Pondicherry in two days
Spend the first day on foot in the old town (see “Pondicherry in one day”). For the second, choose a direction: south along the coast to the beaches the Department of Tourism has developed and the ancient port of Arikamedu, or north across the Tamil Nadu border to Auroville.
Auroville and Kottakuppam are in Tamil Nadu, outside the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Day two, south: beaches and the ancient port
Arikamedu, on the Ariyankuppam river, traded with the Roman world two thousand years ago. Further south, the Chunnambar backwaters are the base for boating, and Paradise Beach is close by; Eden Beach is Blue Flag–certified, and Pondy Marina is closest to town.
- Beach
Pondy Marina Beach
One of the beaches developed by the Puducherry Department of Tourism, south of the old town.
Jayaseerlourdhuraj · CC BY-SA 3.0 HeritageArikamedu Archaeological Site
Ancient port and trading settlement at Kakkayanthope, about 4 km south of the city; finds from its excavations are in the Puducherry Museum.
- Attraction
Chunnambar Water Sports Complex
Boating centre on the Chunnambar backwaters, named by Puducherry Tourism for pedal boats, kayaks and speed-boat rides.
Ehteshaam Khatri · CC BY-SA 4.0 BeachParadise Beach
Sandy beach south of the city at Chunnambar, one of the beaches developed by the Puducherry Department of Tourism.
- Beach
Eden Beach
Blue Flag–certified beach at Chinna Veerampattinam, south of the city, with white sand and coconut groves.
Day two, north: Auroville
Auroville, founded in 1968, lies mostly in Tamil Nadu. Start at the Visitors Centre; the Matrimandir and its gardens are open by appointment, under Auroville’s own conditions. Serenity Beach at Kottakuppam is on the way back.
- Tourist information
Auroville Visitors Centre
Visitor centre of Auroville, the experimental township founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, mostly in Tamil Nadu just north of Pondicherry.
In Tamil Nadu, outside the Union Territory of Puducherry
Matthew T Rader · CC BY-SA 4.0 Place of worshipMatrimandir, Auroville
The golden sphere at the centre of Auroville, conceived by the Mother as the “Soul of the City” and completed in 2008. In Tamil Nadu, north of Pondicherry.
In Tamil Nadu, outside the Union Territory of Puducherry
- Garden
Auroville Botanical Gardens
Botanical gardens in Auroville, Tamil Nadu, north-west of Pondicherry.
In Tamil Nadu, outside the Union Territory of Puducherry
Pinakpani · CC BY-SA 4.0 BeachSerenity Beach
Beach at Kottakuppam, just north of the city across the Tamil Nadu border.
In Tamil Nadu, outside the Union Territory of Puducherry
