White Town
The French Quarter on foot
Wander straight, quiet streets of mustard-yellow villas, blue shutters and bougainvillea, where the street signs still read 'Rue'.
Explore White Town- Best
- Early morning
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours
Bienvenue à Pondichéry
French Streets, Soul & Sea in Pondicherry
Flights, heritage stays and handpicked experiences for your Pondicherry escape, from the French Quarter to Auroville.
- Best time: Oct to Mar
- Fly into Chennai (MAA)
- French Quarter & Auroville
Things to do
Things to do in Pondicherry
Follow our trail from the French Quarter's streets and seafront to the backwaters, the surf and the calm of Auroville.
Promenade Beach
Sunrise on the Promenade
Walk the rocky seafront at dawn, past the old lighthouse and the Gandhi statue, as the sun comes up over the Bay of Bengal.
Read the Pondicherry guide- Best
- Sunrise
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 hours
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Quiet at the Ashram
Sit in silence by the flower-covered samadhi of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, in the heart of town.
- Best
- Morning
- Time needed
- About 1 hour
Chunnambar
Paradise Beach by boat
Kayak the calm Chunnambar backwaters, or take the boat across to the sandbar of Paradise Beach.
See backwater kayaking- Best
- Morning
- Time needed
- Half day
Serenity Beach
Learn to surf
Catch your first waves with a beginner lesson at Serenity Beach, then linger at the cafés along the shore.
See surfing at Serenity Beach- Best
- Early morning
- Time needed
- About 2 hours
Auroville
The golden Matrimandir
Head just north of town to Auroville and its golden Matrimandir. Visit the viewing point, and book ahead for the inner chamber.
See the Matrimandir- Best
- Morning
- Time needed
- Half day
Why go
What makes Pondicherry special
French heritage, a spiritual heart and an easy life by the sea, all in one small town.
A slice of France
Pondicherry was the capital of French India until 1954, and White Town's street signs still read 'Rue'.
A spiritual heart
The Sri Aurobindo Ashram in town and Auroville just to the north draw seekers from around the world.
Sunrise over the sea
The coast faces east, so mornings on the Promenade begin with the sun rising out of the Bay of Bengal.
French bakes, Tamil spice
Croissants and crêpes in White Town, Franco-Tamil Creole curries, and filter coffee on every corner.
Best by bicycle
White Town's quiet, tree-lined grid is easy to explore on a rented bicycle or scooter.
Packages
Pondicherry holiday packages
French Quarter stays, beaches and Auroville bundled together, with prices shown up front.
Pondicherry packages are being handpicked
Tell us your dates and budget, and our travel experts will put together a Pondicherry package with stays, transfers and an Auroville visit.
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Get there, then slow down
Search flights into Chennai and stays from the French Quarter to the beaches.
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