits the bill.  

Coromandel Café: This upscale café boasts itself of some great décor and ambience. They use Pondicherry’s local fresh ingredients and serve food in a charming space with a garden patio. They offer Continental, Italian and some freshly baked desserts. 

Baker Street: About 10-15 minutes walk from White Town, this is the most popular eating joint for breakfast. They have everything from burgers to flute bread to hot dogs to croissant. To satisfy your sweet tooth, you can choose from a variety of chocolates, tarts, pastries and cookies.

Crepe In Touch: Your trip to Pondicherry is incomplete without having been to this place! This French-cuisine eatery serves a variety of crepes and desserts. A must-visit breakfast café/restaurant in Pondicherry.

Le Café: This is located right on the beach road and is the only seafront café in Pondicherry. I wouldn’t say the food is great, however, if you wish to sip a coffee or grab a bite at a quiet place by the sea, then this is a great spot.

GMT Ice Cream: No matter what, don’t miss out GMT for some best organic ice creams. GMT is located at Gubert Avenue, Beach Road, White Town.

BEST TIME TO VISIT 

The best months to visit Pondicherry are from October to March. During these months the temperature ranges between 15-30 degree Celsius.

Did I convince you to plan a trip to Pondicherry? Please drop a comment or email me if you have any questions and I will be happy to answer them. If you like this Pondicherry itinerary, please feel to share it.

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