As a corporate professional, long weekends hold great significance and if you are a traveller, you know you have hit a jackpot. This fine day I was designated the task to short list a place to travel to by my sister, which is easy to reach to, has great stay and food options, is a bit chill and less commercialised, has great weather and is pocket friendly as well. With this in mind, I started scouting for cities in India which could make a great escapade during the Independence Day long weekend.
The task might have been effort and time consuming, but this is where my travel aficionado planning comes into picture: while travelling and creating content around it, I always have a handy list of places shortlisted for my next escapade and this time, Puducherry was a quick find and considering the weather there in August, and the checklist my sister gave, we locked the destination almost without a debate.
Known for its rich and unique cultural heritage, the Union Territory is a unique blend of Indian and French Cultures and is blessed with scenic beaches. The UT is known for its tranquil and serene ambiance, making it a popular destination for those seeking relaxation, meditation, and spiritual exploration. Over the years, the food scene has drastically evolved and the place is now home to both traditional and modern cafes.
We spent 4 days and 3 nights in Puducherry and this is all you need to know to plan your next trip to this beautiful, serene place in India:
How to Travel to Puducherry?
You can reach Puducherry by road, rail or flight. Since we were travelling from Chandigarh, there were no direct flights to the UT. Hence, we took a direct 3 hour flight from Chandigarh to Chennai first, and then took a cab from the airport, which took us additional 2 hours to reach our hotel. You can skip the cab and also take local buses from Chennai to Puducherry.
Where to Stay?
With my experience, staying in or around the White Town area is a great option to make the most of your time in the UT, considering the area’s close proximity to a lot of cafes and beaches and even shopping vendors. Day one, we chose to stay at Ginger Hotel, which I would rate an average 3 on 5, while on Day two and three, we spent a little extra and stayed at De Fleur Hotel and Hotel Ibis respectively. All of these accommodations, were situated very close to a lot of tourist places and you could cover most of these by either foot or hire a taxi or auto.
How to Commute Locally?
Travel in and around Puducherry is possible either by foot, local autos, taxis (both local and Ola works). If you know driving, you can even hire scooters or cars for longer distances.
Where to Eat?
We tried a mix of fancy cafes and authentic, local stalls for our meals and I would advise you to do the same, to feel the essence of both Indian and French culture. Eating out in Puducherry, was not a very expensive affair in my opinion and a lot of the cafe food was also very reasonably priced.
Here is a list of my top recommendations and the respective eateries:
Cafe Des Arts : Berry Crepe’s, Organic Green Teas and Affogato
Saravana Bhavan: Traditional South Indian Thali Lunch
Le Pondicherry: Cappuccino and Croissant
Surguru Restaurant: Ghee Podi Roast Dosa
Local Vendors for Coconut Water and Filter Coffee
The Chez Artizan: Handmade Pastas and Vegan Ramen
Le Cafe: Filter Coffee, Traditional Butter Jam Toast, Veg Cutlets and Organic Teas
Pasta Bar Venetto: Handmade Pastas, Pizzas and Cocktails
Sicily’s : Pasta, Pizza and Garlic Bread
The Smoothie Bar: Fresh Juices and Smoothies
Which Places to Visit?
Promenade Beach
MG Road (for shopping and eating)
Sunset or Sunrise Boating across Mangrove Forests
Flower Market (during morning)
Rock Beach
Puducherry Museum
Paradise Beach
Serenity Beach
French Colony (for photography across multiple-coloured walls)
Auroville
Sacred Heart Basilica
Romain Rolland Library
Any Hidden Gem?
Something we accidentally discovered on our stay was this activity center called ‘Sita Cultural Center’, which conduct a lot of local classes on cooking, music etc. A must try activity is their morning or evening cycling tours. Costing around Rs. 1500 per person, they take you around for a 1.5 hour trip along with a group of 8-10 people, and you get to discover the UT in much more detail.
What is the Average Budget for the Trip?
Depending on your budget, you can find hotels and hostels in the UT costing anywhere between 1500 per night to anywhere around 20K for luxury resorts. An average meal can cost anywhere between Rs. 50 for a South Indian thali to Rs 300 for a cafe meal. Renting a scooter for a day can cost you around Rs. 400 (excluding the petrol cost).
Any Other Tips for Travellers?
Carry loose cash since not all local vendors accept online payments. Carry flip flops for your stay at the beach. Short list the cafes you want to visit since there are a tad bit too many in Puducherry and you might get overwhelmed. Shop from local vendors, you can get very good deals for authentic stuff.
In case of any questions, or to catch some vlogs from Puducherry, visit my Instagram Page @thecurry_affair :) Hope you have a great time on your next trip to the French Colony of India, I know I did :P
Comments
Post a Comment