Exploring Pondicherry Over The Weekend Travel to Pondicherry
We had recently moved to Chennai. Even after few months were still adjusting to cultural change and the different environment. With both my husband and I working 6 days a week, Sunday was always spent in doing household shopping and running errands. In our busy schedule, we had seen a few sights in Chennai, but due to a hectic schedule, we were not able to relax and enjoy the sea or beach.
So when a national holiday fell on a Saturday, we were thrilled to get two days together off. We decided not to waste this golden opportunity and go for a day trip on the extra day off. The most obvious choice was Pondicherry, as it was not very far away and the scenic beauty of Pondicherry is unparalleled.
We wanted to go by bus and then get a car on rent in Pondicherry and explore the city in a day. Our colleagues suggested to get a cab from Chennai instead and go for a road trip as we can enjoy the trip at our pace and stop at whatever point we wanted. Also, there are many attractions en route to Pondicherry as well.
So we searched the net to find a cab service found one with good customer reviews. It was easy to contact them online and they responded back within the next few minutes. Their representative suggested an itinerary according to our needs and we finalised the trip.
Overview and daily activities:
The chauffer was at our doorstep about 15 minutes earlier to the time we had suggested. We had planned to start early in the morning to see the morning views of the sea and get more time to enjoy in Pondicherry. As we sat in the cab, the driver informed us of the routes to Pondicherry.
There were three routes to choose from – ECR, NH32 and NH48. ECR is the most scenic and shortest one, so we picked this route for our journey. Driving along the sea was great. The Bay of Bengal reflected the morning sunlight to create picturesque scenes. We passed some famous sights like Alambara Fort, Mahabalipuram, Mudaliakuppam, and Kalpakkam. As we didn’t have the time, we decided that we would visit them on our next trip.
We stopped at the Kovalam beach and enjoyed the white sand and beautiful beach views at the small fishing village of Covelong. We had our breakfast at a small eatery nearby.
Soon we reached Pondicherry and the first place we visited was the famous Sri Aurobindo Ashram. It was a beautiful and serene place surrounded by gardens known as the Peace area. Up next was the Botanical garden with its unique flora and aquarium.
We then went to the Arulmigu manakula Vinayagar temple, a well known Hindu temple famous for its stone carvings on the walls, elephant blessings and golden chariot. We then visited the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is famous for its Gothic architecture and the rare stained glass panels. The panels depict the story of Jesus and the Catholic Church Saints.
For lunch, we went to the French Quarter where we felt like we were in another country. It was exactly like being in France with leafy boulevards and French style elegant villas with cascading colourful creepers over the arched windows. We had our lunch in a French named eatery serving Indian-french cuisine.
After lunch, we headed to Serenity Beach. It is the most popular beach in Pondicherry due to its pristine surroundings and clear water. Here, we relaxed and unwinded, watching the waves as the sky slowly darkened. Afterwards, we left the beautiful city of Pondicherry to head back to Chennai.
How to reach Pondicherry from Chennai:
People usually travel to Pondicherry from Chennai by train, bus, or by car. Trains and buses have fixed timings which would restrict the time we would get to spend in Pondicherry.
Taking a taxi allows you to not miss out on the beautiful and scenic road on the journey. Booking online allows you to get a top-rated Chennai to Pondicherry car rental service at affordable prices.
Distance and time taken:
Chennai to Pondicherry distance is 160 km and can vary according to the starting point in Chennai. The journey usually takes about 3 and a half hours.
Pondicherry is a must visit vacation spot close to Chennai. The beautiful serene environment was perfect for our weekend getaway.
