The Top Things To Do And See In Pondicherry

Pondicherry or, as it is sometimes knows, Puducherry, is not all about butterscotch-coloured walls and fusion cuisines born from an amalgamation of French and South Indian flavours. From surfing and scuba diving to spiritual temples and elephant adventures, we explore everything this varied and exciting town has to offer.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple

This 500 year old temple is an extraordinary piece of architecture, featuring a rare statue of Ganesh with three legs atop a tower made entirely of gold. With frequent festivals taking place, Sri Manakula Vinayanagar Temple is a must-visit to experience the true dynamism of Hinduism. Visitors to the temples also have the opportunity to be blessed by an elephant that joyfully touches its trunk on the head of every visitor that comes to greet it.

Opening hours: 5:45 am – 12:30 pm, 4:00 – 9:30 pm

Watch out for: The blessing elephant

The Grand Bazaar

Sometimes, Pondicherry can become a little too elegant and quiet; when that happens, the Grand Bazaar comes to the rescue. The Grand Bazaar is a spectrum of color, sounds and scents, offering such varied items as flashy clothes, idols, vegetables, flower garlands and an energetic fish market. With so much ongoing activity in this busy market, it is a treat for the senses to absorb the haggling of the vendors and attractive piles of produce to draw in their visitors.

Opening hours: Always open

Watch out for: The Fish Market

Sacred Heart Basilica

It is hard to miss out the chocolate-coloured grandeur of the Sacred Heart Basilica, that is gracefully seated in the South Boulevard of Pondicherry. The Gothic architectural design of the church is a marvel to look at; unlike the broody aesthetic of typical Gothic architecture, the Sacred Heart Basilica is all but covered with warm browns and and whites elegantly placed side by side. It is one of the top pilgrimage spot for Christians in India, and is built in a cross shape.

Opening hours: 8am – 5pm

Watch out for: The impressive Gothic architecture

Kallialay Surf School

The Kallialay Surf School was born out of a passion for surfing by two brothers who moved to Auroville near Pondicherry at the ages of nine and ten. Apart from boating, the Pondicherry beaches are a superb place to surf, and for visitors who want a great learning experience on the waves, there is none better than the Kallialay Surf School. As well as simple beginners courses, the school also offers weekend packages and surf board rentals for the more experiences.

Opening hours: Always open

Watch out for: Nominal fees rate

Boutique D’Auroville

The Boutique d’Auroville at the Auroville Visitors Centre is a treasure house of everything which Auroville has to offer, ranging from traditionally made Auroville handicrafts, clothing, tableware, jewellery, furnishings, aromatherapy to a variety of organic herbal syrups and dried fruits that are custom made in Auroville and emblematic of the area’s culinary culture.

Opening hours: 9.30am – 11pm

Watch out for: The Guest House – perfect for overnight travellers

Mangrove Forest

Pondicherry features the second largest mangrove forest in the world. Located in Pichavaram at Chidambaram, the mangrove forests are must-visit to marvel at the intricate shapes and pathways created by the plants and their roots. With the high content of salt and low oxygen levels in the water, the Pichavaram mangrove forest has a perfect environment to grow and thrive. The most remarkable aspect of visiting the Pichavaram mangrove forest is the charming boat ride that takes a tour around the forest, allowing visitors to get rare, up close glimpses of the trees.

Opening hours: Check with organisation

Watch out for: The boat ride

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a small, spiritual community named for and set up by Sri Aurobindo, the revolutionist who left politics and turned into a spiritual leader after a moment of Enlightenment. The Ashram aims to help people see within themselves and surrender themselves to a higher spiritual power, offering yoga and meditation practices, as well as a number of publications.

Opening hours: 8am-12pm, 2pm-6pm

Watch out for: The courses provided in the Ashram

Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple

This Hindu temple is both a popular tourist and pilgrimage site. It is dedicated to the god Ganesa and was built before Puducherry came under French occupation. On the southern side wall, the temple holds three rows of god sculptures and stone engravings. On feast days, devotees pull a golden chariot, the building of which was funded purely by donations. The chariot required 7.5kg of gold to be built.

Puducherry Museum

There is nothing quite like visiting a pocket-friendly museum established right beside a beach. The Puducherry Museum takes visitors on a historical and geographical ride around Pondicherry and its cultural heritage. The main attraction of the Puducherry Museum is the grand map they have that depicts the evolution of world cultures, as well as numerous staues, arikanmedu artefacts and furniture from the city’s French era.

Opening hours: 9am-6pm.

Watch out for: Arikanmedu artefacts

Temple Advetures

Temple Adventures in South India’s only PADI certified diving centre. There is a group of skilled trainers who organise deep sea diving, surfing and snorkelling sessions in Pondicherry, very popular activities among tourists. Temple Adventures is a must-visit for travellers who are looking for a more adventurous and nature-focused experience of India.

Opening hours: 6:30am-7:30pm

Watch out for: Scuba diving, a popular sport

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.