Things To Do In Pondicherry In 2020: Must Do Activities

Pondicherry is an excellent metropolis situated on the south-eastern coast of India that often known as the ‘French Capital of India’. It flows with heritage architectures, quarters of French and Tamil, unspoiled beaches, church buildings, and a colonial ambiance and historic temples. This French Colony has a lot of activities to do and enjoy. You can get some idea by checking out some of the fun activities that you can do in Pondicherry.

The Top 10 Things To Do In Pondicherry:

Salt at the beach and soak up the solar

Pondicherry has serene, unblemished beaches, where the fanatics of the beach can relax and soak up the sun and sand and watch the entire world side by side. Promenade Beach is one of the longest beaches in Pondicherry where you can take a long walk and fulfill your actual dream. Moreover, enjoying the sunset at this seaside is quite wonderful when amazing orange and red shades reflect the turquoise waters. Karaikal Beach and Paradise Beach are perfect for those who are searching for water sports. If you want to surf, then Serenity Beach is the right spot. And, if you are searching for a calm stretch of sand, Mahe Beach is perfect for you.

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Go scuba diving

Pondicherry has a huge range of marine life and marvelous water clarity. These qualities of this place make it one of the great destinations in the nation for scuba diving. The diving sites in the city are best for both pros and novices that plunges to depths of 5 to 40 meters. Divers can encounter some of the best sea creatures including corals, sea snakes, triggerfish, moray eels, manta rays, angelfish, lionfish, parrotfish, kingfish, and other aquatic creatures. The excellent diving places in Pondicherry comprise 4 Corners, Aravind’s Wall, The Hole, Temple Reef, and Coral Shark Reef, and five-star rated PADI Center.

Boating at Chunnambar Backwater

You can hit the backwaters of the Chunnambar River if water sports activities are not enough at the beach. The Chunnambar Boat House is located alongside the Cuddalore Main Road. It provides boat riding facilities alongside its namesake river. You can have an ethereal experience while boating through the serene backwaters. It is full of wonderful views of the exotic bird and verdant beauty in the area. Both motor and pedal boats are accessible here.

Enjoy the sunset at Ousteri Lake

Ousteri Lake is one of the great tourist spots in Pondicherry to relish the soothing sunset. It is a man-made lake marked by marshy lands and mudflats. Furthermore, the lake is filled with a vast range of migratory and residential birds which becomes a paradise for bird lovers. Get ready to keep your eyes pared for egrets, golden orioles, openbill storks, white ibises, white-breasted water hens, and greater flamingos.

Explore the French Colony on two wheels

One of the great ways to traverse Pondicherry is to get on two wheels. This trip exhibits its rich cultural heritage and diversity and cycles through the Tamil quarters. The Green quarters (also referred to as Muslim quarters) and the French colonies are accompanied by different cultural and historic places. In Pondicherry, the best-guided bicycle excursions consist of the Sita Cultural Center and Pondy Cycle Tour. If you choose to take walks tours, look for Heritage Walking Tour that is offered by English and French-speaking guides.

Visit too many temples and churches

Pondicherry also houses several temples and churches. Among them, few are filled with simplicity and serenity, while others are architecturally brilliant. There are some must-visit places that involve the Sri Gokilambal Thirukameswar Temple. It has a vibrant exterior and ornate sculptures. And the next one is Manakula Vinayagar Temple. The second temple is known for its large golden chariot, elephant blessings, and beautifully carved stone walls. Next is a 300-year old church namely Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which possesses the Immaculate Conception Cathedral and Gothic architecture.

Visit the Pondicherry Botanical Garden

The people who love horticulture and architecture must surely visit the Botanical Garden that is constructed in an ornate French style. It houses beautiful flower beds, fountains, pruned trees, an aquarium, toy train rides, and a Japanese rock structure. It covers some 22 acres and the garden has 1,500 plant species from all over the world. The musical fountain show that held every weekend is another highlight of Pondicherry.

Get religious at Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Sri Aurobindo Ashram is established in 1926 by a French woman called ‘the Mother’ and Sri Aurobindo itself. Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a must-see place for the people who look for a spiritual retreat. Here, retreats include distinct yoga practices and meditation sessions that will surpass you into a state of peace.

Savor the local cuisine

Food lovers can find Pondicherry as one of the best destinations. The scene of its food is different along with impacts from South Indian, European, French, and many other Western cuisines. In addition, a day tour to Pondicherry is not complete without giving a try to its French cuisine and traditional South Indian fare. A few of the great spots to have a dinner include Le Club, Le Cafe, and Mango Hill for French fare; La Pasta for Italian and Carte Blanchef for Creole cuisine; Surguru for traditional South Indian cuisine.

Explore Auroville

Auroville lies in the ‘City of Dawn’ that is situated about 9 miles from Pondicherry. It is an all-embracing city where folks from all around the world work and stay together in peace and harmony. They do not even think about creed, caste, country, or culture. This township is the ideal instance of the phrase ‘unity in diversity’. The city is further divided into various zones. The most important ones consist of the International Zone, the Peace Zone, and the Residential Zone. The Residential Zone is where you can live with the Aurovillians. The attraction of the Peace Zone is the Matrimandir, where spiritual people meditate. The International Zone consists of community halls where a number of events are conducted on a regular basis. Just pass your day right here and soak up the nearby atmosphere! Definitely, you have a lot of fun doing these activities in Pondicherry.