Trip to Pondicherry
- himadrisgoswami
- Dec 26, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Dec 29, 2024
On December 20, 2024, my wife Sneha, my brother-in-law Mayukh, and I embarked on a journey from Bangalore to Pondicherry. We intended to start our trip by 9:30 am, but our late-night celebrations kept us from waking up before 9 am. We did our best to leave the house as close to our planned time as possible. Eventually, we hit the road by 10:10 am.
For me, a road trip morning isn't complete without a hearty breakfast. I was craving a South Indian breakfast (think dosa and vada). Mayukh suggested we stop once we were out of the main Bangalore city. Since we started from Sarjapur, leaving the main city meant a 25-30 minute drive. Along the way, we passed several South Indian breakfast spots, and I kept telling myself to hold off. Once out of the city, I was trying to calm the hunger pangs. Unfortunately, there were no suitable places to stop for breakfast. I was gradually resigning myself to settling for any decent food joint that could serve me breakfast.
By 11:15 am, Sneha and Mayukh had their office meetings scheduled for 11:30 am. We needed to find a breakfast spot by then. Finally, we arrived at "Farm Veda" - a restaurant near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border. Mayukh and Sneha wrapped up their meetings while I was gorging on a big masala dosa. Finally, it was noon, and we promised each other that we would make up for lost time by not stopping anywhere along the way. However, after 2.5 hours, we decided to take a bio break and stopped at a random hotel. As soon as we stepped out of our Baleno, a delightful aroma drew me towards their live menu. I saw people enjoying a thali (a meal) served on banana leaf. I couldn't resist and told Sneha that I had to try it. I was served a beautiful plate of veg thali, and it was absolutely soul-touching. The rasam made my day.
We drove for another 2.5 hours and finally arrived at our destination, White Town in Pondicherry. We checked into a lovely homestay called Ama La Vida Homestay, run by a very hospitable lady named Pushpa, who has lived in Pondicherry for the past 40 years. She owns a souvenir shop, Pondi Local, located on the ground floor of the homestay. Mayukh was interested in the souvenirs and planned to purchase some on the last day of our trip.
By this time, we were hungry, and to our delight, directly across from our homestay was a Korean restaurant named Koi, known for its delicious ramen. While we enjoyed our ramen, I noticed another restaurant across from Koi selling potato fritter sandwiches (known as Vada Pav). That's the charm of incredible India—you can find all types of cuisine nearby, no matter where you go.
Once we checked in, we chose not to waste any time and headed directly to the beach lane. We left our homestay at about 6:30 pm. I was impressed by the cleanliness of the roads, which was quite different from other places I've visited in India.
The beach lane was unlike anything I had seen before - it was a pedestrian-only path with charming villas and cafes on one side and the rocky beach on the other.
The French war memorial located beside the lane was a notable feature. This memorial honors the residents of French India who sacrificed their lives for the country during the First World War (1914-1918). Facing the French war memorial is the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation. The history of this statue goes back to 1965 when it was created by the renowned artist Roy Choudhary. It is encircled by eight beautifully carved white pillars. These pillars were specially transported from Gingee Fort, which is about 70 km away from the city's center. A short distance away stood a statue of India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, alongside a Tribute Wall inaugurated to honor the nation's unsung heroes, paying tribute to freedom fighters from all over India.
As we strolled past these stunning locations that embody the rich history of Pondicherry, we encountered a lively street filled with people. It was the craft bazaar - a handicraft fair. By then, we had already crossed many cafes and were captivated by the aroma of freshly baked cakes that we wanted to try. Our homestay owner recommended we try the pastries and croissants at "Zuka Chocolate." I was amazed by the rich texture and creaminess of the pastry. It was bursting with flavors and had just the right amount of sweetness.
Our next destination was the rock beach viewpoint; we paused at the beach, captivated by the beauty and liveliness of the sea. Rock beach, also known as Pondicherry Beach, is one of the most popular beaches in Pondicherry. It stretches around 1.2kms starting from War Memorial and ending at Dupleix Park on the Goubert Avenue.
By this point, we were absolutely starving. Mayukh and Sneha were eager to sample French cuisine, while I was in the mood for Indian cuisine with a French twist. Thus, we made our way to Villa Shanti - a remarkable restaurant tucked away behind an unassuming façade in the center of the old French town. We thoroughly enjoyed the food there. By the time we finished dinner, it was nearly 10 pm.
As we returned to our homestay, we were awestruck by the breathtaking scene before us. The moon rose over the beach, casting its graceful light across the sea. This marked an end to our day 1 of the trip.
Day 2 Amidst a sea of jaw-droppingly gorgeous cafes, we were like kids in a candy store trying to pick out breakfast joints for day 2. In the end, our hero Mayukh swooped in with a brilliant idea: Bread and Chocolate cafe! Nestled on Rue De La Marine, which also happens to be neighbors with the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, this cafe is a little slice of paradise with its snug courtyard, fancy baluster columns, and a grand arched entrance. Plus, it has a charming wooden shed with a view that could make a garden gnome jealous.
We dove into a few of their top hits, and let me tell you, our taste buds were doing the cha-cha! As I pen this down, my heart aches for their tartine and that dreamy chocolate croissant. Sneha and I couldn't stop showering Mayukh with gratitude for introducing us to this breakfast wonderland.
After breakfast, we headed to another beach, this time exploring "Eden Beach." Recognized as a blue flag beach, Eden Beach is regarded as one of the cleanest in India. I must admit, this was my first experience visiting such a pristine beach in India, and it was truly breathtaking. The feeling of the sea waves softly brushing against your feet and then pulling away is incredibly delightful. As the trio—Sneha, Mayukh, and I—wanted to rekindle our inner child, we wrote our initials in the sand just to watch the waves sweep them away.
Embarking on a Thrilling Mangrove Boating Adventure
As we strolled along the beach, our eyes lit up at the sight of a massive signboard detailing mangrove boating adventures! Having already shared the thrill of boating twice before (once in Shillong and once in Hyderabad), we were absolutely pumped for our third adventure. We embarked on a boat ride that promised breathtaking views of the mangrove forest, the sea's mouth, a bustling fishing harbor, and the historic Arikamedu.
Our journey began as we ventured deep into the enchanting mangrove forest—an experience so surreal, enveloped by lush greenery. Next, we paused on an island, and the boatman encouraged us to explore. The thrill of the unknown gripped us as we wandered, eventually stumbling upon a fascinating piece of history: the ruins of Arikamedu. Arikamedu was once an Indo-Roman trading city and one of the earliest known Indo-Pacific bead-making centers. Today, all that remains is a colossal brick structure believed to be a warehouse.
After that, we marveled at the impressive fishing harbor and finally reached the majestic mouth of the sea!
Exquisite Seafood Dining at The Promenade's Blueline Restaurant
After our meeting with the Bay of Bengal, it was time for a delicious seafood lunch. We went back to White Town and chose to have lunch at The Promenade Hotel. A friend recommended the restaurant 'Blueline' on the ground floor of the Promenade, so we decided to go there. The tiger prawns and red snapper were exceptional. It was exactly what we wanted for lunch.
Exploring Serenity Beach and Evening Delights in Pondicherry
After lunch, we headed to Serenity Beach on the north side of Pondicherry. This beach is situated 10 kilometers from the center of Pondicherry, and it was nearly dusk when we arrived. We noticed numerous fishing boats docked along the shore, which made us wonder if the beach serves as a fish market in the early morning. We might be correct, but we didn't verify this as we were too occupied with exploring the beach. By the time we were done, it was almost 6 30pm. Pondicherry at night time is as lively as any other metro city. We decided to go to Catmaran Brewing Company for some good food and drinks; It was one of the best, but it did make the cut to be a good place to hangout in the evening.
A Culinary Delight: Our Unforgettable Experience at Le Petit Four
We were absolutely thrilled about our dinner plans, as we had decided to visit Le Petit Four and indulge in their top hits - the Sri Lankan prawn curry and Grilled chicken with herbed rice. Le Petit Four had topped our list, and we eagerly saved the best for last. We were all ecstatic that it surpassed our expectations!
A Sweet Finale to Our Feast
No day spent indulging in such culinary delights would be complete without a sweet saga to finish! We decided to treat ourselves to the mouthwatering Pineapple Tres-leche and the decadent chocolate bomb. As we took the first bite, I was flabbergasted! It was as if every café in Pondicherry had a dessert wizard conjuring up magic in the kitchen. The Pineapple Tres-leche was a tropical dream, while the chocolate bomb was an explosion of rich, velvety goodness.
In that blissful moment, surrounded by laughter and joy, we knew this dinner would be etched in our memories forever. What a night to remember!
Day 3
On day three of our adventure, we kicked things off at Coromandel Cafe, a must-visit on every tourist's food safari. Seriously, this place is so lush and charming, you might just forget what year it is while you're soaking it all in. We dove into some delicious eggs Benedict and practically did a happy dance over a mind-blowing hot chocolate macchiato shot.
Just a hop, skip, and a jump outside the cafe, you've got a picture-perfect spot that screams, "Hey, take a selfie!" Naturally, we snapped some Instagram-worthy shots and can't wait to flood our feeds once we're back!
Exploring the Spiritual and Cultural Haven of Auroville
After a delightful breakfast, we set off on an exhilarating drive to Auroville, just 11.4 km from Pondicherry! Auroville, named after the legendary Sri Aurobindo, an iconic Indian revolutionary and philosopher, is a vibrant community bustling with over 3,600 permanent residents and countless visitors from all corners of the globe. This international, intentional community, primarily composed of Indian nationals, was founded in the swinging sixties by Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, Mirra Alfassa. Auroville is a spiritual haven that thrives on their teachings, celebrating personal spirituality over organized religion.
Auroville eagerly invites tourists to explore its enchanting township on foot or by bicycle, offering a unique glimpse into the lives and practices of its residents. We embarked on an invigorating guided cycling tour through the township, and it was absolutely breathtaking to learn about the Aurovilleans and soak in the tranquility and peace that envelops the place. Those four hours in Auroville were truly serene and unforgettable!
After soaking it all in, we headed to Bangalore, marking the end of our fantastic 3-day adventure filled with breathtaking sights and unforgettable experiences.
Bangalore, with its blend of modernity and tradition, awaited us as the final destination. The bustling streets contrasted with our recent peaceful moments. We felt nostalgia for past experiences and excitement for the next trip that lay ahead of us.
This journey was a much-needed transformative experience, and I am confident it will mentally prepare us to begin 2025 with both peace and enthusiasm.
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