Pondicherry.

Discover the natural beauty of the mangroves in Pondicherry, a unique and serene environment that offers a peaceful escape.

Serenity Beach is a tranquil spot in Pondicherry, offering a peaceful atmosphere and beautiful views that make it perfect for relaxation and leisurely walks.

Eden Beach is a picturesque beach in Pondicherry, known for its serene ambiance and beautiful views, making it an ideal spot for relaxation.

A 1.2-kilometre-long stretch in Pondicherry, which starts from War Memorial and ends at Dupleix Park on Goubert Avenue.

Scuba diving club. There is a great range of corals, lion fish, grouper, kingfish, moray eels, eagle and manta rays, parrot fish, sea snakes, triggerfish, butterflies, angels, bannerfish, crustaceans, and if you're lucky, even sharks, whale sharks, turtles and dolphins.

You need to hire a motorboat for pick up and drop to the beach from Chunnambar Boat house which will cost you around ₹200.

The latter is a factory outlet of the former.

Explore the French Colony in Pondicherry to experience the vibrant cafes and aesthetic streets that offer a taste of Europe.

Water-front cafe. Excellent coffee. Desserts. Meals

Wonderful garden restaurant with a high class bar and chill out atmosphere, but slightly overrated and quite expensive.

A colonial era style cafe. Excellent coffee. Indian and continental cuisine

Nice bar that organizes musical concerts occasionally. They sell imported beer.

Open since 1972. Excellent South Indian coffee. Mostly take away. Small sitting area. Simple veggie meals

Small, cosy, clean chocolate shop on Mission St. Also features chocolate cakes, coffees, etc. A bit on the expensive side.

A nice park, though a little in disarray. An aquarium, maintained by the Directorate of Fisheries, is also a must-see while in the garden.

The largest lake of Pondicherry and home to around 200 species of birds. About 40 species of migratory birds visit the sanctuary after November annually, including golden oriole, open-bill stork, tailor bird, painted stork, white ibis, white-breasted water-hen and spotted owlets. The lake also has boats run by PTDC.

A war memorial dedicated to the French Indians who died for the country during the First World War. A bronze plaque lists the names of soldiers who died during the First World War. Further plaques were added, listing the names of soldiers who died during World War II, the French War in Indochina and the Algerian War. The monument remains the property of France.

A lighthouse was constructed in Pondicherry in the nineteenth century by the French rulers. A new lighthouse was constructed in the 20th century by the Government of India.

The Science Demonstration Corner conducts live demonstrations and experiments to groups of visitors and students. The Children's Corner offers simple experiments for children. A workshop equipped with tools and tackles is provided for maintenance of the exhibits and development of new ones.

A Catholic Marian shrine and a parish church.

Another popular Roman Catholic church in the city. The original structure was built in Gothic architecture in 1745 by Kanakaraya Mudali, the longest serving dubash of the French East India Company. During the opening of the church, Mudali hosted a feast that included all castes and religions, the first of its kind that is recorded in the history of South India. It is believed that the church was destroyed by the British in 1761 and was later rebuilt in 1830. It has hourly prayers and daily services.

A Shiva temple where Shiva is worshiped as Kameeswarar and his consort Parvati is depicted as Kokilamba Amman. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Kameeswarar, his consort KokilambaAmman and Ranganathar being the most prominent. The original complex is believed to have been built by Cholas, with later additions from different ruling dynasties.

Dedicated to Lord Ganesha, it is a popular pilgrimage site and tourist destination in Pondicherry due to its proximity to Promenade Beach.

You can take a motorboat to Paradise Beach from here. It is crowded on holidays and weekends.

There's a white monument at the centre of the park called Aayi Mandapam. It was built during the time of Napoleon III. The monument commemorates the provision of water to the French city during his reign. It was named after a lady courtesan named Āyi. She destroyed her own house to erect a water reservoir to supply water to the city.

Locally known as "Dumas Church", the Roman Catholic church was built in 1855 with a Greco-Roman architectural style. Its masses are conducted in French, English and Tamil. Other than pilgrimage, the church area provides stunning sea views.

An art and history museum with its collection of fine lost wax bronzes from the Chola period.

One of the most common reason to visit Pondicherry is to visit this ashram of the spiritual leader Sri Aurobindo. It grew out of a small community of disciples who had gathered around Sri Aurobindo after he settled in Pondicherry in 1910. On 24 November 1926, after a major spiritual realisation, Sri Aurobindo withdrew from public view in order to continue his spiritual work. At this time he handed over the full responsibility for the inner and outer lives of the sadhaks (spiritual aspirants) and the ashram to his spiritual collaborator, Mirra Alfassa, better known as "The Mother".

The mother church for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. Established in 1791, the church has been demolished and rebuilt multiple times. The mass is conducted in Tamil and English.

An oriental specimen of Gothic Revival architecture. It contains rare stained glass panels depicting events from the life of Christ and saints of the Catholic Church. It is also one of the most famous pilgrimage spots for Christians.

A Shiva temple, which was once destroyed be French invaders in 1748 and was later reconstructed by Dewan Kandappa Mudaliar with public contributions.

Cleanliness and service up to nice USA/European hotel standards. Not in the centre/touristy area of Pondicherry. You must arrange an auto-rickshaw (for approx. ₹1700) to get to the tourist area by the beach. Nice tasty free buffet breakfast of South Indian foods for ₹250.

The guest house has seven unique AC Double twin bed rooms with attached bathroom. Five out of the seven rooms come with an equipped kitchen (refrigerator, electric stove, kitchen utensils, free wireless internet, free self-service washing machine, hot water, etc.) It is possible also to rent a room or studio apartment for weeks or months.

Large, clean hotel in the main shopping area. Rooms with TV with some English channels. French bakery 2 min walk. Sea 10 min walk.

Book in advance, if you don't want to be disappointed. The guest houses are very clean. Very strict too. No liquor, smoking, or eating non-vegetarian food. Park Guest House is on the beach with nice lawns looking upon the sea while Sea Side Guest House is on the beach road and most rooms have a nice sea view. A choice of Continental and Indian breakfast is free in both guest houses. There is also a nice new budget guest house (New Guest House) very close to the beach, with a canteen.

Excellent ambiance and very professionally run hotel. It's more of an IT company-like environment with utmost hygiene. Has a 24-hour coffee shop too.

24 rooms on two floors, conference facilities, restaurant.

Excellent resort, managed by the Mahindra Group, is 11 km from Pondicherry on the Cuddalore road. The resort also serves great food.

Reasonable little place, quite well located for beach access, bars, and wandering potential, and with a rooftop bar. Good selection of cheap beers: ₹80 for an 8% Tuborg.

Nice and clean hotel with all the basic amenities, coconut leaf cottages. Sea shore is 100 m walk. A/c rooms available.

24 rooms (Thai, Luxury and Standard), spacious and clean hotel on hills planted with mangoes and cashew trees. Spa swimming pool and multi-cuisine restaurant added.

A guesthouse with suites and rooms which are equipped with flat screen televisions, intercom and mini bars. Every room has an attached bathroom with hot and cold water facility and individually controlled air-conditioning.

Nice and clean hotel with all the basic amenities. Centralised A/C keeps the heat at bay. Morning breakfast buffet is included in the cost price.

This ten room guesthouse owned by a French expat has hot water and a mini-fridge in every room. Peaceful location, windows in every room, popular place for backpackers.

Though not next to or at the Promenade/Beach or near Aurobindo Ashram or in the French Quarter, it is within 2 km of all places of interest. It has its own parking lot, good rooms and suites, 24-hour coffee shop, and one of the best South Indian restaurants in the city.

Opens at 5AM, delicious variety of typical south Indian dishes. Very cheap, popular with locals, not touristy.

Multi-cuisine restaurant. Open garden and covered area with sea brees.

Nellithope. Multi-cuisine restaurant, good for Chettinad food. Also, try the French onion soup.

Fantastic south Indian food. Very reasonably priced. Try out the 6 feet family masala dosa ghee roast.

Fresh french food in a peaceful environment. Free Wifi.

This restaurant serves Pizza and other Italian delights. Seems to be managed by a French person, food was good. Prices are reasonable, but the quantities are smaller.

At the rooftop of Hotel Corbelli on Mission St, this authentic Italian restaurant's chef is from Bologna, and the food is fantastic.

Subramaniya Temple is a revered religious site in Pondicherry, known for its historical significance and spiritual atmosphere.

Ghousigabala Temple is a significant religious site in Pondicherry, offering visitors the opportunity to explore its rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

Whi.te Town is a charming area in Pondicherry known for its street food and local markets, offering a taste of the authentic culture and cuisine.

Auroville is a unique community in Pondicherry that offers visitors an immersive experience of its spiritual and cultural ethos, making it a must-visit destination.

Pondicherry offers a unique blend of French colonial charm and Indian culture, making it an ideal destination for those seeking a relaxed cultural experience.