Five things to do when in Pondicherry

Away from the hustle and bustle of big cities, Pondicherry(renamed as Puducherry) is a quiet little French town on the southern coast of India. It is a destination that offers serenity and sanctity and has a distinct spiritual vibration. Pondi is known for its  French monuments, colonial heritage buildings, beautiful churches, the spiritual sceneries, tree lined large boulevards, brightly painted houses, blossoming bougainvilleas, pristine beaches, serene backwaters, expansive gardens and delicious authentic French cuisine. Here at ShoutLo, we bring you five things you must do when in Pondicherry.

Enjoy a glorious Sunrise on East Coast

With the glorious crimson sun and the backdrop of an Ocean, one gets an amazing view of sunrise at the Cuddalore road stretch. Make sure you wake up early morning and witness the gorgeous sun rising from the vast expanse of the Bay of Bengal. And not to dismiss the sunset here; a pink-skyed disappearing act over the beach is something to behold. 

Walk along the Promenade

The tiny coastal city boasts of some beautiful beaches and beachside promenade. You can take a heritage walk on the main historical promenade which is a popular 1.2 kilometer long stretch of beachfront along the Bay of Bengal, lined by charming colonial French buildings and monuments. Sit by the beach or stroll past the Mahatma Gandhi statue followed by a sea facing restaurant, the statue of Marquis Dupleix, French War Memorial and a 19th-century Old Lighthouse on the Goubert Avenue and bask in the glory of French Era. 

Experience the Chunnambar backwaters

Chunnambar backwater is said to be a tropical heaven. It boasts of tranquil, lush green plantations, a beautiful backwater in the backdrop and pristine sandy expanse of beach. It is situated 8 kilometers from Pondicherry, along with the Cuddalore Main Road. The beach at Chunnambar also known as 'Paradise Beach' is located near the mouth of the backwater and the boat ferries you to a picturesque beach with the river on one side and the sea on another. It's an ideal place for sun bathing, enjoying magnificent sunset view and beach sports. The sand is pristine and the water is clean. You can also go for downstream sailing to the sands and set up your tents at Chunnambar. The sand is pristine and the water is clean. 

Spend a day at the beach

If you are the sun and sand lover and looking for some laid-back leisure, head to any of the four popular beaches around Pondicherry: the Rock beach, Paradise beach, Serenity beach and Auroville beach. The rock beach is overcrowded and is not a sunbathers special – it consists of a pile of rocks on the sea front so you can either sit by the beach or take long strolls. Whereas Serenity Beach and Paradise beach are less crowded, serene and offer pristine shoreline, golden sparkling sand, splashing glittering waves, palm plantations and some cozy beach shacks. The coast of Auroville is lined with soft, golden and black volcanic sand, on the shores of a roaring sea and trust me there's nothing more soothing than the silence that lies in the roaring waves.

Try some local delicacies

Pondicherry has a lot of French Cafe's and bakeries and offers a whole mosaic of culinary integration for food lovers. Savor the local delicacies intermingled with French flavors, in the superb hybrid varieties of spicy steak seasoned with black pepper, delicious cheese baguettes and toasties, beef steak with french fries, savory crepes served with chutney, quiches, freshly baked breads, crisp salads, yummy pastas, fusion food like chips with chutney, European thali, mouth-watering pancakes, Bouillabaisse fish stew. And to curb your sweet tooth cravings, dig right into chocolate mousse, eclairs, French pastries, fruit tarts, chilled peach and litchi stew and more.

If you want to take the pace of life down a few notches, Pondicherry is the perfect holiday destination.