Puducherry

Puducherry blends a colonial French quarter of yellow walls and bougainvillea with Tamil neighbourhoods, a seaside promenade and the experimental township of Auroville nearby.

Places we love here

• Culture

  Auroville & Matrimandir viewpoint

  The experimental township. Visitor-centre access to the Matrimandir viewpoint; inner-chamber visits need advance booking.

• Lesser-known · lesser-known

  Ousteri Lake

  A wetland lake inland, good for birdwatching in winter.

• Nature

  Paradise beach

  A sandbar beach reached by boat from Chunnambar.

• Viewpoints

  Promenade beach

  The seafront walkway, busiest at sunrise and in the evening.

• Nature

  Serenity beach

  A beach north of town with surf schools.

• Food

  Tamil quarter food walk

  Explore the town's older Tamil streets for filter coffee, dosas and sweets.

• Culture

  White Town heritage walk

  Grid streets of colonial villas, churches and cafés. Best early before the heat.