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Staying in Pondicherry
Pondicherry is a quaint little coastal town and a Union Territory of India. It is a beautiful holiday destination and is still pretty much untouched by the huge hoards of tourists that flock to other places every year. You can enjoy the aesthetic architecture, tastefully done cafes and bakeries, delicious French cuisines (not to forget wood-fired pizzas) or just take a stroll down clean, well-maintained Promenade Beach (also, called the Rocky Beach). There are several tourist spots as well like temples, ashrams, war memorial, statues and museums. There are good adventure sports activities as well that you can partake in, especially, skydiving. So, in short, there is something for everyone in the ‘white-town’ of Pondicherry.
Top 8 Guest Houses to Book for Your Stay in Pondicherry!
We understand what concerns people the most when booking a place to stay during a holiday. You want to make sure it is centrally located with close proximity to important landmarks. You want to make sure that it is safe and has all the basic amenities to make the stay relaxed and easy. And, most importantly, you also want to ensure that it fits your budget. We kept all of this in mind and made a list of the best guesthouses in Pondicherry.
#1 Ram Guest House
If you are looking for a property in the heart of the town then Ram Guest House is an ideal choice. It is located on the main Mahatma Gandhi Road (also called the MG Road) and offers well-furnished rooms with all basic amenities. It is walking distance from the railway station and the bus stand plus it is at a distance of about 7 kilometres from the airport. The rooms are spacious, well furnished with a private bathroom. Rooms are equipped with air conditioners, television sets, and more. There is an open terrace as well to enjoy the cool evening breeze. The food served is mostly French or Continental cuisine. They also have facilities such as Wi-Fi access, car for hire and free parking on the premises. You can book a room starting from Rs. 1,400. If you are planning to book for a longer period then you can also get access to a well-equipped kitchen to cook your own meals.
#2 Dune De L'orient
This is a quaint little guest house set in a restored 18th century French mansion. It is very tastefully done with luxurious décor and the entire feel of the place will transport you back in time to the age of style and zest. Each room has been individually designed with furniture and décor matching the theme. The location of the place is also an added bonus. It is located just a minute’s walk from the beach and the entire area is filled with little cafes and bakeries. The guesthouse provides basic facilities like well-furnished rooms, private bathrooms, restaurant, bar, high-speed Wi-Fi access, laundry services among other things. The restaurant basically serves Indian, French and Continental cuisine. You can get a room here starting from Rs. 5,000.
#3 Quiet Home
The Quiet Home is a nice guesthouse with reasonable prices. It is also one of the few guesthouses in town which have a swimming pool in it. Located on the East Coast Road, the Quiet Home offers spacious rooms with all basic amenities. Rooms are equipped with private bathrooms, air conditioning units, television sets, kitchenette, dining area and more. Some rooms also have a good, spacious balcony in it for you to enjoy the cool evening breeze. If you are travelling in a group then this place is ideal for you as they also offer quadruple rooms at reasonable prices. Room options include double and triple rooms as well. You can get a room for an upward of Rs. 1,500. One of the most exciting perks of this place is that almost all rooms come with the option of availing a free breakfast** as well. Mostly Indian, French and Continental cuisine are served here, you can also get good South Indian food as well.
#4 Coramandal Heritage
Coromandel Heritage is very well located in the heart of the town. It is based around the MG Road area and is close to almost all prominent landmarks like the Promenade Beach, Aurobindo Ashram and Botanical Gardens. The guesthouse is also located close to the airport, bus stand and railway station. There are a lot of good cafes and bakeries around as well. The guesthouse in itself is an aesthetically restored 150-year-old property with all basic amenities. Each room is fitted with basics such as AC units, television sets, wardrobes, chairs and table among other things. There is an on-site coffee shop, gallery, bicycle rental and free Wi-Fi access. You can get a good room for an upward of Rs. 1,400.
#5 Balan Guest House
The Balan Guesthouse is located on Vellala Street and is extremely close to the beach. You can enjoy a morning or evening stroll on the beach as well or take a dip in the waters. The place is also located close to the popular Sunday market of the town which is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. The guesthouse has pretty rooms, not very spacious, but equipped with almost all basic facilities like a private bathroom, air conditioning units, television sets among other things. They also have high-speed Wi-Fi access for guests to use. They also have laundry service and housekeeping. You can also avail of the free parking space on the premises. The rooms here start from an upward of Rs. 1,000 and you can also get breakfast inclusive prices in some seasons. Room options include single, double and triple rooms.
#6 Holi-Wood Guesthouse
The Holi-Wood Guesthouse is a typical bed and breakfast located in Pondicherry. It is done up in shades of white and blue, probably, an ode to the 'white town' image of the place. It is close to the Indira Gandhi Stadium, however, is far-off from the city centre. It is located 6 kilometres from the airport and about 500 metres from the railway station. The rooms are equipped with basic furniture, wardrobes, attached bathroom with shower facilities and free toiletries. The place is simply but beautifully done with little or no fuss fittings. You also have access to a good, well-equipped kitchen where you can cook your own meals as well. There is an option to order food as well depending on what you would like to do. You can enjoy good city views from your room. You can get a good room here for an upward of Rs.1,500 with an all-inclusive breakfast as well.
#7 L’Escale
This is a good guesthouse with all facilities available on the premises. It is located in Dumas Street and is just 100 metres from the Pondicherry Beach. The place is located close to the airport, bus stand and railway station. It is a French guest house with huge, sprawling terrace views of the entire town and the ocean as well. There are facilities such as Wi-Fi access, car rental, currency exchange among other things. All rooms are fitted with AC units, television sets and attached private bathrooms. There are common sitting areas and dining areas well. The only point is that this place has no restaurant on the premises. It only offers a breakfast spread from morning till noon. For lunch or dinner, you can drop by the dozens of restaurants or cafes located around the guest house.
#8 Bleu & Blanc
If you want to enjoy a vacation with high-end facilities then you can consider the Bleu and Blanc guesthouse which is located on the Pondicherry-Chennai ECR Road. It is a beautiful property located strategically. It is close to the airport, bus stand and railway station. At the same time, it is just 350 metres from the beach and is also close to nearby markets and cafes. The place is tastefully done with modern décor ideas. For people looking for a relaxing vacation, the place has exciting facilities like a BBQ set-up, swimming pool, gardens and bicycle rentals. Each room is equipped with basic furniture and an attached bathroom. Some rooms have a patio while some also offer a view of the swimming pool. You can enjoy an inclusive vegetarian breakfast at the guesthouse. The rooms start at a price of Rs. 2,500.
Top 3 Activities to Do in Pondicherry
There are lots of activities that one can enjoy in and around Pondicherry. There is something for everyone; from visiting the beaches to adventure sports to tasting delicious French baked goods, there is no dearth of things to do in Pondicherry. There is something for people of all ages, hence, you need not hesitate if you are planning a family vacation with kids or older people as well, they will all cherish the days spent in Pondicherry. We have listed the top 3 things that you must definitely do to make your trip to this beautiful territory memorable.
#1 Visit Promenade Beach
Promenade Beach is one of the most popular beaches in this area. It stretches for about two kilometres and is a very well maintained beach. Apart from enjoying the calm breeze, clean sand and the waters, tourists can also find some of the important landmarks of the town lined up with the beach. The War Memorial and the heritage town hall are situated here along with an old lighthouse and the remains of an old pier. It also has the famous Joan of Arc statue. You can find the beach full of people at almost any given time. Locals enjoy jogging or playing sports like beach volleyball over here. There are several street hawkers and kiosks selling food and drinks. Majority of food around the beach is either seafood or light snacks.
#2 Visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram
The Aurobindo Ashram is a beautiful spiritual community place in Pondicherry that you must visit for a completely different experience. It was founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo and the ‘Mother’. It is guided mostly by Aurobindo’s teachings of integrating yoga into life. They stress the importance of devotees working in and with the world rather than away from it. There is a lot to see in and around the Ashram like the Samadhi, meditation hall, cafeteria and more. You can also take a full ashram tour for Rs. 50 wherein they will also take you to visit the workshops where hand printing is done on sarees among other things. You can also buy handicraft items from the store.
#3 Skydive in Pondicherry
If you or your co-travellers are a fan of adventure sports then you will be thrilled to know that Pondicherry is one of the best locations for skydiving in India. Not only do the picturesque views draw people in but also the presence of safe, certified skydiving companies. You can opt for static sky jump, tandem jump or even go for a solo jump after training. The jumps are reasonably priced as well, starting from about 18,000 for a static jump and 25,000 for a tandem jump. Complete skydiving courses are also available with training, classroom hours and equipment.
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Shop to Take Something for Home
You can't leave Puducherry without splurging a little on shopping. There are many boutiques that house handmade leather products, gorgeous ceramic ware (plates, bowls, cups, candle stands, etc) and handmade paper (diaries, notepads). Look out for local cheese and chocolates too to take back home.