A girls trip to Pondicherry
Traveling around with my girlfriends was always on my bucket list. It was a much-awaited trip with my close buddies, and we decided on exploring the renowned French Colony of the nation, Pondicherry. The small tourist town features intense French influence in the built and architecture.
The French architecture, great wine, serene beaches, and food in Pondicherry were amongst the many things we were looking forward to. We took a flight from Pune to Chennai and further headed on a road trip to Pondicherry.
Exploring the temple town, Mahabalipuram
After we landed, we took a taxi from Chennai to Pondicherry via Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram is a UNESCO world heritage site in Tamil Nadu. One of the most renowned places of tourism, Mahabalipuram is blessed with a group of monuments that date back to the 7th and 8th Centuries. Due to its richness of ancient temples, Mahabalipuram is known as the Temple town.
Our cabbie took the way the runs through the ECR(Bay of Bengal coastline). With mesmerizing views and a refreshed vibe, we drove towards our destination. Our cab driver was a friendly guide. He stopped at places for us to enjoy the picturesque beauty and take multiple photographs. Shore Temple was the most spoken about and we chose to tour it on our route to Pondicherry. We hired a local guide and enjoyed getting indulged in the history of the place. We gained some insights into the place and captured some excellent photographs of the fine architecture. The architecture depicted the connectivity of the temple with China, the dragon land.
Pro-Tip — Mahabalipuram is hot. So, stay hydrated, and do not forget to carry essentials like sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, etc. Our cab driver contact: Malakam: +91–9047741286.
Our cozy accommodation, Cours Chabrol
In Pondicherry, we found our paradise accommodation at the Cours Chabrol. It is a beach-side hotel nestled on the White Town lane with Portuguese influence decor.
They serve delicious breakfast at the terrace with a sea-view. You can choose between Continental and Indian choices, but the preference is to be mentioned to the staff a night before.
We preferred to stay in White Town, as it gave us access to the beautiful rock beach and allowed no vehicles on the road post 5 pm. The view of the peaceful waters with the busting road with shops and people was a pleasing combination.
Pro-Tip — We got our bookings done via https://www.wandertrails.com and got great deals.
Food in Pondicherry
The White Town spoilt us for meal choices. It was bustling with eateries, cafes, restaurants, bakeries, ice-cream parlors, etc. I explored a few places, and each one of them served great vegetarian food. Some of the must-try places are:-
1. Sicilys — A restaurant right beside Cours Chabrol with a cozy space overlooking the sea. It is always bustling with tourists and is renowned for the Italian and continental food it serves. Some unique offerings include wood-fired pizzas. You can order some cocktails to go along.
2. Gelateria Montecatini Terme — Rated 4.4 n Google, this is a must-visit ice-cream parlor on the White Town road.
3. Le Cafe — One of the oldest cafes in Pondicherry, Le Cafe is open round the clock. It features self-service and allows its guests to dine with pleasant sea-view. We tried Cold coffee, quiche, brownie, and burger. And, if you go by my recommendation, do try their brownies. They have some really delicious ones.
4. The Promenade — If you desire to treat yourself at a multi-cuisine restaurant, then The Promenade is an excellent pick.
Auroville
The attraction in Pondicherry that posed a deep impact on me was Auroville, the Universal Town. It is a unique utopian society established by people belonging to different cultures from across the globe. Nestled about 15 kilometers from Pondicherry, Auroville is cuddled amidst a thick cover of flora. My visit to Auroville was an experience that would be etched in my heart for the longest time.
The heart of Auroville is Matrimandir. Matrimandir is surrounded by lush greenery. It holds discussion sessions where you get introduced to the detailed objectives of the place.
Pro-Tip — If you plan to visit Matrimandir, make sure to get your bookings done in advance.
Our Surfing Experience
While in Pondicherry, we indulged in surfing and absolutely loved the experience. We took lessons in surfing at Mother Ocean Surf School at the serene serenity beach. I read the review online, and impressed by what I read, booked our lessons at this surf school.
The beach offers a sight of ample surfers on the waters swiftly gliding on the waves. The view was both exciting and motivating. The owner of the school, Shankar, was a friendly soul and ran us through the registration process hassle-free. He was himself a trained and certified surfer. We booked our slot at 8 for the next morning. There were 4 of us including, a kid, who joined us for the lessons. Carrying our surfing gears, we kick-started our surfing lessons.
The lessons were very apt. The practice and training went on the ground for quite some time. The trainer taught us the skill to get on the board with minimum effort. Trying it about 10 to 15 times, we were confident of doing it on water. And, finally, it was time to head the waters. Honestly, I had butterflies in my stomach. The excitement of trying out something new has always had me going.
On the waters, it was difficult to get on the surfboard more than expected. But each try was worth the fun. Each time I got up back with more enthusiasm and finally was able to stand and command the board. The day was eventful and tiring. The sleep for the night was so peaceful. I slept like a baby.
I took an extra lesson the following day. My buddies kept sleeping while I again went through the fun of surfing lessons. Day 2 was much better and more fun.
Pro-Tip — For surfing trick, you can watch this tutorial — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrwL5_57C6w&feature=youtu.be
Visit to The Paradise Beach
Pondicherry is renowned for its serene beaches. We took a ferry to the Paradise beach and enjoyed the picturesque route to the core. It took us about fifteen to twenty minutes on the ferry ride.
Conclusively, the trip was full of new experiences at every step. It was a memorable experience with friends!
